Discover Card Declined at Gas Station: What to Do and Avoid Fees

If your Discover card is declined at a gas station, don't panic! You can avoid fees by knowing what to do next.

First, check if your card is simply out of funds or if there's an issue with your account. You can check your balance online or through the Discover app.

If your card is declined due to a security reason, such as a suspicious transaction, you may need to contact Discover customer service to verify the transaction.

Discover cardholders have up to 60 days to report any unauthorized transactions, which can help prevent additional fees.

Your Discover card was declined, and you're wondering why? It's frustrating, especially if you were in a hurry to fill up your gas tank.

One common reason is that your card has insufficient funds. This is indicated by code 51, which means you don't have enough money in the accounts associated with your card.

Another reason is that you've exceeded your credit limit. If you've used up all your available credit, your card will be declined, and you'll see code 65.

You might also have an expired card, which is indicated by code 54. If your card has expired, it's time to get a new one.

If you're trying to use your card for a transaction that's not allowed, such as international payments or online transactions that are blocked, you'll see code 57.

It's also possible that you've entered your card number or security code incorrectly. If you've mistyped your card number, you'll see code 14 or 15, depending on the first digit you entered. If you've entered the wrong security code, you'll see code 63.

Here are some common reasons your Discover card might be declined:

If you're still unsure why your Discover card was declined, it's always a good idea to contact your card issuer for more information. They can help you troubleshoot the issue and get your card working again.

Credit card decline codes can be confusing, but they're actually pretty straightforward once you know what they mean. If your Discover card is declined at a gas station, the error message will likely be a short code that indicates why the transaction was stopped.

You might see codes like 7, 41, or 43, which are associated with fraud. These codes mean the card issuer has flagged the account for fraud, the real owner reported the card as lost or stolen, or the owner has reported the card stolen, respectively. Other common codes include 51 for insufficient funds, 65 for exceeded credit limit, and 54 for an expired card.

Here are some common credit card decline codes you might see:

These codes can help you understand why your transaction was declined and what you can do to resolve the issue.

If the payment terminal can't read your credit card, it might be due to a dirty chip or strip.

A buildup of grime on your card can prevent the terminal from reading it, so try wiping it down with a soft cloth.

If that doesn't work, you might need to get a replacement card from your credit card company.

You can use your card via mobile wallets and/or tap to pay if your card issuer allows it, as a temporary solution.

If your card issuer doesn't allow mobile payments, you can try using another credit card if you have one available.

If the issue persists, you can contact your credit card company for further assistance.

Here are some steps to troubleshoot the issue:

You'll get a short error message with one to three numbers or letters when a transaction is declined, known as a credit decline code. This code can explain what the actual issue is.

Code 7, Code 41, Code 43, Code 215, Code 534, and Code 596 are all associated with fraud. These codes indicate that the card issuer suspects or has confirmed fraud, and has blocked the transaction.

Fraud is a common issue, with 271,823 cases in the US alone in 2019. You need to be vigilant and aware of how your own cards are being utilized.

Here are some common reasons a card is declined, along with their corresponding codes:

These codes can be confusing, but they can help you identify the issue.

If your Discover card is declined at a gas station, don't panic. Check your card's expiration date, as it may have expired, just like in the example of the Discover cardholder who tried to use an expired card at a gas station.

Make sure you have sufficient funds in your account, as Discover card declines can also be caused by insufficient funds. According to the article, Discover card declines are often due to insufficient funds, which can be avoided by keeping a balance in your account.

Contact Discover's customer service to report the issue and ask for assistance. They may be able to provide you with a temporary card or help you resolve the issue.

If your credit card is declined, don't panic. It's not the end of the world, and it's often an easy fix.

First, get the error code from the transaction or contact the merchant to find out the code. This will give you a clue about what went wrong.

Error codes can be cryptic, but some common ones include credit card verification errors, insufficient funds, and exceeded credit limits. You can check the table below for more information on common error codes.

Once you know the error code, you can take the necessary steps to fix the issue. If it's a simple mistake, like entering the wrong card number or security code, try again carefully. If it's something more serious, like insufficient funds or an expired card, you may need to contact your bank or try a different card.

If you use a debit card, entering a PIN can help you avoid pre-authorization holds. Most PIN-based transactions are processed immediately.

If you're not in a hurry, consider choosing "credit" when using your debit card. Credit authorization holds often are only $1.

Paying with cash is another way to avoid pre-authorization holds altogether. Just head into the gas station and pay for your gas.

If you do need to use a debit card, asking the gas station to pre-authorize a smaller amount can help you avoid a large hold. For example, asking for a hold of $30 instead of $50.

Using a prepaid card, such as a gift card, is another option for avoiding pre-authorization holds. Prepaid cards don't require a bank account or credit check.

To avoid overdraft fees, make sure there's enough money in your bank account to cover a gas purchase. You can also set up overdraft protection to shift money from one account to another at the same financial institution.

Here are some additional tips for avoiding trouble with pre-authorization holds:

A pre-authorization hold can be devastating for debit cardholders with low account balances, causing overdraft or non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. In 2019, financial institutions reaped $15.5 billion in revenue from these fees.

It's incredibly difficult for lower-income consumers to avoid overdraft and NSF fees, especially those caused by debit holds, due to the opaque and complicated timing of credits and debits.

Financial institutions argue that pre-authorization holds are designed to make consumers aware of their purchasing power, but the risk of fees remains.

Security is a top concern for anyone dealing with sensitive data.

Malware can be spread through infected software downloads, which can compromise the entire system.

Regularly updating your operating system and software is crucial to prevent such attacks.

In fact, the article notes that outdated software is responsible for 63% of all malware infections.

Keeping your antivirus software up to date is also essential, as it can detect and remove malware.

The article highlights that a good antivirus program can detect and remove 99% of malware.

Be cautious when clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources, as they can contain malware.

In one example, a phishing email was used to trick a user into downloading malware, which then stole sensitive information.

Consumer advocates warn that higher pre-authorization holds can cause consumers to rack up a negative balance on a debit card and possibly be hit with a fee.

Financial institutions reaped $15.5 billion in revenue from overdraft and NSF fees in 2019, according to Rachel Gittleman of the Consumer Federation of America.

Pre-authorization holds can be "devastating" for debit cardholders with low account balances, causing overdraft or non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.

Lower-income consumers are especially vulnerable to these fees, as the timing of when credits and debits are posted and settled is "incredibly opaque, complicated and out of the consumer's control."

A pending piece of legislation in Congress would prohibit financial institutions from charging overdraft fees for debit holds that go over the actual transaction amounts.