Credit Cards Credit Card Basics Reasons Your Credit Card Isn't Working By LaToya Irby LaToya Irby LaToya Irby is a credit expert who has been covering credit and debt management for The Balance for more than a dozen years. She's been quoted in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and her work has been cited in several books. learn about our editorial policies Updated on October 12, 2021 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein In This Article View All In This Article You Haven’t Activated It It’s Expired A New Card Is on the Way It’s Been Demagnetized or Scratched Merchant or Payment Processor Issues Not Enough Available Credit Fraud on Your Account Traveling Abroad Incorrect Billing Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Thanit Weerawan / Getty Images The worst time to find out your credit card isn’t working is when you’re in the middle of a transaction, particularly when you're at the checkout. Depending on the issue, you may be able to fix it right away, but you might have to use another payment method until you do. Worst-case scenario, you’ll have to save your purchase until you fix your credit card issue. Here are some reasons your credit card may not work. You Haven’t Activated It New credit cards are affixed with a sticker with instructions for activating it. Typically, you only have to call a 1-800 number and enter the last four digits of your social security number or the billing zip code. The call will only take a few moments and your credit card will be activated right away. Some credit card issuers let you activate your credit card online or via a smartphone app, but calling may be quicker. It’s Expired Your credit card may stop working after you reach the expiration month. In some cases, it may even cease working during that month. If you think your credit card has expired, check your mail. Your credit card issuer has probably sent a replacement credit card already. Otherwise, call your credit card issuer to find out whether a new card is on the way. A New Card Is on the Way Your credit card company may issue you a brand new card. For example, if your account number has been compromised after a major data breach, a new credit card may already be in the mail. The card company will likely also cancel the old one. Many credit card issuers are sending more secure credit cards with EMV chips. This technology prevents cards from being cloned or duplicated. Note Your card issuer may deactivate your credit card after the new one has been mailed to you. Once you receive your new credit card, make sure to call and activate it so you can use it. It’s Been Demagnetized or Scratched The magnetic stripe on some credit cards may stop working after the card has been too close to a magnet or even a cell phone. When the credit card has been demagnetized, you may experience a credit card read error or, in certain cases, nothing will happen after the swipe. Scratches or bends on the magnetic stripe may also prevent your credit card from being swiped. Your card number can still be manually entered, but you’ll have to get a new credit card to make swipe purchases. Merchant or Payment Processor Issues This happens with credit card transactions processed electronically. The information passes through a few different layers before the transaction is approved. Technical difficulties at any stage can cause issues with your payment processing. The merchant may be able to hold your credit card information and run the transaction once the technical issues have been resolved. Not Enough Available Credit Your credit card may be declined if you don’t have enough available credit for the transaction. You can't make a payment right away to free up some available credit, unless the card is linked to your checking account, so it’s best to use another payment method if you experience this problem. Fraud on Your Account According the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), credit card fraud tops the list of identity theft reports in 2019. The FTC received more than 271,000 reports from people who said their information was misused on an existing account or to open a new credit card account. Your credit card may stop working if your credit card issuer suspects fraud on your account. For example, someone may be using your credit card number to make purchases in another state. Note Your credit card issuer may suspect fraud if you spend significantly more than you usually do in a day or make a large purchase. Traveling Abroad Data published from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office revealed that the number of U.S. citizens traveling outside the country for business and leisure jumped by 6% in 2018, reaching a total of 93 million people. As more people travel each year, credit card companies are continuing to innovate to keep our information safe. They require some notice that you're traveling and plan on using your card, especially when you travel abroad. Because of the number of fraud cases that happen overseas, many companies don't take the risk of letting charges incur in these cases. If you know you're going to be away and plan on using your credit card, make sure you call your issuer to let them know where you'll be and the dates you'll be traveling. Even if you don't plan on using the card, it's a good idea to inform your credit card company, just in case an emergency arises and you're stuck. Incorrect Billing Information Online purchases require you to enter the billing information as it appears on your credit card statement. Your credit card won’t work if your billing information is incorrect, even if everything else is accurate. Verify all the credit card information you've entered matches your statement. If your credit card continues to give you problems, you may have to request a replacement. Many companies send a new credit card for free with the same account number, except in cases of fraud. Use a backup form of payment while you're waiting to receive the new credit card in the mail. The Bottom Line There's nothing more embarrassing than seeing the word "decline" flash across the keypad when you try to use your credit card. There comes a time in many people's lives when this happens at the register. It can happen for a variety of reasons, some that have nothing to do with your own spending behavior, while others may be because of how you use the card. Being prepared with the right knowledge, and a backup payment method, can help you overcome the challenges that come with a card that doesn't work. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How can you check whether or not your credit card is working? You don't have to take a chance at the register to find out whether your card works or not. The easiest way to check if your card is working is to call customer service. They can tell you whether your account is in good standing and if the card has been activated. Once you know that, you can try the card, and if it gets declined, then you know it isn't due to issues with your account. Instead, there may be an issue with your physical card or with the store's card reader. Why isn't my credit card working online? If your credit card isn't working online, then there are two likely culprits. First, double-check what you entered into the text fields. A typo or accidentally using an old zip code could result in a declined transaction. If a typo isn't the problem, then the issue may be with your account. Call customer service and ask if they know why your online purchase is getting denied. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Federal Trade Commission. "Data Book 2019." Page 4. U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism. "U.S. Citizen International Outbound Travel Up Six Percent in 2018."