credit card declined at Amazon ??

myotis

myotis

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Has anyone come across this before.

Yesterday Amazon said my credit card had been declined, and to check card details, etc. It's the same card I use regularly with Amazon, and indeed had been used a few hours earlier to pay for a couple of Kindle books.

There was nothing wrong with the card details, and to cut a long story short (after three phone calls to my bank's customer service and fraud department), there is no issue with the card or approving payment.

The issue, according to my bank, is that Amazon are declining to accept the payment. My bank is getting a message on their system saying it was approved, but payment was declined by the merchant, and on that basis there is nothing that they (my bank) can do about it. I need to go back to Amazon

Meanwhile, Amazon (after two phone calls) say that my bank are declining payment because, (according to the message on their system) I have exceeded my credit limit and there is nothing they (Amazon) can do about it. I need to go back to my bank.

On the second phone call to Amazon, both of which I struggled to follow because of the strong accents, I "think" they said they will look into it, but I'm not sure whether she said they would just wait 24 hours and try again, or that they were saying they would investigate it and get back to me within 24 hours. My bank already has a record of Amazon putting it through 5 times, and on each case it was approved by the bank, and then declined by Amazon.

The second person I spoke to at the bank said they had come across the same issue with someone else earlier on in the day. They had just decided to cancel the order with Amazon, but I want to get it sorted.

It's not an issue I've come across before, has anyone seen this before and managed to get it resolved?
 
There are some problems at Nationwide, so could be a wider problem on the banking system.
 
tijuana taxi said:
There are some problems at Nationwide, so could be a wider problem on the banking system.
Click to expand...
Thanks, this was the sort of thing I was hoping either the Bank of Scotland or Amazon might have told me, ie there is an issue at the moment, which should be sorted soon.
 
I had the same problem at Amazon twice and had to phone them to get the card "recognised" again. The rejection is, apparently, part of a security check.
Amazon told me to opt in to the One Time Passcode system to avoid the problem . I did and it has never recurred. I am a prolific Amazon user and getting that problem was a real pain in the Khyber.
 
arclight said:
I had the same problem at Amazon twice and had to phone them to get the card "recognised" again. The rejection is, apparently, part of a security check.
Amazon told me to opt in to the One Time Passcode system to avoid the problem . I did and it has never recurred. I am a prolific Amazon user and getting that problem was a real pain in the Khyber.
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Thanks, so far, neither of the two different people I've spoken to at Amazon have suggested this. When they phone back, which is meant to be today, with a progress report I will mention this to them.

At the moment they seem to be struggling with the idea that has anything to do with Amazon, and all to do with my bank.

But I'm surprised that the card not being "recognised" doesn't show up when I try to make the payment, rather than what is happening, which is it failing when the bank transfers the money. But as is plain, I don't really understand how this all works.
 
myotis said:
Thanks, so far, neither of the two different people I've spoken to at Amazon have suggested this. When they phone back, which is meant to be today, with a progress report I will mention this to them.

At the moment they seem to be struggling with the idea that has anything to do with Amazon, and all to do with my bank.

But I'm surprised that the card not being "recognised" doesn't show up when I try to make the payment, rather than what is happening, which is it failing when the bank transfers the money. But as is plain, I don't really understand how this all works.
Click to expand...
When I phoned Amazon (BTW - there was a language problem ) the problem was sorted in a few seconds.
 
myotis said:
But I'm surprised that the card not being "recognised" doesn't show up when I try to make the payment, rather than what is happening, which is it failing when the bank transfers the money.
Click to expand...
myotis said:
The issue, according to my bank, is that Amazon are declining to accept the payment. My bank is getting a message on their system saying it was approved, but payment was declined by the merchant
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That's a new one on me and I thought I had a handle on card transfers.

However, I had a hunt around and found this page: https://account.authorize.net/help/...r_Decline_a_Transaction_in_Pending_Review.htm

It's possible that Amazon is using a similar system and something in your transaction has triggered it.
 
Nat West did something similar when I used my renewed credit card for the first time.
Declined a purchase so I had to contact them which in turn verified my identity.
I waa not a happy person when they explained their reasoning.
 
In a few days time they will no longer accept my Visa card. I have done nothing as I was hoping that their dispute with Visa would be sorted by now. I may have to take the Amazon Master Card offer.

Dave
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
That's a new one on me and I thought I had a handle on card transfers.

However, I had a hunt around and found this page: https://account.authorize.net/help/...r_Decline_a_Transaction_in_Pending_Review.htm

It's possible that Amazon is using a similar system and something in your transaction has triggered it.
Click to expand...
It still seems strange, that if Amazon are deciding to decline payment for some reason, the message they are putting onto their system is that the credit card has declined payment, which has then triggered me and Amazon staff trying to sort it out with the Bank, and not internally with Amazon.

