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Tips for Large Credit Card Purchases

High-value collectibles on Courtyard.io can sometimes exceed $10,000. This guide explains how large credit card purchases typically work and what steps you may want to take before completing a transaction.

Written by Courtyard
Updated yesterday

Do I need to notify my credit card company before a $10,000+ purchase?

In most cases, no advance notice is required. Credit card networks and issuing banks use automated fraud detection systems that evaluate transactions in real time.

If you have:

  • Enough available credit

  • A normal purchasing pattern

  • A domestic transaction

Then the purchase will usually go through without any additional steps.
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However, very large purchases may trigger fraud checks or declines. To avoid interruptions, some customers choose to notify their card issuer in advance.
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Pro tip: You can also add funds to your Courtyard wallet directly and skip the credit card fees.

Recommended steps before making a large purchase

Before attempting a high-value transaction, we recommend:

  1. Check your available credit

    • Make sure your purchase amount is below your credit limit.

  2. Confirm spending power (if available)

    • Some credit card apps allow you to test whether a transaction amount would be approved.

  3. Ensure your contact info is current

    • Banks may send a text message or push notification asking you to confirm the transaction.

  4. Consider making a payment first

    • Reducing your balance increases available credit and lowers utilization.

  5. Have a backup payment method

    • Occasionally fraud systems require a second attempt or manual verification.

Steps for major credit card issuers

American Express

With American Express cards:

  1. Open the American Express mobile app.

  2. Use the “Check Spending Power” feature.

  3. Enter the planned purchase amount.

  4. If approved, proceed with the purchase.

Some American Express cards (such as charge cards) have no preset spending limit, meaning the spending capacity adjusts based on your history with the card.

Chase

For cards issued by Chase Bank:

  1. Check your available credit in the Chase app.

  2. Make the purchase normally.

  3. If the transaction triggers a fraud alert, confirm it via text or push notification.

Optional: Call the number on the back of your card if the purchase is unusually large for your account.

Citi

For cards issued by Citibank:

  1. Verify available credit in the Citi mobile app.

  2. Make the purchase.

  3. Respond to any fraud alerts if they appear.

You may also call customer support ahead of time if you expect the transaction to be significantly larger than your usual spending.

Capital One

For cards issued by Capital One:

  1. Check your available credit in the Capital One app.

  2. Attempt the purchase normally.

  3. Approve any fraud notifications sent via SMS or the mobile app.

Capital One commonly sends instant approval requests for unusual transactions.

Discover

For cards issued by Discover Financial Services:

  1. Verify available credit.

  2. Make the purchase.

  3. Confirm the transaction if a fraud alert is sent.

Discover also offers 24/7 phone support if you want to notify them in advance.

What if my purchase is declined?

If your transaction is declined:

  1. Check for a fraud alert from your bank (text, email, or app notification).

  2. Approve the transaction if prompted.

  3. Retry the purchase.

  4. If the issue persists, call the number on the back of your card or contact our support team at collectibles@courtyard.io for more information.

In most cases, the bank can approve the transaction immediately.

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