Why Was My Barclays Credit Card Declined?

If your Barclays card was recently declined, you should figure out why it was declined so you can resolve the problem quickly. There are several reasons your card may have been declined, including a damaged card, using it in a new location, entering the wrong information during an online transaction, and violating Barclays' terms of service.

Adam Goldkamp is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Dec 9, 2022

If your Barclaycard was recently declined, it's understandable if you're rather concerned. You need to determine why it was declined so you can fix the issue as soon as possible. There are several potential causes for your Barclaycard being declined.

You Used It in a New Location

Most people tend to use their cards within a certain area, usually around their homes and offices. If you have recently used your card in a new location that's far away from your usual locations, Barclays might think your Barclaycard was stolen and is now being used without your consent. It will put a "Do Not Honor" notice on it to prevent further loss. You should make sure to tell Barclays when you are traveling for this reason.

You Violated Barclays' Terms of Service

If you have violated Barclays' terms of service, it could deactivate your card as a penalty.

You Have Insufficient Funds or Are Past Your Credit Limit

If you don't have enough credit or funds, Barclays might lock your card to avoid becoming overdrawn or going past your limit.

Your Barclaycard Expired

If your Barclaycard expired, it would be automatically turned off. Usually, though, you would have received a replacement before your card expired.

You Entered an Incorrect CVV2 Number

If your card was declined during an online transaction, it is possible that you entered the CVV2 number on the back of the card incorrectly.

You Entered an Incorrect Billing Address

If it wasn't the CVV2 that caused your card to be declined for an online transaction, it could be that you entered the incorrect billing address during the transaction.

Fraud Is Suspected

If Barclays believes your card may have been used to commit fraud, it will deactivate during its fraud investigation.

Your Card Is Faulty

Your card also might be declined if it has been damaged in some way so that card-reading machines can no longer read it. A card can be damaged enough to no longer be readable without showing any damage to the naked eye.

Contacting Barclays

To get the problem fixed, contact a Barclays representative either by phone or with the Barclays help forum.

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Adam has been tirelessly trying to help customers find the best tips and tricks to get through phone trees and writing many guides for prickly customer service problems. He's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inside Edition and Bloomberg.
Why Was My Barclays Credit Card Declined?

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