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πŸ†• Why Is My Chipper Virtual Card Declining?

Christine avatar
Written by Christine
Updated over 2 weeks ago

If your Chipper virtual card is being declined, it could be due to several reasons. Below is a list of possible scenarios:

1. Insufficient Funds

  • Your card balance is not enough to cover the transaction amount, including any possible merchant fees.

  • Some merchants may place a temporary hold (pre-authorization), requiring extra funds beyond the purchase price.

2. Merchant Restrictions (MCC Blocks)

  • Certain Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are blocked for Chipper cards, meaning transactions on these merchant sites will always be declined.

  • Examples of restricted categories:

    • Forex and CFD trading platforms

    • Wire transfers and money transfer services (e.g., PayPal top-ups, Wise, Skrill funding)

    • Loan repayments and financial institutions

    • Pawn shops, precious metals/jewelry, and tobacco stores

    • Gambling and betting platforms

3. Card Not Supported by Merchant

  • Some merchants do not accept prepaid or virtual cards, even if they are Visa-branded.

  • Certain platforms (e.g., some digital subscription services) only allow transactions from physical credit or debit cards.

4. Incorrect Card Details

  • The entered card number, CVV, expiration date, or billing address does not match the details on your Chipper card.

  • Some merchants may require an exact match for successful verification.

  • If you just created a new card, you are required to top up (add funds) the card to enable you to see your card details or information.

5. Billing Address or Phone Number Mismatch

  • Some platforms (e.g., Apple, Google, PayPal) verify the billing address associated with the card.

  • If the billing address or phone number on the merchant's platform does not match the one registered on your Chipper virtual card, the transaction may fail.

6. Card Expired or Revoked

  • Your card may have expired or been revoked due to inactivity or security concerns.

  • If your card is expired, you’ll need to request a new one via the Chipper app.

  • Before making payments, ensure the card is duly funded, to avoid declines due to insufficient funds and potential card deactivation

7. International Transaction Restrictions

  • Some merchants may restrict transactions from certain countries or require additional verification for international payments.

  • Example: Some US-based platforms may block transactions from cards issued outside the US.

8. Processor Decline (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)

  • Payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, Deel, and Amazon sometimes decline transactions from virtual or prepaid cards.

  • This could be due to fraud prevention policies, geographical restrictions, or risk assessment.

9. 3D Secure (OTP) Verification Failure

  • If a transaction requires OTP authentication, but you did not receive or enter the OTP correctly, the payment will fail.

  • Check your SMS for the verification code and try again.

  • Check that the phone number on your Chipper card is same as the one inserted in your device

10. Card System Downtime or Maintenance

  • The Chipper card service may be undergoing maintenance or experiencing downtime, temporarily affecting transactions.

  • If this is the case, try again later or contact our support team.
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What Should You Do Next?

If your card is declining:

βœ” Check your balance to ensure you have enough funds.

βœ” Verify your card details (number, CVV, expiry date).

βœ” Ensure your billing address matches what’s registered on your Chipper card.

βœ” Check for merchant restrictions and try an alternative payment method if necessary.

βœ” Retry the transaction after some time in case of temporary downtime.

βœ” Contact Chipper Support if the issue persists.



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