how come some places won't accept my credit card?

[The motor guy]

So I tried to make a purchase at home depot today and for whatever reason they declined both my credit and my debit card. Basically anything online only at home depot I can't buy. They won't let me pay in the store either. It's frustrating when it declines my cards and then I use the same card 20 minutes later to go out and buy lunch. I called the bank and they said it's a problem on their end. I have visa cards. What exactly causes a credit or debit card to decline?

 

[ddrumman2004]

I have the same problem with a debit card at a local fuel station. Won't take the card at the pump but will at the pay booth. That defeats the purpose of the card reader at the pump.

I avoid that station now.

Not sure what would cause the problem other than a computer glitch on Home Depot's end.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Are you doing something to max the card out?

Back when I had a $500 credit card and had to buy gas for a Jeep Cherokee and F350 commuting 50 miles a day, the $250 pre charges that would happen every week would end up maxing my credit card while they cleared.

Because there was $250 + $40 for gas on the card waiting to clear off, I would go to buy gas and it wouldn't be able to do the pre charge.

But I'd be able to go over to walmart and make a purchase ...

 

[SatinSilver]

Glitch on their end it sounds like. Esp since you contaced your cc holder and the card works at other places.

You think HD would want to figure it out fast since it costs them business.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
the $250 pre charges that would happen every week would end up maxing my credit card while they cleared.


Usually, the authorization from the gas station is only a buck. Sometimes you can call the credit card company and have them remove an authorization. Instead of having it sit there. I've done this when renting cars since they put a big honker on there which I didn't like.

 

[The motor guy]

This has gone on forever. Just can't buy anything online from them. both with the debit or credit card. I just take my business elsewhere.

 

[linkbelt]

I avoid home depot!

 

[Sayjac]

No idea about debit cards as I never use one. But if it's a credit card, I'd call the CC company and ask why it was declined. They should be able to give you a precise answer as to the reason.

I think debit cards operate under different rules regarding transactions.

 

[SatinSilver]

Is this with a Discover or AMEX card? Or just a regular visa/mc?

 

[The motor guy]

just a regular visa. I only use visa cause everyone takes them.

 

[dparm]

Keep calling your card issuer and ask for the specific decline code they gave the retailer. No point in guessing -- just go to the source. Escalate to a supervisor if you aren't getting a firm answer. Remind them that there are many other credit card issuers and taking your business elsewhere is quite easy.

 

[cashmoney]

Your credit card company is declining the CC authorization for HD purchases - it is really not HD's issue. If you need to use HD I'd ask CC company to fix the issue or issue you new CC or cancel the cards and get a VISA card account from someone else. There are literally dozens of CC companies that offer VISA cards - VISA is just a brand name these days so many companies can offer a VISA branded card.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Ditch the Visa card holder and go apply for another Visa card somewhere else.

 

[eljefino]

It's an overly aggressive anti-fraud thing. Dump that bank!

Is this a debit card with visa logo? Sometimes those have to go through as debit with pin, per the merchant trying to save a few cents. I guess if the pin part gets broken the system goes into a feedback loop.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I had used a bank issued debit card and cash exclusively, but now have a "big name" CC card that gives back points. I changed after my Mother's bank account was hijacked and it took over a month to get it back in order - so I decided didn't want my debit info and linkages to my bank account out "there" frequently. I never thought about rewards points, but I just checked my account and after 2 years I have over 600 real dollars cash value of points. I can get a VISA card in this amount or even get pay my CC bill with these 60,000 points. I put EVERYTHING on the card, over 20K per year including insurance and tax payments - I must convince our home heating oil delivery Co. to take the card too to rack up some more points. I do pay off all the charges in full every billing cycle.

One side bene is that ledger-style checkbook balancing is no longer necessary.

 

[99Saturn]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I had used DEBIT CARD and cash exclusively, but now have a "big name" CC card that gives back points. I changed after my Mother's bank account was hijacked and it took over a month to get it back in order - so I decided didn't want my debit info and linkages to my bank account out "there" frequently. I never thought about rewards points, but I just checked my account and after 2 years I have over 600 real dollars cash value of points. I can get a VISA card in this amount or even get pay my CC bill with these 60,000 points. I put EVERYTHING on the card, over 20K per year including insurance and tax payments - must convince our home heating oil delivery Co. to take the card too. I pay off all the charges in full very billing cycle.


What card is this if you don't mind me asking... sounds like the cashback averages 3%?

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
It's an overly aggressive anti-fraud thing. Dump that bank!

Is this a debit card with visa logo? Sometimes those have to go through as debit with pin, per the merchant trying to save a few cents. I guess if the pin part gets broken the system goes into a feedback loop.


I thought that the Frank-Dodd (and associated Durbin piece) made debit fees HIGHER than credit?

 

[fxrider]

Go to Lowes ..

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Is this a debit card with visa logo? Sometimes those have to go through as debit with pin, per the merchant trying to save a few cents. I guess if the pin part gets broken the system goes into a feedback loop.

That can be an issue, too. In the example of a card not working at pay at the pump but working inside, that's one possibility. The other is that stations will quite often have a different payment processor for the terminal inside than they do at the pumps, since the hardware is so different that it's often served by different companies.

Occasionally, sometimes an individual bank will have a problem, and Bank A won't work for a time, but Bank B will.

 

[cashmoney]

A little bit off subject here but frankly there is absolutely no upside to using a debit card. In fact a debit card is basically for the financially naive who don't know any better. Debit cards pay you nothing to use them, they lower your DDA balance immediately, they are prone to fraudulent use and have none of the the traditional credit card's valuable consumer law protections.

Financially savvy folks never use debit cards. I refuse to even carry one. Instead it is way smarter to use a cash back or affinity "points earning" style credit card for every possible purchase and pay the entire balance off each month. For years I have used a no fee VISA card that pays 1% back on all purchases and a no fee Amex card that pays 2% back on all purchases. We use the two cards for every possible purchase and pay the balance on each off every month. As a result we earn cash back of approximately $500-800 each year. This is a easy CASH money - a no brainer.

Get rid of your debit card. The only one that profits from a person using a debit card is your bank.