Having your card rejected can be a frustrating experience. This article explains why this might be happening, and what to do.
There are several reasons why your card may not go through when you're trying to make a donation on givestar.
1. Insufficient Funds
What it means: There is not enough money in your account to cover the transaction.
What to do: Check your account balance, and transfer or deposit funds if necessary.
2. Exceeded Credit Limit
What it means: You have surpassed the credit limit on your credit card.
What to do: Pay down your current balance before attempting to use your card again.
3. Expired Card
What it means: The expiration date on your card has passed, and the card is no longer valid.
What to do: Request a new card from your card issuer.
4. Incorrect Information Entered
What it means: The card number, expiration date, security code, or personal information was entered incorrectly.
What to do: Re-enter your details carefully and ensure they match your card information.
5. Outdated Card Information with Merchants
What it means: Your card details may have changed, and the merchant has outdated information on file.
What to do: Update your card information with any merchants where you have recurring payments.
6. Suspicious Activity or Fraud
What it means: Your card issuer may have detected unusual or suspicious activity and blocked the card as a precaution.
What to do: Contact your card issuer to verify recent transactions and clear any holds.
7. Bank or Network Issues
What it means: Sometimes, the problem may not be on your end but with your bank's processing system or network.
What to do: Try the transaction again later or contact your bank if the problem persists.
8. Card Not Activated
What it means: If you have a new card, it may need to be activated before use.
What to do: Follow the activation instructions provided by your bank or card issuer.
9. Card Not Supported
What it means: Some merchants may not accept certain types of cards or cards from specific issuers.
What to do: Use an alternate payment method or inquire with the merchant about accepted cards.
10. International Transactions Blocked
What it means: Your card may have restrictions on international transactions, whether online or while you're traveling abroad.
What to do: Inform your bank of your travel plans or ask to enable international transactions.
11. Damaged Card
What it means: Your card may be physically damaged, preventing it from being swiped, tapped, or inserted.
What to do: Request a replacement card from your bank.
12. Incorrectly Inserted, Swiped or Tapped
What it means: You may not be using the card reader properly.
What to do: Make sure you are inserting the chip-end of the card into the reader or swiping it in the correct direction.
13. Reached Daily Spending Limit
What it means: Some banks have a daily spending limit to protect against fraud.
What to do: Check if you've reached your limit and wait until the next day or request a temporary limit increase.
14. Issues when using CharityGo App
If you are a direct volunteer for a charity, you may be using our other app CharityGo. Possible reasons for card rejection are similar. This can be due to the fact that your card requires you to input a pin due to the amount of times you have done contactless payments prior to your donation transaction. Please note this is a rule issued by your bank and not givestar.
Additionally, your card may not be authorised by our payment provider therefore it will fail despite having sufficient funds. We have seen these typically happen with First Direct and High Street (such as Tesco) cards unfortunately.
Links to related articles:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/when-company-declines-your-credit-or-debit-card