What to Do If Payment Fails

Payment failures are frustrating but usually easy to fix with the right steps.

Quick Answer

Common causes: Insufficient funds, card restrictions, incorrect details, security blocks
Quick fixes: Check card details, contact bank, try different card, use alternative payment

Common Error Messages

"Payment Declined"

Possible reasons:

Insufficient funds
Card declined by bank
Transaction limit reached
Fraud prevention triggered

"Card Not Authorized"

Usually means:

Bank blocked international transaction
3D Secure authentication failed
Card not enabled for online purchases
Daily limit exceeded

"Invalid Card Details"

Check:

Card number (no spaces, all digits)
Expiry date (MM/YY format)
CVV/CVC (3-4 digits on back)
Billing address matches

"Transaction Failed"

Generic error - Could be:

Network timeout
Payment gateway issue
Temporary technical problem
Try again in few minutes

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Step 1: Verify Card Details

Double-check:

✅ Card number (16 digits, no spaces)
✅ Cardholder name (as on card)
✅ Expiry date (not expired)
✅ CVV (3 digits Visa/MC, 4 for Amex)
✅ Billing address (exact match)

Common mistakes:

Transposed numbers
Wrong expiry month/year
Old address on file
Spaces in card number

Step 2: Check Available Funds

Ensure you have:

Enough for booking amount
Plus authorization hold buffer
Consider pending transactions
Check credit limit

Tip: Add 20% buffer for authorization holds

Example:

Booking: $500
Authorization hold: $50-100
Recommended available: $600

Step 3: Contact Your Bank

Call and ask:

"Was my card declined?"
"Why was it declined?"
"Can you authorize this merchant?"
"Is international payment enabled?"

Have ready:

Card number
Attempted amount
Merchant name (PriceRoom)
Time of attempt

Step 4: Enable International Transactions

For foreign bookings:

Many cards block international by default
Call bank to enable
May be temporary or permanent setting
Usually instant activation

Online banking:

Some banks allow in app/website
Card controls section
Enable "International transactions"
Enable "Online purchases"

Step 5: Try Different Payment Method

Alternatives:

Different credit card
Debit card
Different card issuer
Card from different bank

If all cards fail: Usually account/profile issue, not card issue

Specific Solutions

3D Secure/Verified by Visa Failed

What it is:

Extra security layer
OTP sent to phone
Password prompt
Biometric verification

If it fails:

Check phone number registered with bank
Request new OTP
Use banking app instead of SMS
Contact bank to reset 3D Secure

Address Verification Failed

AVS (Address Verification System):

Compares billing address
Must match bank records exactly
Street number, name, zip critical

Fix:

Use exact address from bank statement
No abbreviations (use "Street" not "St")
Check zip/postal code
Update bank records if moved

Daily/Monthly Limit Exceeded

Transaction limits:

Daily spending limit
Per-transaction limit
Monthly limit
Number of transactions limit

Solutions:

Wait until next day
Call bank to increase limit
Split payment (if option available)
Use different card

Fraud Alert Triggered

Banks may block if:

Unusual purchase amount
Different country
New merchant
Pattern doesn't match usual spending

What to do:

Check for bank notification (SMS/email/app)
Confirm transaction is legitimate
Bank will unblock
Retry payment

Prevent future:

Notify bank of travel plans
Add merchant to approved list
Set travel notification

Technical Issues

Browser/Connection Problems

Try:

Different browser
Incognito/private mode
Clear cache and cookies
Disable browser extensions
Check internet connection
Try from different device

Payment Gateway Timeout

If page times out:

Don't refresh immediately
Check email for confirmation
Check bank statement
Wait 10 minutes before retrying
Avoid duplicate charges

App vs Website

If one doesn't work:

Try the other
App may have different gateway
Website may process differently
Both are secure

When to Contact Support

Contact Us If:

✅ Multiple payment methods fail
✅ Error message unclear
✅ Charged but no confirmation
✅ Booking disappeared
✅ Can't retry after fixing issue
✅ Need to change payment method

Don't Contact Us For:

❌ Check card details (do yourself)
❌ Bank authorization (call bank)
❌ Insufficient funds (add funds)
❌ Expired card (use valid card)

We can help with:

Technical platform issues
Payment gateway problems
Booking on your behalf
Alternative payment arrangements

Prevent Future Payment Issues

Best Practices

Before booking:

✅ Verify card is valid and active
✅ Check expiry date
✅ Ensure sufficient funds + buffer
✅ Enable international payments
✅ Update billing address
✅ Have backup payment method

For international bookings:

✅ Notify bank of travel
✅ Use travel credit card
✅ Check foreign transaction fees
✅ Have card issuer's international number

For large bookings:

✅ Increase card limit if needed
✅ Have multiple payment options ready
✅ Book during business hours (easier to call bank)

Alternative Solutions

If Card Won't Work

Options:

Different card type - Try Visa if Mastercard failed
Debit vs Credit - Try opposite
Virtual card - From your bank app
Someone else's card - With permission
Pay at hotel - Select pay later option

Booking Assistance

We can help:

Take payment over phone (secure line)
Process with different gateway
Arrange invoice/bank transfer (for groups)
Split into multiple transactions

Contact: support@priceroom.co

Important Notes

Multiple Attempts

Be careful:

Don't retry immediately multiple times
Each attempt may create authorization hold
Multiple holds tie up credit
Wait 10-15 minutes between attempts

Double Booking

If successful after "failed":

Check email confirmation
Check bank statement
May have processed despite error
Contact us immediately if duplicate

Security

Never:

❌ Send card details via email
❌ Share CVV in chat
❌ Use public WiFi for payment
❌ Save on unsecured device

FAQ

Q: Why did my card work yesterday but not today? A: Daily limits reset, authorization holds accumulate, or fraud alert triggered.

Q: Payment failed but I see a charge? A: Likely authorization hold, not charge. Released in 3-7 days.

Q: Can I book without credit card? A: Debit cards work for most bookings. Some suppliers require credit.

Q: Will failed attempts affect my credit score? A: No. Authorization attempts don't impact credit score.

Q: How many times can I retry? A: Limit 3-4 attempts. Then wait or contact support.

Q: Can you charge a different card than provided? A: Not without your explicit authorization for security.

Get Help

Still having issues?

Contact Support

Provide:

Error message (exact text)
Card type (Visa/Mastercard/etc.)
What you've tried
Booking details

What to do if payment fails