Or maybe I'm not following what your link is explaining :-(
 
tijuana taxi said:
Nat West did something similar when I used my renewed credit card for the first time.
Declined a purchase so I had to contact them which in turn verified my identity.
I waa not a happy person when they explained their reasoning.
Click to expand...
I had that before, when I moved house, and the first payment I tried to make (in a shop, not online) was declined and when I followed it up, they said they always did this with the first payment after a change in address.

But in this case it is isn't the credit card company declining to make the payment, its Amazon refusing to accept the money.
 
Dave Canon said:
In a few days time they will no longer accept my Visa card. I have done nothing as I was hoping that their dispute with Visa would be sorted by now. I may have to take the Amazon Master Card offer.

Dave
Click to expand...
As it so happens, it’s a Mastercard I already use for Amazon.
 
myotis said:
It still seems strange, that if Amazon are deciding to decline payment for some reason, the message they are putting onto their system is that the credit card has declined payment, which has then triggered me and Amazon staff trying to sort it out with the Bank, and not internally with Amazon.

Or maybe I'm not following what your link is explaining :-(
Click to expand...
My first guess is that someone (or something) has mistakenly caused the refusal. It would probably take someone with knowledge of the system just a few minutes to find and fix the problem but it's stuck in either Amazon's or the bank's first line response.

When I've done third line support I've too often found that first line management don't want to escalate oddities like this, because they think it makes them look weak. They don't seem to understand that, if the customer gets angry enough to force through a complaint, it shows them to be both weak and incompetent! :(
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
My first guess is that someone (or something) has mistakenly caused the refusal. It would probably take someone with knowledge of the system just a few minutes to find and fix the problem but it's stuck in either Amazon's or the bank's first line response.
Click to expand...
This is my hope, as well.

My feeling is that it's Amazon that needs to fix it, as there is no reason for the card to be declined, confirmed by the bank customer support, and their fraud department could find no evidence of fraud resulting in a decline. And indeed there system says it's been approved.

The first person I spoke to at Amazon, insisted it couldn't be anything to do with them, and everything to do with the bank, in spite of them saying they had approved the payment

The second person at Amazon seems to be taking further (I think). I'm not exactly sure what she is going to do, but she seemed more interested in the bank saying there weren't declining the payment, than the first person.

I wait and see, but it's a bit inconvenient, as it's a new external drive, which I paid for next day delivery, so I could get on with reorganising my file management organisation before Christmas.

I'm working on the assumption it will get sorted eventually, but heaven knows when I will actually get the drive.
 
Amazon got back to me and said all I needed to do was cancel the order and re-order, which I did, but price had gone up £30 !

Payment was still declined.

Phoned Amazon again, thy asked me to delete card details and put the same card back in.

Payment still declined.

Fully took on board, the bank saying they weren't declining the payment and the problem has been escalated to the "Payments team"

:-(
 
OK, I've just had a look at my order at Amazon, and there was a new message asking me to reconfirm my order (not change payment details) I clicked on it and it now says "payment authorised"

Do you think the "payment team" knew immediately what the problem was and fixed it, or will I get another message in a few minutes saying the payment was declined !
 
myotis said:
OK, I've just had a look at my order at Amazon, and there was a new message asking me to reconfirm my order (not change payment details) I clicked on it and it now says "payment authorised"

Do you think the "payment team" knew immediately what the problem was and fixed it, or will I get another message in a few minutes saying the payment was declined !
Click to expand...
And hopefully you have completed the order at the earlier price and not the 'new' one @£30 higher?
 
Box Brownie said:
And hopefully you have completed the order at the earlier price and not the 'new' one @£30 higher?
Click to expand...
Well, no, but, they have just phoned and said, that it seemed to sort it self out before it got to the payments team, so they weren't escalating it, and they will refund the difference in price.

I hate these things that just "sort themselves out". It will leave me nervous until I try and, successfully, buy from them again.
 
myotis said:
Well, no, but, they have just phoned and said, that it seemed to sort it self out before it got to the payments team,
Click to expand...
Hmmm.

I've "just sorted itself out" on a few occassions. A lot of first line never quite understand that third line can see pretty much everything first line say and do. :thinking:
 
I did have reason to complain to Amazon last week after an item arrived (market Place)which was clearly used and unacceptable. I was certainly not interested in a replacement as I no longer wished to buy anything from this market place company. Almost immediately after I completed the on-line forms, I was informed that I would receive a full refund and they did not want the item returned.

Dave
 
I'm getting this message today...

"There’s a problem with your Prime membership payment method
As a result, your Prime membership may not continue automatically. If we cannot charge your preferred payment method, we will try to charge another card on file."

I guess Amazon have a problem at their end.
 
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woof woof said:
I'm getting this message today...

"There’s a problem with your Prime membership payment method
As a result, your Prime membership may not continue automatically. If we cannot charge your preferred payment method, we will try to charge another card on file."

