The bank card is the preferred means of payment for the French. But it is not infallible. Your credit card no longer works? Here are 8 common reasons why your precious sesame may be refused…
Blank card, refused payment or incorrect code: when one of these messages appears on the payment terminal, anxiety quickly rises. In the worst case scenario, your account may have been hacked. But, generally, the origin of this rejection is less problematic and simpler to resolve.
1. Your card is no longer valid
The maximum validity period of a bank card is 5 years. But in practice, most cards expire after 3 years. Once the fateful date passes, no payment or withdrawal is possible. Your card stops working and your bank sends you a new one, unless you expressly object.
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2. Your card is new
For security reasons, a new bank card is always deactivated when you receive it. So if someone intercepts the mail containing your card, they cannot use it. Even for online or contactless purchases. This is also the reason why your confidential code is sent in a separate mail. More and more banks allow you to activate the new card immediately after receipt, from your personal banking space. But it is sometimes still necessary to make a withdrawal from an ATM.
3. Your card is damaged
According to a survey carried out by Ifop in November 2019, 4 out of 5 French people never go out without their credit card. But having to carry it everywhere, your card may be used up before its time. If distributors and POS systematically display the word blank card, the chip on your card may be demagnetized or scratched. Contact your bank to order a new one.
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4. You entered the wrong PIN
Can’t remember your card code. Is it 4061… or 6140? Unless it’s 6410? After 3 unsuccessful attempts, the sentence falls: a message informs you that your card is permanently blocked. This is a security measure to limit the risk of fraud. In the meantime, you’re ready to order a new CB. If in doubt about your code, rather than persisting and risking blocking your card, you can also contact your bank to request a redaction of your secret code.
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5. You have exceeded your withdrawal or payment limits
To protect your finances, your payments and withdrawals are capped. The amount of these weekly limits for withdrawals and monthly limits for payments varies depending on the card. To find out the limit of your credit card, consult your account agreement, visit your personal space or contact your advisor. If necessary, these ceilings can be increased temporarily.
6. You have exceeded your authorized overdraft limit
Is your account in the red? If you have exceeded your overdraft authorization, the bank may decide to block your bank card. Contact your advisor as soon as possible to regularize your situation. You can try to negotiate a temporary increase in your overdraft limit. But in the event of refusal, you have no choice: to unblock your credit card, you must replenish your account.
7. You have canceled or locked your card
Many banks now allow you to configure your bank card from your personal space. Among the features offered, you can:
- activate or deactivate contactless, online, magnetic stripe or overseas payments;
- temporarily lock your card;
- oppose.
Therefore, remember to check whether the malfunction of your card is not linked to a configuration error in your personal space.
8. You have a systematic authorization card
You have a Visa Electron or a Mastercard balance check that you want to take out to pay at a motorway page. The transaction may not go through.
So-called offline machines – as may be the case with terminals in underground car parks, certain drinks vending machines or even cash registers or petrol stations – cannot check that you have enough money on your account to authorize the transaction.
Gold, this authorization is essential to validate the payment with a balance check card. This therefore results in the automatic rejection of the transaction. To avoid this inconvenience, make sure you have liquid with you.