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Can a credit card machine be programmed to decline?


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There is one store in town where the point-of-sale terminal declines my regular card, but it works at every other store in the chain, as well as anywhere else I use it. Can the machine be programmed locally by the merchant to decline a card?

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21 minutes ago, J Bar Binks, #47015 said:

There is one store in town where the point-of-sale terminal declines my regular card, but it works at every other store in the chain, as well as anywhere else I use it. Can the machine be programmed locally by the merchant to decline a card?

 

I suspect that you card is not being declined by the merchant but rather the card issuer has a problem with the transaction and is refusing to process it.

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Odd that it works at other stores in the same chain, and every other store I use it in. Why would the card issuer decline a sale at, say, the west side Target store, but it's accepted at every other Target store in town, out of town, or out of state?

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Twice I've had a card declined. Both times I immediately called the issuer and said WHY???

 

I wouldn't wonder about it later. I'd find out then.

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A couple of things come to mind.

 

The card is being declined by the issuer.

The card is being declined because of the store having a history of hacked card use lists.

The card is being declined because store employees have a history of stealing card information and using it.

 

Alpo is correct.

Call the card issuer as soon as possible and ask why the card was declined at what place and time.

 

And for future purchases, pick another store location.

 

 

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13 hours ago, J Bar Binks, #47015 said:

There is one store in town where the point-of-sale terminal declines my regular card, but it works at every other store in the chain, as well as anywhere else I use it. Can the machine be programmed locally by the merchant to decline a card?

 

  I've had cards declined when on trips. I've had to call the card company to have it ok'd with the merchant. I usually call before I leave on a trip and let the card company issuing the card know I'll be traveling...then there's no issue with it. It could also be the store has a limit on a purchase due to past card hackers that's used someone else's card.

  It could also be they saw your picture in here and was stalling for the cops to get there. :ph34r::lol:

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1 hour ago, BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 said:

I have had it happen and suspected that it was caused by a dirty or poorly maintained card scanner/reader.  When enough customers complain they will have it corrected.

 

Most card terminals will say something like "unable to access card functions" or "card read failed" if it's a machine problem.

 

I've had my debit card declined at the local supermarket, but when they ran the same card as a credit card (it has a Visa logo) it went through. I called my credit union the following Monday to ask about that and they said that's usually caused by a network issue. If the credit union's network is out the terminal declines the debit charge, but when the card is run as a Visa card it gets authorization from a Visa server.

 

It's possible that one Target store has a flaky network connection and can't contact your card's processing center.

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Sounds to me like the card machine is the problem! They probably need a new one!

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Had a similar problem at a gas station.  Card worked at the pumps, but wouldn't work inside the store.  Turned out for some reason the machines in the station declined all AMEX cards, not just mine, but you could use them through the pumps.  Problem has since been resolved since the chip came out.  Have no idea what caused the problem.

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Sometimes calling in advance does no good.  My Shell gas card number was stolen and used to purchase $65 worth of diesel (I only use regular gas) four times at the same Shell station on one day.  Shell caught this, contacted me, cancelled my card, and issued a new one with overnight delivery since I was going out of town within 2 days.  When I called to register the new card, I explained I would be using the card within the next four days, and cities along the route I would be taking.  Card worked fine Friday, but was declined Monday.  When I contacted Shell on Monday, they said they tried to contact me on Friday by cell, didn't get me, so put hold on the card.  Where I was has NO CELL SERVICE.  They then told me to call in advance when travelling.  I stated that I HAD notified them in advance.  Their answer, "We didn't see the notation on your file."

 

Only funny thing about this mess was that since my card registered over 100 gallons purchased in less than a month, I received a $6.00 loyalty rebate.:D

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2 hours ago, Lorelei Longshot, SASS #44256 Life said:

Sometimes calling in advance does no good.  My Shell gas card number was stolen and used to purchase $65 worth of diesel (I only use regular gas) four times at the same Shell station on one day.  Shell caught this, contacted me, cancelled my card, and issued a new one with overnight delivery since I was going out of town within 2 days.  When I called to register the new card, I explained I would be using the card within the next four days, and cities along the route I would be taking.  Card worked fine Friday, but was declined Monday.  When I contacted Shell on Monday, they said they tried to contact me on Friday by cell, didn't get me, so put hold on the card.  Where I was has NO CELL SERVICE.  They then told me to call in advance when travelling.  I stated that I HAD notified them in advance.  Their answer, "We didn't see the notation on your file."

 

Only funny thing about this mess was that since my card registered over 100 gallons purchased in less than a month, I received a $6.00 loyalty rebate.:D

 

I love machines and big business--they can be their own worst enemies

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