What Happens if a Credit Card Charge Is Declined?

A credit card can be declined even when the account is open and you believe you have enough credit available. A declined transaction simply means the card issuer did not approve that particular purchase. The reason could involve your available credit, account security, incorrect card information or another issue that may be relatively easy to resolve.

Why Would a Credit Card Be Declined?

A credit card may be declined for several reasons. You may not have enough available credit, the issuer may flag the transaction as unusual, the card information may be incorrect, the card may be expired or there may be a restriction on the account. The merchant may not always know the specific reason for the decline.

Can a Credit Card Be Declined Even if You Have Available Credit?

Yes. Having enough available credit does not guarantee that every transaction will be approved. A card issuer may decline a purchase because of suspected fraud, an account restriction, unusual spending activity, incorrect information or another security or processing issue.

Can a Pending Charge Cause Your Credit Card to Be Declined?

It can. Pending transactions and authorization holds may temporarily reduce your available credit. If those amounts leave you without enough available credit for another purchase, the new transaction may be declined even though the earlier charges have not fully posted.

Can a Large Purchase Cause Your Credit Card to Be Declined?

Yes. A purchase that is much larger than your normal spending may trigger a card issuer’s fraud or security systems. A transaction can also be declined if the purchase would exceed your available credit. Contacting your card issuer can help you determine why the transaction was not approved.

Why Would Your Credit Card Be Declined for Suspected Fraud?

Credit card issuers monitor transactions for activity that may indicate unauthorized use. A purchase that is unusual for your account, occurs in an unexpected location or otherwise triggers a security check may be declined until the issuer confirms that you authorized it.

Can Traveling Cause Your Credit Card to Be Declined?

It can. Purchases made far from your usual spending area may sometimes trigger a card issuer’s security systems. Many issuers use automated fraud monitoring, so check your account for security alerts or contact the issuer if a legitimate purchase is unexpectedly declined while traveling.

Can an Expired Credit Card Be Declined?

Yes. If you try to use a card after its expiration date, the transaction may be declined. Check whether your issuer sent you a replacement card and make sure the new card has been activated before using it.

Can a Credit Card Be Declined Because of Incorrect Information?

Yes. For online or phone purchases, incorrect card details can cause a transaction to be declined. Double-check the card number, expiration date, security code and billing information before trying the transaction again.

Can a Missed Payment Cause Your Credit Card to Be Declined?

It can. If your account is past due, your card issuer may restrict new purchases until the account is brought current. The exact action depends on the issuer and the status of your account, so check your account or contact the issuer if you are unsure.

What Should You Do When Your Credit Card Is Declined?

Start by checking your available credit and reviewing your account for alerts or restrictions. Make sure the card information is correct and that the card has not expired. If the reason is still unclear, contact your card issuer before repeatedly trying the transaction.

Should You Try the Credit Card Again After It Is Declined?

If you entered something incorrectly, correcting the information and trying again may solve the problem. If everything appears correct, repeatedly submitting the same transaction may not help. Check your account for an alert or contact your card issuer to find out why the purchase was declined.

Does a Declined Credit Card Transaction Affect Your Credit Score?

A declined purchase itself does not generally appear on your credit report or directly affect your credit score. However, the reason behind the decline could involve something that matters separately, such as a high balance or missed payments.

Can a Declined Transaction Still Show as Pending?

Sometimes you may see a temporary pending authorization even though the purchase was ultimately declined or not completed. The pending amount may reduce your available credit temporarily and then disappear once the authorization is released.

What if Your Credit Card Keeps Getting Declined?

If multiple legitimate purchases are being declined, stop retrying the card and contact your card issuer. The issuer can check for account restrictions, security concerns, available-credit issues or other reasons transactions are not being approved.

Who Should You Contact if Your Credit Card Is Declined?

If the merchant cannot explain the problem, contact the credit card issuer using the phone number on the back of your card or through its official app or website. The issuer can usually tell you whether the decline involves available credit, account security, a restriction or another issue.

Bottom Line

A declined credit card transaction does not necessarily mean something is seriously wrong with your account. The cause may be as simple as incorrect card information, insufficient available credit or a security check. Review your account, check for alerts and contact your card issuer if you cannot determine why the transaction was declined.