: Look for a "Confirm Card" link in your PayPal account. You may need to enter a 4-digit code from your card statement to verify ownership. Common Reasons for Decline Why was my payment declined? | PayPal IS
Retrying without action will likely fail again and may temporarily block the card. The most common fix is a 5-minute phone call to the bank to verify the transaction.
Generic Decline (Soft Decline) Error Message: “Check your account at your card issuer before retrying this card.” : Look for a "Confirm Card" link in your PayPal account
The fastest resolution is to call the customer service phone number listed on the back of your credit or debit card. Tell the agent you are attempting a payment via PayPal.
Choose the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card" option on the merchant's site without logging into PayPal. | PayPal IS Retrying without action will likely
PayPal is a massive target for money laundering and fraud. To combat this, they employ a proprietary risk engine that evaluates every transaction in real-time. If your account has had a recent refund dispute, if you are using a VPN that routes through a high-risk country, or if your account is new, PayPal might decide they don't want to process the transaction.
When you link a card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to PayPal, PayPal runs a pre-authorization check. They send a tiny, temporary hold to your bank (usually $0.00 or $1.00) to verify: Tell the agent you are attempting a payment via PayPal
There are several reasons why a bank might decline a transaction and trigger this message: 1. Security Fraud Alerts
Banks constantly monitor your spending habits. If the PayPal transaction looks unusual, the bank's automated system will block it to prevent potential fraud. Trigger events include: Making a purchase from a foreign merchant.
Follow these practical steps in order to clear the error and complete your purchase. Step 1: Verify Card Details and Billing Info
According to PayPal's official help resources , the most common reasons for a decline include: 1. Security Blocks and Fraud Protection