 TITLE: Why Is My Credit Card Being Declined? CONTENT: How to Help Prevent Your Card From Getting Declined\n---------------------------------------------------\nYou can take a few simple steps to help manage your credit card accounts and avoid getting declined when trying to make a purchase.\n*   **Sign up for account alerts.** Many card issuers offer online and mobile app account management, and taking advantage of those options can help you keep your account in good standing. By setting up fraud alerts and purchase alerts, and checking your balance and transactions at least once a week, you can help prevent identity theft and avoid using too much of your available credit.\n*   **Use autopay.** If your issuer has an autopay option, that may help you avoid late payments. You can schedule your monthly minimums to be withdrawn automatically so you don't have to remember to do it each time the bill comes, then make additional payments to pay down your balance when possible.\n*   **Pay off your balances each month.** Paying off your card each month will not only help avoid embarrassing encounters at the cash register but also help improve your credit scores.\n*   **Pay attention to notices from your issuer.** Keep an eye out for letters from your credit card company. They may give you a heads up that a new card is on the way or that your issuer is offering new security features to protect your account; implementing those could lower your chances of being a fraud victim.\n*   **Monitor your credit.** Experian's free credit monitoring service can help you keep track of your accounts and your overall credit. You'll receive real-time alerts about suspicious activity and changes to your credit report, along with notifications about balance decreases and credit utilization updates.\nThere are no guarantees against your card being turned down. Even if you manage your account perfectly, your issuer might make a mistake or block legitimate purchases in an attempt to prevent fraud. But by proactively monitoring your account and your credit, you can reduce your chances of being declined. END