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Why did my credit card get declined? We get this question often, so we compiled a list of the 9 most common reasons your credit card would be declined in the midst of a transaction. Plus, get tips on how to fix the problem and avoid it happening in the future.

If you want to know common reasons debit cards get declined, read “Top 7 Reasons Your Debit Card Was Declined.”

1. Your card expired.

If your card is expired, this will cause any attempted purchase to be declined. Check the expiration date on your current card to make sure it is still valid.

How to avoid this:

If the card is expired, contact your card issuer to find out where your replacement card is. If your card is almost expired, make sure they have already sent you a new card.

2. You’re behind on monthly payments.

When’s the last time you paid your bill? If you don’t set up monthly payment reminders, you could’ve missed last month’s due date. Depending on your credit history, the issuer may give you leeway or they could freeze your account immediately.

How to avoid this:

Regularly check your account through online banking or a mobile app to ensure your bill is paid. Set up monthly alarms in your calendar to remind yourself to pay the bill on time.

3. You entered information that doesn’t match your records.

If you entered incorrect information, your card will likely be declined for security reasons. One incorrect attempt will not freeze your account, but if you make too many unsuccessful attempts you may need to call your issuer to unfreeze the account. Examples of this information are:

• Credit card number
• Expiration date
• CVV or 3-digit security code
• Billing address or zip code

How to avoid this:

Make sure you enter all of the correct information. If you recently moved, your old address may still be listed on the account. Contact your issuer to update your address and confirm all correct information.

4. You reached your credit limit.

What’s your credit card’s total spending limit? If you try to use your credit card to make purchases beyond this set limit, it’s likely the issuer will decline the purchase. Some cards also have daily spending limits.

How to avoid this:

Ask your credit card company what your daily and total limits are. Keep track of your spending to make sure you don’t go above these limits. Our experts also recommend using only 30% of your total credit limit at any given time. This is called your credit utilization ratio. Using less than 30% of your total limit will help improve your credit score over time.

Get more hacks to raise your credit score here.

5. You made an international purchase.

If you made a last-minute trip overseas and tried to use your credit card, it may be declined. Credit card companies are simply trying to protect you from possible fraud. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be physically in another country to trigger a decline. If you try to make an online purchase through an international company, that may raise a red flag as well.

How to avoid this:

Notify your credit card issuer in advance that you will be using the credit card overseas or to make an international purchase.

6. Your spending triggered fraud protection.

Credit card companies are constantly on the lookout for fraudulent purchases. If your spending patterns change suddenly, they may freeze your account to protect it. Some examples of suspicious spending patterns are:

• You made a purchase outside of your normal geographic location
• You purchased items at multiple places within a short time frame
• You made a small purchase (less than $2.00) immediately followed by a triple-digit purchase
• You purchased an irregular item, like expensive electronics or jewelry
• You made an extremely expensive purchase

How to avoid this:

Sign up for fraud alerts through your credit card issuer. If your card was declined for this reason, they should send an alert immediately asking if it was you. To prevent this from happening in the future, always notify the credit card company before making large purchases or traveling. Give them a heads up that your spending pattern may seem unusual, but for good reason.

7. There are holds on your account.

When you go on vacation, it’s common practice for hotels to place a hold on your credit card for the duration of your stay. While you haven’t made a purchase, the hold will still count towards your total credit limit. If you don’t count the hold, you may accidently reach your credit limit and your card would be declined.

How to avoid this:

Take note of any holds made on your credit card. Make sure you count them towards your total credit limit while spending. An alternative is to carry a back-up credit card to use while the other card is limited by its holds.

8. The primary cardholder deactivated the card.

If you are only an authorized user of the credit card, the primary cardholder may have caused the problem and failed to notify you. Maybe they lost their card and notified the issuer but not you. The issuer could then freeze the account, which would cause your card to be declined. It’s also possible that they decided to close the account completely, or cancel you as an authorized user.

How to avoid this:

Maintain open communication with the primary cardholder. Ask them if they made any changes to the account if your card has been declined.

9. The credit card terms have changed.

Has your financial situation recently changed for the worse? Credit card companies routinely check your credit reports for updates. If, for example, you defaulted on a separate loan – they may decide to change your terms since you are now considered far riskier to lend to. They could decide to raise your interest rate, or even lower your credit limit. However, they are legally required to send you a 45-day notice before making any changes.

How to avoid this:

Regularly obtain a copy of your credit report (Find out how to get a copy here). This way you know in advance if any problems are being reported to your lender. Also, read all communications sent to you by your lender. If you missed their notice and kept spending as usual, you may have accidently topped your new limit and triggered the decline

Do You Have a Back-up Plan?

When your credit card is declined, it takes time to contact your card issuer to fix the problem. Make sure you carry a back-up credit card to use in emergencies like this. If you have a back-up credit card, you can conveniently complete your purchase and then straighten out the main issue later. This strategy makes a failed transaction less stressful overall. Get a back-up credit card through AmeriChoice today.