Why didn’t my transaction go through?
Typically, payment denials are generated by the bank, so it's best to contact yours directly to learn why your purchase was not approved.
Your bank can choose not to approve your purchase for a number of reasons. These are the most common ones:
- You may have a hold on your card
- You may have had multiple denied transactions and the card is now locked
- Your bank may have an anti-fraud system that has flagged your card due to suspicious activity
- Your account might have insufficient funds at this time
- You or someone in your family may have reported your card lost or stolen and you must now wait for a new card to arrive
- The charge may have exceeded the maximum amount allowed for a single charge
- If you're overseas, your bank may have blocked purchases if they don't know you're traveling
- Your card is not eligible to make online payments
This list is not exhaustive, and again, your best bet is to contact your bank. In the meantime, you can also try making the purchase with another card.
Other commons errors and why you might be getting them
What is a 3-D Secure error and why did I get it?
3-D Secure is a common security feature that banks use to protect you from fraud when making online credit or debit payments by asking you to authenticate your identity.
If you receive this error message it means that you were not successful in entering the required information. Try again, making sure you don't have the "caps lock" button on or have entered any typos.
Normally, 3-D Secure opens an additional window or pop-up that may be blocked by pop-up blockers. You may want to try to disable your pop-up blocker for a few minutes before trying again.
If the error continues, contact your bank for help.
What is a CVV/CVC and why did I get a CVV/CVC error?
The CVV/CVC is the 3-digit code on the back of most payment cards (on an American Express card, it is the 4-digit code on the front of the card). If you get a CVV/CVC error message it's likely that you entered incorrect information during the payment process.
Try again, making sure to double-check your information. It is also possible that the numbers on your card have worn off and have become difficult to read. In this case, contact your bank for help.
You can also try again using a different card.