When a Company Declines Your Credit or Debit Card

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. Some banks or credit unions use blocking — putting a hold on a portion of your available credit on your credit card. That means you have less to use until the block clears. If they block your debit card, your account balance may get low, you may bounce a check, or a recurring payment you authorized may be declined.What should I do if my card is declined?Can I reduce the chances that my card will be declined?What can I do to avoid blocking?What should I do if my card is declined?First, and obviously, check that you entered your information accurately. If there’s still a problem, contact the customer service number for the bank or credit union that gave you the card. They may be able to tell...