Having your credit card declined can be a stressful experience. It’s easy to worry when your card isn’t working the way it should. While it may sometimes be related to your account use, a declined card might also be a way your card provider protects you from suspicious activity. Let’s look at why your card might get declined and discuss tips to prevent it in the future.
What are some common reasons my card might be declined?
There are several reasons why you might encounter a card decline. Some issues might take only a moment to fix, while others may require more investigation.
Incorrect information entered
One of the most common reasons a card can get declined while shopping online is simply that your information was entered incorrectly. A mistyped credit card number, billing address, CVV or expiration date can all prevent a payment from being processed.
If this happens, double-check the credit card information you entered and try the transaction again. Consider saving your information in your browser or digital wallet to avoid re-entering it every time you make a purchase.
Insufficient credit
Every credit card has a credit limit designated by the card provider. It’s the amount of credit the provider has agreed to extend to you via your credit card. For example, if your credit limit is $5,000, you can’t charge more than that amount on your card.
If you have insufficient credit to cover a purchase, all subsequent charges will be declined until the issue is resolved. Keeping an eye on your spending and overall credit card balance is key to avoid hitting your credit limit. Citi cardmembers can check their balances via Citi® Online or the Citi Mobile® App1.
Suspicious activity or fraud alerts
If a card provider notices unusual charges or activity on your credit card, they may decline a purchase to help protect you from fraud. Your card provider may reach out via email, phone or text message to confirm the purchase was legitimate.
Once you’ve confirmed you meant to make the charges, your card should work again without any issues. If you don’t recognize the charge, cancel the card and request a replacement as soon as possible.
Expired or inactive cards
All credit cards have an expiration date, after which they will be declined automatically. Most card providers will send you a replacement card when the expiration date is approaching, but staying on top of when your card expires can be helpful in avoiding declines, especially with recurring payments.
What should I do if my credit card is declined?
There are several steps you can take to help clear up why your card was declined.
- Contact customer support: Contact your credit card provider for clarification. They can help explain what happened and provide support and next steps to resolve the issue.
- Verify your account details: Triple-check your account information, including the credit card number, expiration date and billing address, is correct.
- Check your available credit and transaction history: Review your account and transaction history online or through your bank’s mobile app. Make a note of any suspicious activity, large charges or other details that could be the cause of a declined card.
