CC declined

So my CC was declined tonight for the first time ever. I got home, checked my bank account.

No suspicious charges/pending charges, everything looks good. On hold for 1/2 an hour before giving up.

Can I go into my banks branch and ask somebody whats up? or is my only recourse being on hold at the 800# on my card until someone picks up?

Other option is to see if it works at work tomorrow, and if it does, do I forget about this instance?

Cancel and get a new card just in case (expires in 4 months anyways)

It could be anything, but in theory someone at the other end of the 800 number can tell you what's up. I'd be patient and wait for someone to pick up. It might be something like a "credit breach" at a store you recently shopped at. Or maybe you made a purchase outside of your norm. It happens. I have had it happen while visiting Japan--after notifying my carrier that I was headed that way. That was fun.

Sometimes it's the machines that get confused or something. My old bank cards were terrible for this. Try three times at one register and get declined every time, have them try it at another register and it goes through fine. Haven't had a problem with the new bank.

Funny--my dad had his card declined tonight too in an online purchase. He tried it again, and it went through.

David S. Wallens wrote: It could be anything, but in theory someone at the other end of the 800 number can tell you what's up. I'd be patient and wait for someone to pick up. It might be something like a "credit breach" at a store you recently shopped at. Or maybe you made a purchase outside of your norm. It happens. I have had it happen while visiting Japan--after notifying my carrier that I was headed that way. That was fun.

This isn't that surprising. I know at the bank I used to work at, informing them that you'll be out of the country resulted in a note on the account. The automatic safety measures in place couldn't, or wouldn't, be put on hold.

My fiance's card got canceled by Chase bank when Target was hacked a year or two ago. They sent a new card out but unfortunately they neglected to inform her of these actions. That was a fun weekend trying to sort that out then waiting a week for the new card.

I use my CC almost every day, most days more than once for buying parts for my business. Sometimes it gets declined for no reason at all and then works again 20 minutes later. I just chalk it up to a traffic jam in the system, internet down, whatever.

My bank now refuses to process automatic renewals (insurance and satellite radio). Apparently the standard practice of these companies is to attempt to process a payment of $0 to verify the card and then run it for the actual charge. The bank automatically rejects these transactions and the company is unable to complete the payment.

They also increased their security requirements and declines businesses that do not meet their security standards. Unfortunately Rock Auto and Paypal don't meet the standard and I have to use a different card.

which brings up a good point … I've found it's a pretty good practice to have at least 2 cards .. preferably from different institutions … if one gets declined the other is usually good

wbjones wrote: which brings up a good point … I've found it's a pretty good practice to have at least 2 cards .. preferably from different institutions … if one gets declined the other is usually good

By institution do you mean visa/mastercard or usbank/tcf/wells fargo etc

In reply to 1kris06:

He means different banks.

Had my Credit Union Visa card declined on a $200 purchase at an office supply a couple years ago, not expired either. Used another card so OK there. Got home to find an email from CU Visa to contact them.

Reason for decline was the card wasn't used in the past 3-4 months and that threw the flag. Good security CU, minor inconvenience, no problem there.

Got through this morning, there was a breach at some point and the 10th was the last day. They had already sent a letter and new card to my parents (oh the day when I stop moving every year or two). Just what I wanted to do on my weekend off/spring break, deal with re-setting up all my auto pay accounts.

at least you figured it out.

sometimes my home depot credit card gets declined there for no reason and they just say "the machine's been acting up this morning" - it can get quite annoying when that happens.

for really big purchases (ex: we were waiting for the insurance check so we floated 3/4 of the saab price on credit and paid rest cash) we call ahead with the amount anymore, so we don't need to be sitting there being declined when the funds availability is there.

Sometimes this can happen if there isn't a breach - if you order something unusual your card will likely be declined and you'll get a call from the bank confirming that you attempted to order the thing - after that you'll have to try again and it should go through.

I've had mine held after hitting gas stations three times in one day. It's a trigger for them that the card could be stolen. After it happened twice, I made them promise never, ever, ever to do it again - being stranded with no cash while swapping cars ain't much fun.

1kris06 wrote:

wbjones wrote: which brings up a good point … I've found it's a pretty good practice to have at least 2 cards .. preferably from different institutions … if one gets declined the other is usually good

By institution do you mean visa/mastercard or usbank/tcf/wells fargo etc

yes

sorry my jackass kicked in … LOL

yeah what I meant is from a different issuer … I have one from Chase and the other from Navy Federal … both are Visa

Story in the local newspaper several years ago about the drag bar scene. One performer's stage name was Visa D. Kline.

Dunno how I remembered that, kinda creative actually FWIW.

Or, there's an evening dress in my future.

That happened to me the last time I was at harbor freight. After 15min of phone calls, managers, and keyboard pounding the cashier swiped the card again and it went through fine. She said their system is junk and it happens randomly a couple times a week.

I'm not sure what they have changed in the system at Walmart, but their self checkout kiosk will now consistently tell me my card has been declined while the actual card reader is still working away. If I accept the card being declined on the terminal screen (hitting OK)n then the purchase goes through. Messed up.

travellering wrote: I'm not sure what they have changed in the system at Walmart, but their self checkout kiosk will now consistently tell me my card has been declined while the actual card reader is still working away. If I accept the card being declined on the terminal screen (hitting OK)n then the purchase goes through. Messed up.

I have the exact same problem. Walmart. Every. Single. Time.

Grtechguy wrote:

travellering wrote: I'm not sure what they have changed in the system at Walmart, but their self checkout kiosk will now consistently tell me my card has been declined while the actual card reader is still working away. If I accept the card being declined on the terminal screen (hitting OK)n then the purchase goes through. Messed up.

I have the exact same problem. Walmart. Every. Single. Time.

I've not; however, my brothers is declined there everytime....and them it prints out a receipt. Stupid.