I always bring two credit cards as back-up because the rental car or hotel tends to block the credit card while you were on trip.
Have you ever had a credit card come back declined, even though you knew you had hundreds of dollars left in available credit? If the answer is yes, you're not alone. This scenario can be very frustrating for anyone. So how does this happen and how can you avoid it happening to you?
Scenario: You just got back from a week long vacation in the Bahamas and the only card you have that still has available credit is the one you paid for the hotel with. You try and pay for the cab ride home from the airport with the same card, only to have the driver say it's declined.
Cause: This most likely occurs because of a "block" put on your card by your issuer. Credit card blocking usually occurs when you rent a car or stay at a hotel and it works like this: When you present your card, merchants electronically ask the credit card companies to "block" a portion of your credit line that they think will cover your expenses. For a hotel, the cost of your room, plus incidental expenses they feel may occur such as room service, phone calls, etc.
There are no laws restricting merchants from placing these blocks and the FTC says the amounts "vary widely among merchants." Even if you pay for the room with the card they issued the block with, it can still take a couple of days for the block to be removed. If you decide to use a different card than the one you put the block on, it could take up to 15 days to come off. In the above scenario the consumer's card still had the block from the hotel room, even though he'd already paid, causing the card to come back declined.
Solution: Most consumers are unaware of blocks, but if you're on a vacation with cards near the limit, or a business traveler with lots of time on the road, you should be aware of this possibility. Always pay the bill with the same credit card you made the reservation with, and if you can't, ask the merchant to remove the block or call the issuer yourself. Some credit card companies will remove a block if they see the bill has been paid by other means. Also, when you check into a hotel or rent a car, ask the clerk how much money is being blocked and how it was deter mined. Then, factor this number into your spending plans. Consider taking two major credit cards, one for hotels and rental cars and one for personal spending.
Scenario: After a long day of shopping, you unwind with your significant other at a romantic restaurant. You try to pay the bill with the same card you did all your shopping with, and it comes back declined.
Cause: To protect you from fraudulent charges, most every credit card has a limit on how much debt can be racked up on a card in a single day. If you exceed this amount, the credit card company may block your account from any further activity and the card could come back declined. This can also happen if you deviate from you normal spending habits with your card. For example, if you only buy gas with a certain credit card and one day you buy a television set and a new suit with that card, the company may block the card to protect you from fraudulent charges in case it was stolen.
Solution: Read the fine print in all of your credit card paperwork concerning daily cash advance and purchasing limits, and use a different card if you're approaching the limit. If you plan on making several out-of-the ordinary purchases on a card, consider calling the issuer beforehand and letting them know.
Scenario: You're waiting in a long line at a retail store with a bunch of other impatient shoppers. You finally get to the front, but the computer continually denies your credit card as the shoppers behind you get even more restless. Eventually, the sales clerk is forced to take an extra 5 minutes and type your information in by hand, and the sale finally goes through.
Cause: Leaving your credit cards, wallet, or purse in the sun, or any unusual amount of usage can deteriorate the magnetic strip on a card which may cause the card to come back declined. Demagnetization can also occur when a person's purse or wallet has a magnetic snap. These magnets can wipe out the information on the magnetic strip of a credit card.
Solution: Avoid leaving credit cards out in the sun, and if you notice your card is exceptionally tattered, order a new one even if the expiration is years away. Avoid buying purses or wallets that close with a magnetic snap.
Scenario: Your card comes back declined not due to lack of funds, but because it has expired! It sounds unlikely, but this is the second leading cause of credit cards being declined.
Cause: Because of the massive volume of credit card mail most people receive, it's easy to accidentally skip over the renewal notice and/or have no idea when your cards expire.
Solution: Pay attention to everything you receive in the mail from your credit card issuers, take notice of expiration dates on your cards and mark the dates off in your planner.
Scenario: You're going on a month long vacation in Europe. You've planned everything right down to who's going to feed your cat and bring in the mail. On the 23rd day of your trip you lay down your card for dinner in Paris and it comes back declined even though you're $3,000 away from the limit.
Cause: Even if you have tens of thousands of dollars in available credit on your cards, if you don't return the monthly statement with some sort of payment, the issuer might put a hold on your card that prohibits further charges.
Solution: When going on a long vacation, make sure you call all of your card companies and let them know you will be out of town. Not only will they not be alarmed when out of state charges begin appearing on your card, but they will also know you won't be home to pay your balance by the deadline. By calling the issuer, you can work out an early payment for that month, or get your due date extended until you return home.
No one wants to hear his or her credit card is declined. It can be embarrassing, time consuming, and inconvenient. But for responsible card users with good credit who keep up on their payments, it can be a complete mystery. By understanding the reasons cards come back declined, and these simple ways to circumnavigate such problems, your credit card confidence will soar, and you might not ever hear the "d" word again.
