Credit Card Declined- 5 Major Reasons why it May Happen!

It may be irritating, embarrassing, and perplexing to have your credit card declined. If this occurs, you should have a debit card or a backup credit card on hand to complete the transaction. However, once you've exited the store, it's a good idea to figure out why your card didn't work. The simplest approach to do so is to call your card company right away.

Your credit card may be refused for a variety of reasons, ranging from the basic (your credit card has expired) to the possibly more serious and sophisticated (potential fraud was detected). Here's why your card could have been declined—and what you can do to avoid it happening again.

1. You've Exhausted Your Credit Limit

If you've lately made multiple transactions on your credit card, you may have accidentally maxed it out. Some credit card providers may allow you a little wiggle room and will accept an over-the-limit charge so you don't get refused at the store. They may, however, demand a fee for the overage.

If you have a modest credit card limit—say, a few hundred dollars—the danger of exceeding your credit limit is increased. If that's the case, you might want to keep the card for minor transactions like your morning Starbucks dose or a streaming service subscription. It will be easier for you to pay off the debt each month and avoid exceeding your credit limit this way.

Another major reason to avoid maxing out your credit card is that it will improve your credit score. Credit usage, or how much of your available credit you use, has a big impact on your credit ratings. Keep your individual credit card balances and overall credit card usage under 30% of your authorised limit to keep your utilisation low, which can enhance your credit. When your balances drive your usage rate beyond 30%, your credit score may suffer.

2. Your purchase has been flagged as fraudulent!

Card issuers are continuously on the watch for suspect behaviour since credit card fraud is the most frequent sort of identity theft. While having a genuine transaction labelled as potentially fraudulent might be inconvenient in the short term, it can ultimately protect you. If identity theft goes unnoticed, someone might obtain and sell your personal information, racking up large charges on your credit card.

When your card is refused and you know you have plenty of credit available, contact the number on the back of the card. A representative should be able to remove any freezes imposed by the issuer. If you want to go overseas, notify your credit card company ahead of time. They can put a note to your account to make it less likely that you will be refused while you are abroad. However, it's always a good idea to have a backup credit card or another form of payment on hand when travelling abroad.

Consider utilising an EMV chip card, a contactless card, or a mobile wallet for payments wherever feasible. Although EMV chips are more secure than magnetic swiping strips, they may still be duplicated by criminals. Contactless and mobile payments reduce the possibility of card data being duplicated or the card itself is stolen.

3. You have a significant pending transaction!

Rental car companies and motels, for example, may place a hold on your card to ensure you have enough available credit to pay your final amount. While the hold is in effect, your card company may refuse more purchases until it is released. Merchants will notify you when they place a hold for items such as incidentals or security deposits, and you may ask them how long it usually takes for the hold to be released.

If you know when the hold window is, you may prevent awkward or uncomfortable circumstances by using different payment methods during that period. If you require immediate access to the credit line, you can contact the credit card company or the merchant and request that the hold be removed. It's not a given that they'll do it, but it's worth a shot.

Your best bet is to budget for transaction holds. If you know you'll be renting a car or staying in a hotel for a week, you can put some money away in your bank account or make sure another card has plenty of credit so you don't get refused.

4. You're Behind on Payments

If you haven't made a payment in a while, your credit card company may limit your card's use. You might not notice you've gone behind until the card is refused, so phone the issuer and explain your position. They will be able to tell you exactly how much you need to pay to bring the account current and resume using the card.

Late payments often result in late penalties, but your issuer may be prepared to waive the cost to assist you in getting back on track. If you're experiencing financial difficulties, the issuer may give you a modified payment plan that permits you to keep using the account while you catch up.

Once you've reached a point of stability, you might want to devise a strategy for paying off your credit cards so that your monthly payments are more reasonable. Debt consolidation loans, shifting your debt to a lower-interest credit card, or working with a credit counsellor to lessen your interest rate are all options for paying off debt.

5. Your credit card is no longer valid!

Before your existing credit card expires, your credit card issuer will most likely give you a new one. However, if you relocated and neglected to update your address, or if you continued to use your old card inadvertently, you may be rejected.

If the expiration date has passed and you haven't gotten a replacement card from your issuer, you should contact them. They can tell you when the card was sent and whether you should wait a little longer or request a replacement.

When you relocate, always update your contact information with your card issuer to avoid being refused due to an expired card.

Professionally Repair Your Credit with Advance Credit Repair

As long as you understand that there is no magic in the process and that some items might not be able to come off your report, then you can order this gig.

We can help with:

• Inquires
• Charge Offs
• Collections
• Bankruptcies
• Late Payments
• Public Records
• Student Loans 
• Foreclosures
• Medical Bills

With any of these gigs, you will get a team of professionals that will relentlessly fight against the credit bureaus and creditors to get results. We send up to 20 dispute letters per round. Because we are located in Miami, Florida, we always mail the disputes ourselves. We don't use any third-party mailers like LetterStream, etc.