Transaction declined

[SpikeyBush]

Why does this happen when it shouldn't? A couple of times at the shop my debit card has been declined but I knew there were sufficient funds available, they tried again and it went through. More worrying is at the pumps when the company fuel card is declined after I have poured 60 litres of diesel into the tank, only for it to be authorised on the second attempt.

Not very nice when the girl at the till isn't very subtle in her announcement that the transaction hasn't been authorised.

[AlBags]

Happens to the best of us at times!
(They usually say 'card declined' so the queue can hear! : )

[EDDIE51]

This happens sometimes, we have all had it. Just a temporary problem with the bank computor systems.

[ummmm]

It seems to only happen to me...!!

[erin-x]

I don't understand why it doesn't work and then it works straight away again... it happens all the time in the shop. I just had my transaction declined twice at The Body Shop online... it worked on the third go.

[jno]

phone the bank up and ask, they should be able to tell you.

[EDDIE51]

The payment system uses the phone lines to connect to the central payment centre , sometimes there is a fault in the line or interferance. It can also happen because there are too many transactions at that exact second , but it is fine a few seconds later.

[SpikeyBush]

I phoned up the bank to query a transaction. They never got back to me. Turns out, after stripping down the wife's car for repairs and accidentally finding the receipt, she blew fifty notes on a pair of bloody shoes that I haven't even seen

[SlackAlice]

It happens, mainly because the shops phone line exchange is busy. Some of their machines will only wait for a short time for a response, if no response 'card declined' is the automatic reply.

I had someone announce to all and sundry in a loud voice my card was declined. On the second successful attempt I announced very loudly to the assistant 'Just shows what a crap machine you've got there doesn't it?'

[B00]

It also sometimes happens if the chip on the card is smudged or got fluff on it or something.

Happens to us occasionally at work, a quick wipe on our jumpers (oh we do like to get technical) usually solves it.

[RATTER15]

It never happens to me!! Good old cash, it never lets you down :)

[jno]

and you don't even have to spend it, Ratter

http://www.guardian.c...-on-british-banknotes

[EvianBaby]

I can't say it happens to me often thankfully although when it did a few weeks ago I was having a right little paddy at the counter as I knew there was money in the account. After I gave up trying and went home it occured to me I was trying to use a card that had expired 6 months ago and the right one was in my back pocket. Duh!

[B00]

Don't believe that jno, if it were true, I should be quite chirpy in my job- im not ;-)

[jno]

sorry to be so long getting back to you, B00, I've been busy licking my tenners clean