I guess Amazon have a problem at their end.
Click to expand...
Interesting

I have had a heads up reminder for one goods subscription that used a visa card on........but have yet to get a similar one for my prime payments, also the same Visa card.

Looks like I will have make the Amazon card the default one soon!
 
This seems to be relatively common. I wonder what's going on.

PS.
My problem is with Amazon and my RBS credit card.
 
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woof woof said:
This seems to be relatively common. I wonder what's going on.

PS.
My problem is with Amazon and my RBS credit card.
Click to expand...
I wonder if they are trying to implement the system they will be using to deal with the change on the 17th Jan of not accepting Visa cards.

My B of S card used to be Visa, and B of S changed it to Mastercard, but with an option to carry on with an alternative Visa option, if I objected to the change.
 
myotis said:
I wonder if they are trying to implement the system they will be using to deal with the change on the 17th Jan of not accepting Visa cards.

My B of S card used to be Visa, and B of S changed it to Mastercard, but with an option to carry on with an alternative Visa option, if I objected to the change.
Click to expand...

Who knows? I suppose I'll have to try and sort this out as I do use Amazon, have Prime and watch Amazon on TV.

What a pain...
 
woof woof said:
Who knows? I suppose I'll have to try and sort this out as I do use Amazon, have Prime and watch Amazon on TV.

What a pain...
Click to expand...
I am of course, just making a wild guess :-)

And yes it is a pain, I had three phone calls to the bank (including being on hold for an hour before getting through to the fraud support people) and altogether six phone calls with Amazon.
 
Oddly enough, I've had fun and games with the iTunes Store this morning. I managed to get one out of two transactions through, then gave up and transferred the money direct to the recipient's bank account - went through no trouble.

If I were still being paid to do this stuff, I'd guess that someone just doesn't understand the handshake but I'm not, so I don't care! :naughty:
 
I got an email from Amazon last week, from January they'll no longer accept Visa credit/debit cards, which will probably affect my Dad.
 
MrRichAllen1976 said:
I got an email from Amazon last week, from January they'll no longer accept Visa credit/debit cards, which will probably affect my Dad.
Click to expand...
Credit and debit cards?are you sure? That they won’t take Visa credit after mid January is well known. The debit card is a new one
 
MrRichAllen1976 said:
I got an email from Amazon last week, from January they'll no longer accept Visa credit/debit cards, which will probably affect my Dad.
Click to expand...
It’s only a Visa credit card issued in U.K. that they will refuse on 19 Jan, currently they are offering me £20 off my next “purchase from Amazon” (ie not 3rd party) purchase if I change my card. I’m holding out for £100 :LOL: .
 
Marc said:
If they were to refuse Visa debit cards, they'd lose a massive amount of custom.
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Maybe, but given their near monopoly position they might try it. Maybe this Visa Credit thing is a dry run.
 
The Payment Systems Regulator has done nothing to regulate the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard so Amazon has taken a stand. In the middle is the consumer because if payment by Visa can't be made it's the consumer who will take the hardest hit and they can do nothing about it. The PSR has now said it will look into the fees. It could, however be left to the protagonists and end up as a who blinks first situation. The small retailer has had to bear the high fees with no recourse so I'd think they'd see Amazon as the cheerleader. A thought crossed my mind,though. What if Visa do a deal with Amazon ?
 
JohnC6 said:
The Payment Systems Regulator has done nothing to regulate the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard so Amazon has taken a stand. In the middle is the consumer because if payment by Visa can't be made it's the consumer who will take the hardest hit and they can do nothing about it. The PSR has now said it will look into the fees. It could, however be left to the protagonists and end up as a who blinks first situation. The small retailer has had to bear the high fees with no recourse so I'd think they'd see Amazon as the cheerleader. A thought crossed my mind,though. What if Visa do a deal with Amazon ?
Click to expand...
It’s hard to feel sorry for either party. Amazon or Visa. Tough choice.

but the Visa charges were capped by the EU before we left.
 
JohnC6 said:
The Payment Systems Regulator has done nothing to regulate the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard so Amazon has taken a stand. In the middle is the consumer because if payment by Visa can't be made it's the consumer who will take the hardest hit and they can do nothing about it. The PSR has now said it will look into the fees. It could, however be left to the protagonists and end up as a who blinks first situation. The small retailer has had to bear the high fees with no recourse so I'd think they'd see Amazon as the cheerleader. A thought crossed my mind,though. What if Visa do a deal with Amazon ?
Click to expand...
It’s a bloody nuisance. I’ve pared my cards down to one Visa Credit and one Mastercard Debit. I’ve always avoided using a Credit Card issued by my bank as I feel that gives them an edge in case of dispute (or use by thieves etc). There’s some advantage in using a Credit card though most of my purchases are probably covered by distance selling and so on.
 
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