Declined

[groceryhorror]

Don't you just love it when people go ballistic when their credit card is declined?
I just love seeing people's reaction!

[Rapscallion]

Depends - if they're acting like a fool and claiming to be all high and mighty, then it's hilarious. If it's a struggling mother of three trying to make ends meet, it's a tragedy.

Rapscallion

[groceryhorror]

eek! Never thought of it like that. The store where I work is frequented by snobby upper-class shoppers that won't drink anything besides Fiji Water...

Funny enough, the people that look like they are struggling to make ends meet never have any problems with their credit/debit cards...

[NightAngel]

Well, I rarely see anyone go ballistic over it. I calmly, quietly and simply explain that the card was declined and that the computer does not tell me why it declined. I explain that it could either be a problem with our satellite or perhaps their bank's computers are having an issue. I politely tell them that if they need to go to an ATM or whatever I will be happy to hold their items until they return.

I have had it happen to me when I knew there really WAS plenty of money in there. It's upsetting because the people around you assume you're broke and stupid. Or at least you FEEL like they do.

When my hubby and I got married we had reservations at a nice hotel. Our cards were both declined despite the fact that we had a LOT of money for our honeymoon. The hotel clerk sort of sneered at us. We went to the hotel across the street and our cards ran fine there. It's a mystery as to WHY this happens but it does and it's quite upsetting/embarrassing especially when there's some SE acting like you're scum because of it.

[Catwoman2965]

I had the same problem when i got a new debit card. I had to, as a store i had shopped at had their customer data compromised. So my bank sends me a letter telling me this,and although i know nothing happened, i got a new debit card to be on the safe side.

Then tried to use it a couple of times as a credit, since the less i have to put my pin in, the happier i am - both times declined, and it dawned on me that perhaps the bank didn't do something when i got my new card. So i called them, and sure enough, they forgot to update one system, but did it over the phone, and it worked again.

we get that sometimes when people pay with checks...not sure of the system, but somehow it scans the check, and will either approve it, or tell us to call for approval. the customers get VERY upset sometimes, as they think we think they are being dishonest somehow. We have NO control over it, and i've been told its also just "random" but who actually knows? All we know, is that we have to call for approval, and give the customer's info....but i always cringe when i have to do that, as i KNOW it will upset the customers.

[MadMike]

Mine got declined, and susequently shut down, because I made multiple purchases with it at an electronics store in a short time frame.

I had just finished the basement, and was at Circuit City getting the electronics I wanted for it. I already had a TV, I liked having something to watch while I was working down there. Now I needed a VCR, DVD player, and a kickass stereo system.

This was back when CC still worked on commisions, so the VCR was rung up by one salesman, the DVD player by another, and the stereo by a third. The first two went thru just fine, but the third declined, even though I was nowhere near my limit. Since the store was running a "12 months same as cash" promotion, I applied for a store card, had the two other purchases taken off my card, and repurchased everything on the store card.

After that, we stopped somewhere to get something to eat, and my card didn't work there either. Fortunately, between me and my wife, we had enough cash. But I couldn't do anything else with the card after that. I couldn't even fill up my gas tank. Since it was a Saturday, I'd have to wait until Monday to call and find out what was going on.

When I was finally able to call in, I found out that their system had flagged my purchases because the activity matched a "classic theft pattern." Apparently it's common for someone to steal a card and then buy up a bunch of electronics.

They also said that if I hadn't called them, they would have called me. Five minutes later, my card was restored, and all was well.

[Ringtail Z28]

Depends - if they're acting like a fool and claiming to be all high and mighty, then it's hilarious.

Oh yes. When a card would get declined I would quietly let the customer know, because it can be embarassing. Most weren't a problem, but there were some that would absolutely lose their minds. To me that was a sign that it was probably a stolen card.

[Andara Bledin]

I had to confiscate somebody's card, once. I thought they were going to get physical (I was inside a booth with a locking door, so I was safe, at least), but they took it up with one of the manager's and the manager confirmed that I got to keep the card.

