Card payments can fail for a few different reasons. If we tell you that your payment wasn't successful, you won't have been charged.
Let's look at some of the problems you may face when you pay by card and what you can do to solve them:
- Your bank or card issuer declined the payment
- Your card information was incorrect
- We declined your payment
- There was an issue with 3D Secure payment authentication
- There was an issue paying by card
Your bank or card issuer declined the payment
Banks and credit card companies may block a payment if it doesn't follow your typical spending patterns, is very large, or if you’re paying someone new.
They do this to protect you and your money. If this happens, you'll need to let your bank know that you're making a genuine payment to BIPS.
| Tip: If you’re planning on sending a large amount of money or making a transfer that's unusual for you, give your bank a call in advance to avoid delays when you send money. |
Card payments also fail if you don’t have enough money in your bank account to pay for your transfer.
Even if you do have the funds in your account, there are regional differences between the daily and transactional spending limits you can make with a debit card. Credit cards are subject to credit limits.
| Tip: check with your bank if you’re looking to send a large amount of money. You may need to pay us in instalments if you’re heavily restricted by these limits. |
Incorrect card information
One of the easiest ways to guarantee the success of your payment is to check that the information you enter is correct.
Take care when typing:
- The card number (typically 16 digits in groups of 4 like this: 1234 5678 9876 5432)
- Your name (this should be as shown on your card)
- The expiry date (For example (01/21)
- The CVV number (three digits on the back of your card)
To make sure your transfer isn't delayed, it's important that your details are correct when you enter them.
We declined your payment
Keeping you and your money safe is our priority. We have a thorough verification process to help us combat fraud and, if necessary, we’ll block a payment to protect you if suspicious activity is detected.
Payments can also be declined because we don’t support the card you’re trying to use. We accept VISA and Mastercard. If you are trying to pay for your transfer using another card, you’ll need to pay by bank transfer instead.
Please note that we don't accept American Express.
Issues with 3D Secure payment authentication
3D Secure is similar to the two-factor authentication (2FA) you use when you sign in to your BIPS account.
When you make a transaction that requires 3D Secure authentication, you’ll normally need to provide either:
- The password for your card
- An access code sent to your mobile device
There are often time limits on these access codes, so make sure you enter them correctly as soon as you receive them.
If you have a problem with 3D Secure, it's likely to be a browser issue. To resolve this, try clearing your browser cache and cookies. If that doesn't help, use a different computer or a mobile device if you can, or a different browser.
The issue could also be with the online portal. If you’ve tried the browser troubleshooting tips, contact your bank or card provider to confirm whether they’re experiencing technical issues.
If the problem persists, you can always try a different card or payment method.
Issues paying by card
Most card payments go through our system without a problem. If there is a problem, we'll try to give you as much information as possible about what went wrong.
To resolve problems quickly and avoid further delays, look out for error messages and follow the instructions on screen.