Looking for some help or inspiration from the clever OzBargain community as to what's causing my problem.
Google has not been my friend in trying to fix it myself.
For about the last 10 days, everytime I try to make online purchases through my iphone, ipad or desktop Windows computer, my credit cards get declined.
I have tried 3 cards - Amex, a big 4 bank Mastercard & a secondary financial institution Visa.
The cards all work fine in stores for in person transactions and I've called the Mastercard and Visa providers who have both told me everything is fine their end.
I have not defaulted on anything. There is enough credit available on all cards. All cards always paid in full each month.
One store brought up a message telling me it was possible fraud. Wouldn't accept any of my cards directly but allowed the same card through Paypal.
Another store accepted the card but then I got a phone call from the vendor saying it had been flagged as possible fraud and they were checking I was real.
A couple of other online stores outright rejected my cards.
My computer software is up to date. I have now updated my phone and iPad to latest software versions and that hasn't helped.
I have also attempted to make purchases through the "private" windows and that didn't make a difference.
The only thing that has altered recently is that we moved to the NBN a month ago but this problem only started about 10 days ago and it wouldn't have any bearing when I've tried to purchase through my phone, while I'm away from home, using mobile data.
Any possible solution would be greatly appreciated.
Credit Cards Being Declined for online purchases
Comments
I have cleared history and cookies and I have tried 3 different browsers
What did the Banks say when they contacted them?
That there is no sign of fraudulent activity that they've picked up and my cards haven't been flagged for any reason.
+1 not sure why you get downvoted for a legit question.
Not that it matters, but OP did state -
I've called the Mastercard and Visa providers who have both told me everything is fine their end.
Fair enough thanks for the correction, I missed it in the block of text. It is light on details though, hopefully it goes okay for OP.
What sort of vendors are you purchasing from and where are they based? Do the cards work ok in Amazon or Coles online shopping?
Is it with a certain 'retailer' sort of thing, like I think a lot of website use a specific service like "Stripe" or something (usually in the fine print), maybe its that service that you need to contact instead?
I tried Universal Store, Kikki K and Melbourne Maps all for the first time.
Guzman Y Gomez through their app - which I have successfully used in the past many times.
I have not tried Amazon or Coles recently but worked there in the past. I can't really test it on them because if it actually goes through I'll be making an unwanted purchase.Post your card details here so we can try it.
Definitely a weird problem. Maybe check your credit score for fraudulent activities. Someone may have made cards with different providers.
Made me laugh.
I'll check my credit score now. I hadn't thought of that.
Could also be something to do with your IP address being used by/previously used by scammers? Might be worth unplugging/resetting your router to get a new IP address (or trying on your mobile data tethered).
Yep, I'd definitely try going through a different route to your home internet. Use your phone mobile data. Also see if you have a VPN installed on your computer or network. It could be that the store thinks that you're coming from the USA instead of being local.
I have tried on my phone using mobile data, away from home and still had the problem. Will try to reset my home system soon.
To find out whether your IP cause the problem, try to buy something using your phone with mobile data (not your home wifi) and see whether it work. if still not working, best using request a new card from your bank (new number, etc). if it's working then request from your ISP to give you new IP address (most NBN will give you static IP by default)
I'll reset my home system soon. Kids are currently "remote learning" and will kill me if I try to shutdown the internet.
Mine are remotely learning
It's possible something of yours has been blacklisted. Hard to isolate given you are using so many different things.
Do you not have a mobile number linked to your bank account?
Yes I do have a mobile number linked to all my accounts
use Edge
hopefully it doesnt crashNew edge is great! Same base code as chrome
The last time I had my cc declined online was because it was less than 1 month from the expiry date. It was still working fine in the shops.
Contacted Card issuers & Used different cards - Not The Card
Tried using home internet and mobile internet - Not the IP addressThis leaves your name and address.
Does you shipping address match the billing address for your cards?
Does you shipping address match the billing address for your cards?
Do they have to match? I regularly buy presents for my nephews who don't live with us. Never had a problem paying with a cc.
Nah no issues. Maybe it was supposed to be billing address on the purchase matches home address of the card? That's what I thought after reading all the comments so far.
No, AVS (Address Verification System) is not used in Australia.
@John Kimble: Maybe not as such, but it seems that these business are using some sort of fraud protection.
One store brought up a message telling me it was possible fraud
Another store accepted the card but then I got a phone call from the vendor saying it had been flagged as possible fraudIt doesn't leave much else.
Yes the shipping address matches billing details.
Is your phone number or address new?
Are asian or middle eastern?
I bet you've left your VPN on
Check your device for malware. Some Web sites can tell if a device is compromised and stop transactions
Thinking further. 3 different machines. 2 different networks (home internet & direct mobile network). Can't be a VPN setting on any individual machine. Would be unlikely to have VPN on all machines & forget to turn them all off (I hope). Can't be VPN on the home router unless you're using the same VPN on the phone. 3 different cards, which work when presented in person but don't work when entered into a website.
The only common factor between all your declined transactions is the person entering the card number… Are you 100% sure you're entering the numbers correctly?
100% card numbers, expiry dates etc. are correct.
I’ve reset modem and router. Will try Edge tomorrow.
Thanks for everyone’s assistance. Just has me totally baffled.
Hopefully it will fix itself in a few days. I will keep trying in the meantime.Why not use PayPal ?
Why would all your cards be "flagged"?
If they are connected to PayPal, and you and your accounts have been verified, then there should be no issue.
Contact your Bank. Contact PayPal.
You may be attempting to purchase over your "limit".
They work fine through PayPal. Won’t work directly through the websites. Definitely not purchasing over my limit.
Maybe your email issue, registered ID issue, is it an odd one? Woolworths won't process orders for certain email addresses, being caught up before.
Do you have an android phone? And is it rooted? If it is this may be causing an issue with online payments.
Using iPhone 11 but it’s also occurring through my iPad and desktop computer so not a phone issue.
Are you sure it's not the payment processor the companies you are trying to buy from are using?
A lot of businesses don't deal direct with a bank, but rather go vis a 3rd party processor. It could be these processors which are flagging your cards.
Having said that, it does seem odd that it's happening with 3 different cards.
Try a different browser?
In Google, have you cleared your history and all cookies etc?