Why do card payments get declined? The common reasons and fixes
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
A card payment is declined when the card issuer, the payment provider or a fraud check refuses it. Most declines have a simple cause, and many can be fixed in a minute.
The most common reasons
Frequent causes include not enough available balance, a mistyped card number, expiry date or security code, an expired or blocked card, a spending limit being reached, a failed 3D Secure check, or the issuer's fraud system flagging the payment as unusual.
What decline messages mean
Sellers usually see a short reason such as 'insufficient funds' or 'do not honour'. 'Do not honour' is a general refusal from the issuer that does not give the reason, so the payer normally needs to contact their card provider or app.
What to do next
- Check the card details, billing address and expiry date.
- Make sure there is enough available balance, including any pending holds.
- Approve the payment in the banking app if a security check was sent.
- Contact the card provider if it is still declined, or try another method.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms can issue branded Visa cards to your customers and take payments by payment link and invoice, powered by licensed partners. SendPay tells you in writing which licences apply to your platform before you pay.
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This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.