Have you ever had a credit card come back declined, even though you knew you had hundreds of dollars left in available credit? If the answer is yes, you're not alone. This scenario can be very frustrating for anyone. So how does this happen and how can you avoid it happening to you?
Scenario: You just got back from a week long vacation in the Bahamas and the only card you have that still has available credit is the one you paid for the hotel with. You try and pay for the cab ride home from the airport with the same card, only to have the driver say it's declined.
Cause: This most likely occurs because of a "block" put on your card by your issuer. Credit card blocking usually occurs when you rent a car or stay at a hotel and it works like this: When you present your card, merchants electronically ask the credit card companies to "block" a portion of your credit line that they think will cover your expenses. For a hotel, the cost of your room, plus incidental expenses they feel may occur such as room service, phone calls, etc.
There are no laws restricting merchants from placing these blocks and the FTC says the amounts "vary widely among merchants." Even if you pay for the room with the card they issued the block with, it can still take a couple of days for the block to be removed. If you decide to use a different card than the one you put the block on, it could take up to 15 days to come off. In the above scenario the consumer's card still had the block from the hotel room, even though he'd already paid, causing the card to come back declined.
Solution: Most consumers are unaware of blocks, but if you're on a vacation with cards near the limit, or a business traveler with lots of time on the road, you should be aware of this possibility. Always pay the bill with the same credit card you made the reservation with, and if you can't, ask the merchant to remove the block or call the issuer yourself. Some credit card companies will remove a block if they see the bill has been paid by other means. Also, when you check into a hotel or rent a car, ask the clerk how much money is being blocked and how it was deter mined. Then, factor this number into your spending plans. Consider taking two major credit cards, one for hotels and rental cars and one for personal spending.
Scenario: After a long day of shopping, you unwind with your significant other at a romantic restaurant. You try to pay the bill with the same card you did all your shopping with, and it comes back declined.
Cause: To protect you from fraudulent charges, most every credit card has a limit on how much debt can be racked up on a card in a single day. If you exceed this amount, the credit card company may block your account from any further activity and the card could come back declined. This can also happen if you deviate from you normal spending habits with your card. For example, if you only buy gas with a certain credit card and one day you buy a television set and a new suit with that card, the company may block the card to protect you from fraudulent charges in case it was stolen.
Solution: Read the fine print in all of your credit card paperwork concerning daily cash advance and purchasing limits, and use a different card if you're approaching the limit. If you plan on making several out-of-the ordinary purchases on a card, consider calling the issuer beforehand and letting them know.
Scenario: You're waiting in a long line at a retail store with a bunch of other impatient shoppers. You finally get to the front, but the computer continually denies your credit card as the shoppers behind you get even more restless. Eventually, the sales clerk is forced to take an extra 5 minutes and type your information in by hand, and the sale finally goes through.
Cause: Leaving your credit cards, wallet, or purse in the sun, or any unusual amount of usage can deteriorate the magnetic strip on a card which may cause the card to come back declined. Demagnetization can also occur when a person's purse or wallet has a magnetic snap. These magnets can wipe out the information on the magnetic strip of a credit card.
Solution: Avoid leaving credit cards out in the sun, and if you notice your card is exceptionally tattered, order a new one even if the expiration is years away. Avoid buying purses or wallets that close with a magnetic snap.
Scenario: Your card comes back declined not due to lack of funds, but because it has expired! It sounds unlikely, but this is the second leading cause of credit cards being declined.
Cause: Because of the massive volume of credit card mail most people receive, it's easy to accidentally skip over the renewal notice and/or have no idea when your cards expire.
Solution: Pay attention to everything you receive in the mail from your credit card issuers, take notice of expiration dates on your cards and mark the dates off in your planner.
Scenario: You're going on a month long vacation in Europe. You've planned everything right down to who's going to feed your cat and bring in the mail. On the 23rd day of your trip you lay down your card for dinner in Paris and it comes back declined even though you're $3,000 away from the limit.
Cause: Even if you have tens of thousands of dollars in available credit on your cards, if you don't return the monthly statement with some sort of payment, the issuer might put a hold on your card that prohibits further charges.
Solution: When going on a long vacation, make sure you call all of your card companies and let them know you will be out of town. Not only will they not be alarmed when out of state charges begin appearing on your card, but they will also know you won't be home to pay your balance by the deadline. By calling the issuer, you can work out an early payment for that month, or get your due date extended until you return home.
No one wants to hear his or her credit card is declined. It can be embarrassing, time consuming, and inconvenient. But for responsible card users with good credit who keep up on their payments, it can be a complete mystery. By understanding the reasons cards come back declined, and these simple ways to circumnavigate such problems, your credit card confidence will soar, and you might not ever hear the "d" word again.
