Credit Card Refused. Why?

[ladybirder]

I used my Barclays CC over the phone this morning to make a purchase from Pets at Home, all OK. Then I went to a garage to fill up with petrol and attempted to use the same card to pay. At first I tapped my card on the paying device but it was refused. So I was then asked to put it into the slot but it was immediately declined. We tried both methods again and all declined. So embarrassing! I only had the one card with me so I went back home again to get another card and phoned Barclay Card. At first they confirmed all was well and when I insisted it wasn't and relayed what had happened I was told, "It looks like the wrong PIN has been used 3 times so we've blocked your card. Go online or check the app for a PIN reminder then reactivate your card at the ATM".
I never got as far as using my PIN because my card was declined before we got that far. When I said this I got a metaphoric shrug of the shoulders. I don't need to check for a PIN reminder I know my PIN.
Has anybody got any idea how this has happened because I'd love to know so I can make sure it doesn't happen again. It's put me in a right bad mood. Grrr!

[bednobs]

how much does it cost you to fill up? perhaps that's why you couldn't contactless?
I personally would go to a cashpoint and see what happens

[calmck]

Ask the bank where the wrong pin was used. Could your card have been cloned. It would be interesting to see if the wrong pin used was the same numbers each time

[bobbinwales]

//"It looks like the wrong PIN has been used 3 times so we've blocked your card. Go online or check the app for a PIN reminder then reactivate your card at the ATM".//
Did you point out to them that you hadnt got as far as being asked for the PIN and what did they say in reply?
Its possible that someone at P at H as tried to use your details though.
Can you reset your pin?

[ToraToraTora]

ok, have you ever got your pin wrong? ie at some time before this transaction?

[THECORBYLOON]

I would have thought the three wrong PINs would need to be consecutive rather than in separate transactions. Would they not be able to tell you when and where the failed attempts were made?

[Jackdaw33]

I don't understand how the card was declined before the PIN was entered. Was the card damaged in some way?

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Something similar happened to me once with my debit card and when I phoned the bank I was told to go to a cashpoint and enter my pin number and if it was accepted then it was ok and not blocked anymore. If it was still blocked then they would make more enquiries and get back to me. Went to cashpoint, entered pin and it was ok again. Can't see that I had entered my pin incorrectly three times but you never know. Try a cashpoint machine and it might unblock it. You don't have to draw anything out, just cancel the process and retrieve card.

[pixie374]

Cards also get blocked if you do too many contactless transactions in a row. You have to use your PIN every so often to keep them working. Could that be the cause? Not the wrong one- but a lack of one.

[THECORBYLOON]

The card had been blocked because there had three attempts to get the PIN correct. That suggests someone else had got the card details but not the PIN.

Their Fraud section should be telling you where the attempts had been made as it might be a clue as to how the details had been obtained.

[chelle7272]

Really = what bank is that with? I haven't used my PIN for payments in over a year, just for cash withdrawal.

[pixie374]

TCL, the bank told me that as well, though. I tried to make a contactless payment, which was declined, so tried with the PIN, also declined. It was the shopkeeper, rather than the bank, who told me you have to use your pin every so often so it doesn't deactivate. I used it in a cash machine and it was fine again after that. Now, I use the PIN every so often just to make sure.

[Jackdaw33]

Don't forget that if you have PIN problems you can still use your card in shops by swiping. The only difference is that you have to sign a receipt.

[Prudie]

This has happened to me more than once and it is very stressful, apart from the embarrassment phoning the bank doubles my heartrate. In my case and in yours I'd suggest it's nothing to do with wrong pin, repeated contactless buys nor anything else that sites with you - the garage card reader was faulty. That has been the outcome for me several times in the past when my card hasn't worked.

[pixie374]

I think you have a point there, prudie. They are quite notorious for dirty machines.

[ubasses]

It could have been something as simple as a blip on the card readers connection over phoneline/broadband. Have a check of the magnetic strip as well, make sure it hasn't got damaged, a small scratch would do it. Or it may need a quick clean, using things like sanitisers all the time could have caused a build up on the strip.
It would certainly be worth trying it in an ATM before calling the Bank again. Try using your own Bank, then you can just pop in if still a problem.

[Maydup]

I think Prudie is most likely correct. The device at the garage is probably faulty, before you had a chance to enter your pin, it had sent the transaction with no pin multiple times.

If you can get to an ATM do so and try it again, even better, wait until tomorrow to do so by which time it will almost certainly have unblocked. If no ATM try a small transaction at the local shop, pint or milk or something just to use it.

[ladybirder]

Neither do I Jackdaw as my PIN has been used only once in the last 14-15 months. I have not been to a shop or an ATM to use my card since Autumn 2019 except when I went to the same garage for petrol once last year. Because of illness and then covid I have been self isolating so all transactions have been online.
The bank can't answer any of my questions because the PIN hasn't been used at all except once at the same garage last year. Everything has been done on line and you don't have to give a PIN online so I think they don't know and they are clutching at straws. It was a lousy phone line with a foreign voice with a strong accent but I got an email confirming what she said so I have it right. The card is a bit scratchy as it's usually in my pocket with car keys etc. When I've calmed down and I feel like it I'll go to the nearest ATM when it's quiet and see what happens. Oh and other transactions went through OK at the garage.

[ladybirder]

Sorry I forgot to say THANK YOU for all your suggestions. XXX

[calmck]

Cards should not be kept in contact with other metal objects as it can cause damage to the chip

[calmck]

Try clean the card well with a soft cloth to remove any scratches