What Does Card Declined By Issuer Mean? (2024)

FAQs

What Does Card Declined By Issuer Mean? ›

Your card may be declined for a number of reasons: the card has expired; you're over your credit limit; the card issuer sees suspicious activity that could be a sign of fraud; or a hotel, rental car company, or other business placed a block (or hold) on your card for its estimated total of your bill.

The customer can call their issuer for additional information and complete authorization. In some cases, the credit card company simply needs verification that the customer wishes to complete the transaction.

An issuer decline code is a code supplied to a merchant by an issuing bank signifying rejection of a credit card transaction. It means the issuer has placed a stop or hold on a transaction. The specific decline code is meant to give a brief explanation as to why the issuer rejected the purchase.

Your card had exposure to potential fraud

Sometimes credit card companies decline a purchase on your card that appears to be suspicious. This happens when your card becomes exposed to potentially fraudulent activity either in-store or online (like someone getting a hold of your card number).

This message indicates that the transaction was not approved because the CVV did not match what is on file with the card-issuing bank.

It's often a result of a customer not having enough funds in their account, but it could also be a sign that the customer is attempting card fraud. Card issuer rejection is designed to protect all parties, which is why it's a vital component of both the online and in-person card payment process.

An issuer, also called an issuing bank, is a financial institution that gives—or issues—credit and debit cards to cardholders. Issuers give cards to account holders on behalf of credit card companies, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

Best Ways To Contact Your Credit Card Issuer

The simplest way to get the ball rolling is to call. Credit cards typically have a customer service number printed on the back, and a phone call provides the cardholder with a number of different options for how to best field their concern.

If a transaction cannot be authorized, it will be declined. A card could be declined for many reasons, including the following: The cardholder does not have sufficient funds in their account to cover the transaction, or the requested transaction would cause the cardholder to exceed the card's credit limit.

Why can't I pay my Discover card with a debit card? ›

The money for your payment will be deducted directly from your bank account. It's not an option to pay your credit card bill using a debit card or another credit card. However, you can make up to two payments a day using different bank accounts. If possible, pay more than the minimum required amount.

Is it possible for someone to use your debit or credit card with just the card number and the CVV? Yes, this type of fraud is known as "card-not-present" fraud, as the thief does not have possession of the physical card. This type of fraud is becoming more common with the rise of online shopping and e-commerce.

Even if someone has your credit card number, if they don't have the corresponding CVV, it's much harder to make unauthorized purchases with it. By asking for the CVV code, the merchant is adding an extra level of security to ensure that the cardmember is the one making the purchase.

To unblock the CVV code: In your online account go to Card settings (click on the gear icon above the image of your card or just directly on the image) Click on Unblock CVV.

Send an SMS to the bank's designated number with the required details, such as your account number, card number, and the reason for the block. You may receive an SMS with a confirmation code or a link to confirm the unblocking request.

The most common reasons are that the card hasn't been activated, the cashier is running the wrong type of transaction, the dollar amount being charged is greater than the card's balance or the credit card processing machine is bumping up the charge amount to either place a hold on the card or to allow for a gratuity.