Express Card: Why It Might Be Declined
Last updated
September 10, 2009 10:50:54 AM PDT
Learn why your Express Card might be declined at the point of sale.
Your Express Card purchase might be declined at the point of sale even if a merchant accepts the Express Card (Visa card). The mechanisms that trigger a declined card protect the cardholder, the merchant, and UCSD.
Why an Express Card can be declined
- The purchase exceeds the allowed amount: A purchase cannot exceed the $4,999 maximum transaction amount. This maximum includes charges for tax, freight, and handling.
- The supplier type is restricted. Restricted suppliers include:
- Liquor stores
- Airlines
- Rental car agencies
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Automated teller machines (ATMs)
- The card has not been activated: A transaction will be declined if the cardholder has not activated a newly assigned or renewed card. See How to Activate an Express Card for activation instructions.
- The account number has been transposed: A transaction will be declined if either the cardholder or merchant transposes the card account number while completing the transaction. If a card is declined, verify the account number with the merchant in case this error has occurred.
- The billing address does not match: A transaction can be declined if the billing address on file with the bank does not match the billing address provided by the cardholder at the point of purchase.
If a merchant requests the billing address to validate the transaction, provide this address (fill in the blanks with your department Mail Code):
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code ____
La Jolla, CA 92093-____
If you can't determine a reason for the declined card, contact U.S. Bank at (800) 344-5696 and ask the bank for the reason for the decline. The bank will provide a reason by the next business day.
