When making card payments online, there are several common mistakes that can lead to declined transactions. To help ensure your payments go smoothly, keep the following tips in mind:
1. Insufficient Card Balance
A common reason for declined payments is attempting to make a payment that exceeds your available balance. Always make sure you have enough funds on your card before attempting a transaction. Additionally, if there are any interchange or transaction fees associated with the payment, these will be deducted from your available balance, so factor that into your calculation.
If you have a maintenance fee on your card, be aware that it cannot be used for transactions. Be sure to check your balance before proceeding with any purchase to avoid payment issues.
2. Incorrect Currency or Country Settings
Our cards are USD-based and issued with a bin sponsor in the United States. As a result, they can only be used for transactions in USD or EUR. If a merchant asks for payment in a different currency, such as Naira (NGN), the payment will fail.
To avoid this, ensure that your billing currency is set to USD or EUR. Additionally, make sure that your account’s country is set to the United States, or another eligible country, to ensure compatibility with the payment.
If you're being asked to pay in a currency like Naira, try changing your billing currency to USD or EUR, or adjust your account's country to the United States.
3. Use PayPal as an Alternative
If a card payment doesn't work, check if the merchant offers PayPal as a payment method. Many merchants accept PayPal, and this can be an easy alternative if your card payment fails.
If you're having trouble with a card payment, consider using PayPal instead—it’s a reliable method that often resolves payment issues.
4. Check Webhook Logs for Declined Transactions
Whenever a payment is declined, we send a webhook notification. If you encounter a declined transaction, you can check the webhook logs on your account’s admin dashboard. These logs will show if the issue was caused by insufficient balance or if the merchant you're trying to pay is blacklisted.
By checking the webhook logs, you can quickly understand why your transaction failed and address the issue.
5. Card Reversals
If a transaction is reversed, it can take anywhere from 1 to 7 days for the funds to appear back in your account. This is a normal process, and the delay is typically due to banking procedures.
If you're waiting for a reversal, please be patient. Card reversals may take several business days to process and reflect in your account.
Conclusion
By keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid common payment issues and ensure smoother transactions. Always check your balance, confirm your billing currency and country settings, consider PayPal as an alternative payment method, and understand how to track declined transactions and card reversals. Following these steps will help you avoid declines and improve your online payment experience.