Unexpected reasons why your debit card is declined when you have money is one of the frustrating issues a lot of people go through but is underemphasized. This article is specifically to address such issues and help make your day a lot better as I know how frustrating a declining debit card can be.

A debit card is a payment card that allows you to make easy and secure transactions. With a debit card, you can make purchases online and physically by simply withdrawing money from your checking account. By checking account, I mean deposit account. Debit cards are used on mobile payment platforms, such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Amazon payment, Stripe, FONDY, and so on. Different cards can serve as a means of payment, such as Credit cards, ATM cards, Debits cards, Prepaid debit cards, and so on.
Difference between various cards
To help you understand the major purpose of a debit card, let’s briefly state the differences between these cards.
Debit cards are quite similar to Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, but they are also different. Debit cards and ATM cards are both used for withdrawing cash; however, an ATM card is used only for the sole purpose of withdrawing cash, while a debit card can be used to make purchases, and also withdraw cash. An ATM card can only be used to serve this purpose if it has a masterclass or a Visa Logo on it.
In using a Debit card, payment is done instantly but credit cards allow you to pay later. This means that you are borrowing money from the card issuer, giving you time to pay it back at the end of the stated period. Finally, is the prepaid debit card. While a debit card allows you to make a real-time transaction every time you buy anything, a Prepaid Debit card doesn’t work that way. You can only make a transaction on a Prepaid debit card after you have loaded it in advance through cash, checks, online transfers, or through the help of a retailer.
Key Things You Might Want To Know About Your Debit Cards
● With a debit card, you don’t need to carry cash along with you anywhere you go as debit cards afford you the luxury of making purchases and making transactions without cash.
● There is usually a limit to making purchases on your cards, large purchases might be impossible to make on your debit card.
● You don’t necessarily need a Personal Identity Number (PIN) before you can make a transaction on your debit card as debit cards can be used to make transactions with or without a PIN.
● Similar to rewards on credit cards, some debit cards offer at least 1% reward on any.
“Debit card is declined but I have money” has been one of the major complaints of users. This article is basically on why this occurs and how to solve this problem so you can always freely use your card without issues. Before we proceed, let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of having a debit card.
Advantages Of Owning A Debit Card
● A debit card is safer to use than having to carry cash around.
● A debit card is easy to deactivate. In the case of a fraudulent act, whether your card was stolen or misplaced, your card can be deactivated, and a new one can be issued.
● Fees on debit cards are quite affordable as charges are not as high as those on credit cards and annual charges are not required on your debit card.
Disadvantages Of Owning A Debit Card
● Unlike credit cards, debit cards are not well protected. In cases of fraud, money on card is easily carted away, and not easily refundable.
● There is a limit to the purchase you can make on a debit card.
● Losses can be easily made on your debit card, and overdraft fees can be easily incurred on your debit card.
REASONS WHY YOUR DEBIT CARD IS DECLINED WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY
Reasons why your debit card is declined could be:
1)Fraudulent Act:
Your debit card can be declined when your bank suspects any fraudulent activity on your card. Sometimes, when your bank suspects any fraudulent activity, they can deactivate your card to disallow it from happening. This explains why your debit card is declined but you have money on it.
2) Expiration or Inactivation of Card:
Most people are very careless with the way they handle their cards and therefore do not pay attention to the activation or the expiration date of their debit card. An expired debit card is absolutely useless to make any transaction and will definitely be declined even when there is money on it. Next time, in case your debit card is not responding, you might want to check the front of your card to know the expiration date of the debit card.
Also, it is a good idea to get familiar with the different features of your cards, both at the front and the back so you can effectively and efficiently use them. In case your debit card is expired or inactivated, you can contact your bank to help you activate it or issue another card if it is expired.
3) Damaged Card:
A card not in a good shape is likely to be rejected. So next time you are having issues paying with your debit card, you might want to be sure your card is not damaged so as to avoid unnecessary embarrassment.
4) Incorrect Data:
Before you can successfully use your debit card to make transactions, you must be familiar with your personal data such as your billing address, your card number, your personal identification number, etc. Filling in the wrong information about yourself can cause your card to be declined.
5) Large purchase:
Another reason why your debit card is declined when you have money on it could be because you made a large purchase. On a debit card, there are limits to the purchase you can make on your card daily. So be sure to know and follow through on your debit card purchase limit to avoid declines.
6) Spending Limit:
This is set by the bank as there is a maximum spending limit you can make on your card daily. Some bank’s maximum spending ranges from $1000-3000. Preference is based on the bank issuing the card. Also, too many transactions made on your debit card can cause it to be declined even when you have enough money on it.
7)Technical issues:
Technical issues might also be the cause for the decline of your card. “My debit card is declined even when I have money on it” might not totally be your fault, it might be an error of the payment processor. You need not panic, as this might be a temporary issue.
8)Unacceptable Card Type:
You need to be certain that your merchants accepts your type of card. Most merchants will take the visa cards, and some others might prefer the MasterCard. You must verify your merchant’s preference. Debit cards type acceptable by your merchant often times, is pasted beside the cash register, so a quick glance at it will help you to know what card type your merchant accepts so as not to lead to the declination of your card.
9) Obsolete Bank Records:
When you enter a piece of information different from what the bank records have, your card will be declined whether or not you have money on it. Take, for instance, changing your home address without updating your bank records. Updating your bank on any changes made, such as house address, name, etc., will keep you in check and avoid decline.
