A payment may be declined or appear as “pending” depending on its status within the payment network.
Here is how to understand the difference and the possible causes.
1. What is the difference between a declined payment and a “pending” payment?
- Declined payment:
The transaction was not authorised.
No amount was sent to the merchant.
- Pending payment (or pre-authorisation):
The transaction was authorised but not yet finalised.
A pre-authorisation may remain pending for up to 10 days before being adjusted or captured by the merchant.
2. Why was my payment declined?
Here are the most frequent reasons:
- Insufficient EUR balance
Top up your EUR account to complete the payment.
- Payment limits reached
Even if you have enough funds, your daily or monthly card limits may have been reached.
Pre-authorisations (fuel stations, hotels, rentals) temporarily use part of your limits.
- Incorrect PIN (3 failed attempts)
Your card is automatically blocked.
What should I do if my card is blocked after entering the wrong PIN?
- Card blocked in the app
You may have activated the Block my card feature.
How do I freeze (unfreeze) my card?
- Contactless payment declined
For security reasons, you are limited to 5 consecutive contactless payments.
Insert your card and enter your PIN to reactivate contactless.
How does contactless payment work with my Vancelian card?
- Online payment declined
Check the accuracy of the following:
- Expiry date
- Card number
- CVV
- Exact answer to your security question (for 3D Secure authentication)
- Additional security rules
Some merchants or services may be declined depending on:
- Their merchant category
- Their country
- Security policies applied to your card
3. Why does my payment appear as “pending”?
- Merchant pre-authorisation
Some merchants place a temporary security deposit before charging the final amount.
This is common for:
- Fuel stations
- Hotels
- Car rental agencies
- Provisional amount higher than the final charge
The merchant may reserve a higher amount than the actual payment (e.g. €120–150 at fuel stations).
This amount is not debited; it is only a verification.
The final amount appears once the transaction is confirmed.
See the article: What should I do if I was “overcharged” at a fuel station, hotel or car rental agency?
- Normal processing time
A pre-authorisation may remain visible in your app for up to 10 days before being adjusted.