When I have a card that won't go through, my generic phrase is that our system won't process it. Blame gets shifted to a 3rd party, so they get to save face.

I once had my card shut down because somebody on the other side of the country tried to buy something with my number. If they'd tried for $5 less, they'd have done it, too.

I had words with my bank for not contacting me about it. They claimed they did, but I have voice mail, and at the time had a deadbeat brother who was always home. They never called. I have an ATM account, so I need my card to be active.

They shut me down again because my purchases looked suspicious and I had some serious words with them that time. After the first incident, I had placed a stipulation on my account that it would remain active until after they had made contact with me. I now have a cell phone, so there is almost never any time when they cannot get ahold of me.

^-.-^

[Sofar]

I don't get declines that often, but the card reader on my machine doesn't work too well, and cards people hand me are never in good condition. So, I swipe it once, it beeps a shrill beep at me and PLZ SWIPE AGAIN scrolls across the screen. One customer I was in the process of charging, after hearing two shrill beeps, leaned close to me and said, "Could you make it not do that!? It's embarrassing!"

I said, "What's embarrassing?"

She replied, "The beep it makes when my card is declined!"

I said, "You're card's not declined, it's just the machine can't read it, 'cause the strip's all worn away."

She said, "Well everyone else thinks my card is being declined!" I swope it again and it managed to read it, but she was still angry.

[MadMike]

I don't get declines that often, but the card reader on my machine doesn't work too well, and cards people hand me are never in good condition.

Something like that keeps happening when I use my card at the local Mexican restaurant. The only way they can get it to read my card is to cover the strip with a plastic grocery bag and then swipe it. Weird.

[thegiraffe]

The only way they can get it to read my card is to cover the strip with a plastic grocery bag and then swipe it. Weird.

That's because the strip is magnetic. The plastic increases the friction, and therefore the magnetic field. When the magnetic field is stronger, the card reads better

It also works to rapidly swipe the card up and down through the machine....accomplishing essentially the same thing.

/physics lesson

[Bright_Star]

Shouldn't people know BEFORE they even step into a store how much they have on their credit card AND especially if it's near its limit? How stupid are people to think that if their credit card is declined that it's somehow the cashier's fault for declining it when in actuality it's THEIR fault for not keeping track of their credit card.
IF you can't manage a credit card then you shouldn't have one.

[Broomjockey]

Shouldn't people know BEFORE they even step into a store how much they have on their credit card AND especially if it's near its limit?

Not credit card, but I've got two similar stories.

1. The HOLD! When I was a wee lad of 20, my paycheque still had a hold put on it for anything over $150, or something like that. I went to West Edmonton Mall with an Ex-friend, and we had a day of it. Until supper time. We were getting some Taco Bell in the food court, and I tried to swipe my debit card. $$ not available! *gasp* Tried again, thinking I just hit the wrong account. Nope. Turns out I hit my "available" cash limit until my cheque cleared, despite the fact I had $300 in my account. Ex-friend paid for my food, I paid him back.

2. Daily limit exceeded? This actually takes place before the other story, but it's not as heartwarming with the friendship and all. I'd bought my textbooks for the semester that day, then, again went to West Edmonton Mall to do some shopping. Went to HMV to get some DVDs. Total was $58 I think. Over $50 but less than $60. I remember, because I got declined for exceeding my daily limit. It took me forever to remember what the heck else I bought that day. >_<
But I split my purchase, and got my mother to spot me the $10 to pay for the other thing.

[NightAngel]

It also works to rapidly swipe the card up and down through the machine....accomplishing essentially the same thing.

Yep, I know the plastic bag trick but rarely use it because swiping the card the opposite direction usually works just as well. If that doesn't work I just type the number in because that's faster than getting the bag, getting the stupid thing open and over the card right. But we have really cheap bags that are 'clingy'.

[Andara Bledin]

A $50 daily limit? That's ridiculous. How do they expect anyone to get by on that? I hardly make a purchase that isn't at least that much.

^-.-^