10)Traveling:
Changing location from one place to an entirely different one other than the one your bank is familiar with can cause your card to be declined. Traveling to a different location entirely can cause your bank to suspect any dubious act. Hence, declining the card from performing any transaction.
11) Insufficient funds:
Lastly, this is the first reason that comes to mind when a debit card is declined even when you have money on it. Not having enough money for transactions can cause your card to be declined. This doesn’t occur only when you don’t have money in your account, it also occurs when the money you have in your account is not up to the minimum deposit required by your bank. Trying to do a purchase worth $50 when you have $54 and a required minimum deposit of $5 from your bank can be impossible because the balance will not be up to the required minimum deposit issued by your bank. So, you need to have enough to avoid a decline.
SOLUTIONS TO A DECLINED DEBIT CARD WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY
+234 806 822
Avoid engaging in fraudulent acts
This itself is a crime and can result in a jail term depending on the crime committed. The bank trying to prevent fraudulent activities can also block your card hence transactions will be declined
Be conscious about minor card details
Knowing minor details like expiration date comes in handy as an expired debit card is as good as useless
Handle your card with care
To avoid your card getting damaged. Once damaged, ensure to renew immediately
Ensure to always double-check any inputted information.
No matter how little the mistake, once it differs from your registered information, it automatically becomes null and therefore your debit card is declined even when you have money
Limit your spending.
For cards with a spending limit, once you exceed your limit your debit card will definitely decline even when you have money
The problem is not from you
There are times when technicalities can result in a declined debit card even when you have money. In cases like this, you either contact your card’s support or wait till the issue is resolved however long that might be which in most cases does not take time as it is temporary.
Updated records
Whatever little changes you are making or have made, ensure to carry your bank along as they are the ones to approve your transactions.
No more insufficient funds
Ensure that in any transaction you are about to make, you have the minimum deposit required by your bank different from the amount you are to spend. This will ensure that your debit card does not get declined even when you have money on it
As we know, once your debit card is declined, that automatically means you cannot make any transaction no matter how urgent. Follow these steps above to avoid a declined debit card when you have money on your card and I guarantee a solution every time.
DECLINE CARD CODES AND WHAT THEY MEAN
Just like any service provider, there are certain codes that signify the ‘wrongness’ of your card. These codes are error numbers that state the problem with your card and why it was declined. Once you know these codes and what it means, you are a step closer to solving your issues.
These codes are visible on the payment terminal after a declined or failed transaction. The attendant just needs to tell you the codes and after reading this article, I am sure it will not be so difficult to resolve
14: This simply means an invalid card number. The solution to this is simply to recheck your inputted info and ensure it is the right one. Once you do this and it is the right information, you are good to go
43: This translates to a Stolen card. A card that has been reported stolen and blocked automatically becomes inactive. To reactivate, the owner needs to contact their debit card service provider and go through some processes
05: Don’t honor. This is what this means and to resolve this, the customer should make a complaint to their bank.
41: This card has been reported as lost. Hence the bank seizes any transactions made from this card until all issues have been resolved.
51: Insufficient funds: This is a result of exceeded spending limit or just not having enough funds. To resolve this, always ensure to have enough money in your account
Other codes and what they mean are:
Error codes:
-19: re-enter
14: card number invalid
13: amount invalid
12: transaction invalid
15: Non-existent issuer
63: Security violated
96: system error
Hold-Call Codes: these are fraudulent act code indicators. A visit to your service provider will resolve this issue.
41: Lost card
43: Stolen card
Decline Codes/Call codes: This is an issue directly from the bank
01: Refer to the issuer
04: Pick up the card
05: Don’t honor
51: Insufficient amount
53: Card expired
These and many more are examples of some declined codes that your debit card gets when it is declined even when you have money on it. So be on the lookout for these codes.
Although you do not get charged when your debit card is declined, it can be pretty embarrassing and it is one stress most people will rather not go through. For some of the listed issues above, there will be bank charges but this varies depending on your bank and plan.
GETTING CHARGED EVEN WHEN MY DEBIT CARD IS DECLINED
This rarely happens but it happens nonetheless. In most cases, this is referred to as a pending transaction. What this simply means is that although you have money on your debit card that is being declined, your online banking shows that the transaction happened.
In most cases, this is the fault of the service provider but the fun fact is money will not be deducted from your account and after 7 days or less, that transaction ceases to show on your online banking statement.
In cases where your money was deducted and not refunded or you canceled your transaction, after a specific number of days, you are expected to contact your service provider and lodge your complaint
In conclusion, when your debit card is declined even when you have money on it can be quite embarrassing but can also be fixed. Be sure you have entered the right information and that you have enough money to cover up your transactions, then try again. If the declination persists, then it means you might need to get in touch with your bank to get it sorted. With this article, believe you’d know what to do the next time your debit card is declined. Until next time, be sure to take very good care of yourself.
- ONLINE SHOPPING STORES THAT ACCEPT PAY WITH ECHECKS
- HOW TO DELETE CASH APP ACCOUNT (COMPLETE 2022 GUIDE)
- Chase Bank Deposit: Here are 18 Quick Questions and Answers to help your next deposit!
- HOW TO ADD MONEY TO CASH APP CARD? RELOAD MY CASH APP CARD, 2022.
- WHY IS MY CASH APP PAYMENT PENDING? 5 REASONS AND SOLUTIONS