Why Is My Debit Card Declined When I Have Money?


Declined Debit Card

It is usual for a debit card to be declined due to insufficient balance. Such is understandable as you need money to initiate a transaction. However, has your debit card ever been declined even when you have money in your checking account? If so, you’ll be eager to know why.

Your card can be declined even when you have money for these reasons:

  • Expired card
  • Many wrong pin trials
  • Wrong information entered
  • Damaged card
  • Technical issues
  • The store doesn’t take your card type
  • Additional information is needed from you
  • The daily transaction limit has been reached

There is nothing as inconvenient as having one’s card declined. However, do you know what is more confusing and heart-breaking? Having your card declined even when you have enough money in your checking account. In this post, I highlighted eight common reasons why your card is declined even when you have money in it.

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Why Is My Debit Card Declined When I Have Money?

  1. Expired Card

Has your debit card expired? If so, you won’t be able you use it for transactions regardless of how much you have in it.

Most banks will offer you a new card a month or so prior to the expiry date of your current card. If you have yet to receive a new card from your bank, you must contact them fast to find out why they haven’t sent you a replacement.

There may have been an oversight, but it is also possible that someone has stolen your card from the mail. If the latter is the case, ensure you alert your bank immediately so they can take appropriate steps to ensure that the card isn’t used by the thief.

  1. Many Wrong Pin Trials

You could have issues if there are many wrong PIN attempts on our debit card. If that is the case, your debit card won’t function until you contact your bank and unblock it.

This security feature is usually in place to forestall fraud, so if you are receiving a message that there have been several wrong PIN attempts and you are yet to use your card today, it may be worth contacting your bank to understand what’s going on.

  1. Wrong information entered

If your debit card isn’t functioning when shopping online, cross-check that you have inputted the right information. You may be a digit off with the card number, or perhaps you have inputted the CVC wrongly.

Nevertheless, unless everything is entered correctly, you won’t be able to use your card even if you have money.

  1. Damaged card

Your card may also be declined because it is damaged. Sometimes, the damage is obvious, while sometimes, it isn’t.

That said, what are the signs of a damaged debit card?

One of the most common signs is a damaged magnetic strip. Plus, a bent card can also be damaged. If your card is damaged, order a new one.

  1. Technical issues

It may sound strange. However, the truth is technical problems along the line are a very common reason for your debit card to be declined.

Maybe the card machine in a store is faulty. Or maybe the lines are down somewhere. Whatever the problem is, these issues aren’t always fixed ASAP, so if you need to make the purchase immediately, you may want to consider switching to cash or a different card.

  1. The store doesn’t take your card type.

This one isn’t quite common nowadays, especially if you are using a major card type like Visa, Maestro, or MasterCard. Still, there is a chance that the card you are trying to use for a purchase or transaction isn’t accepted at the store you are trying to buy from.

This can, of course, be a problem if you have an American Express card, for instance. If that is the case, the only solution is to use another card or cash.

  1. Extra information is needed from you.

Sometimes, a transaction may stall, especially when shopping online, until you provide some extra information. This may involve inputting a code that is sent to you through SMS or could involve you accepting the transaction in an application.

  1. The daily transaction limit has been reached.

Some cards have daily transaction limits. This means that once you make transactions amounting to the limit, your card will be declined even if you have adequate cash in your account.

These limits are there for security purposes, to prevent someone from using your card and exhausting all your money. It is for that reason, banks won’t advise increasing this limit.

That said, there are situations where you may need to raise your card limit. Whenever the time comes, contact your bank to see if the limit can be raised temporarily. Just ensure that you adhere to their usual advice to return the limit as soon as you are done to protect your money from thieves.

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How to fix a declined debit card?

Here are some of the best ways to fix a declined debit card:

  1. Try again: Sometimes, there can be a temporary issue that can be fixed by swiping your card again.
  2. Contact your bank or card provider: Your bank or card issuer will be able to determine the problem immediately and help you resolve it. ‘
  3. Ensure you are providing the right information: Did you change your PIN recently but mistakenly enter the old one when trying to pay for a purchase? If you are shopping online, did you enter the CVC number correctly and confirm the transaction via your bank’s app, if required?

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