❓ Why Did My Card Payment Fail Even Though Money Was Deducted from My Account?
Learn why card payments can fail, what happens to the deducted funds, and what steps you should take.This guide also includes tips for resolving other payment issues, such as blockchain transaction delays or pre-authorization discrepancies.
💳 If Your Card Payment Failed but Money Was Deducted — Don’t Worry
Your funds are safe. When a card payment fails, the amount may look like it was deducted from your account — but no money has actually been transferred to us.
This is due to a standard banking process called pre-authorization.
🔍 What Is a Pre-Authorization?
When you attempt a card payment, your bank or card issuer reserves the amount to check whether the funds are available.
This reservation is called a pre-authorization.
The funds are not transferred, just temporarily held.
If the transaction fails (for example, due to a mismatch or technical issue), the hold is canceled, and the money becomes available again.
From your perspective, it may seem like the money was deducted, but it is just in a "pending" or "on hold" state and will not be charged.
🔁 What Happens to the Reserved Funds?
The funds are automatically released back to your account by your bank.
This process is handled entirely between your bank and our payment processor — we do not receive the funds, and we cannot speed up the release.
Typically, the hold is lifted within 2–3 business days, but depending on your bank, it may take up to 7 business days.- The exact timing depends on your bank’s policies, with most pre-authorization holds falling within the 3-7 business day range.
🛑 Common Reasons Why Card Payments Fail
Incorrect card number, expiration date, or CVV
Insufficient funds or daily spending limits
Restrictions set by your bank (e.g., blocking online or international transactions)
Security flags or fraud checks
Temporary technical issues with your bank or card network
Unsupported card types (e.g., some prepaid or virtual cards)- Bank security measures and fraud prevention protocols
IP address and location mismatches (e.g., using a VPN or making international purchases)
Discrepancies between card-issuing country and purchase currency
✅ What You Should Do Next
Wait for the funds to be released: This usually happens automatically within a few business days.
Check your card details: Make sure everything is entered correctly before trying again.
Try another payment method: If card payments continue to fail, consider using SEPA, crypto, or another card.
Contact your bank: If the money is not released after 7 business days, ask your bank to clarify their process for releasing pre-authorization holds and provide the transaction details.
Consider location factors: If using a VPN or traveling internationally, try disabling VPN or inform your bank of your travel plans
Wait and try again: Some technical issues resolve themselves after a short time- Document your communications: Save copies of correspondence with support teams or your bank to streamline follow-ups.
📌 Good to Know### 🌐 Blockchain Payment Issues If you encounter unresolved issues with payments on the blockchain, understanding reconciliation between the blockchain and the merchant is critical. Reach out to the payment processor for assistance with transaction details like order IDs and TXIDs.
You don’t need to contact our support team for card payment failures — since we never received the funds, there’s nothing we can refund.
This situation is completely normal in online card transactions, especially if a security check or technical error occurs during the payment.- Keep your bank informed of international travel plans to avoid unnecessary payment blocks
Be aware of VPN usage which can trigger security flags during payment processing.
Consider browser security settings that might interfere with payment processing.
CoinGate Gift Cards cannot intervene in pre-authorization releases or failed payment corrections as these are handled by your bank and payment processor.- For unresolved payment issues involving blockchain transactions or pending authorizations, contact the payment processor with your transaction details.