Skip to main content
When a Cardholder’s card is declined, the transaction was blocked either by PEX or by the merchant. Here’s how to tell which one happened, find the exact reason for a PEX decline and understand the most common causes.

​
PEX declines vs merchant declines

PEX declines PEX blocks transactions based on the spend parameters you’ve set. You can verify every PEX decline in the Cardholder’s record — the Declines tab shows the merchant and transaction detail plus the reason for the decline. Merchant declines When a merchant declines a transaction, PEX doesn’t receive the reason, so it won’t show up on your Administrator site. Our support team can often help track down why a merchant decline happened, so reach out if you need help investigating one.

​
How to view card decline details

1
Log in to dashboard.pexcard.com
2
Click the Cards page
3
Find the Cardholder’s name and click it
4
Click the Declines tab on the card details page
5
Click the description to see the transaction details
Declines tab on a Cardholder's card details page, showing the transaction list and decline reasons

​
If a Cardholder says a transaction was declined, but you don’t see it in the Declines tab

This can happen for a few reasons:
  1. The Cardholder entered the card’s 3-digit security code (CVV2/CVC2) incorrectly during an online purchase
  2. The card was approved for a partial amount, equal to the card’s available balance
    • Check the Transactions tab to see if there’s a pending transaction for that merchant
  3. The merchant doesn’t accept prepaid debit cards

​
Common reasons for card declines

These are the most common reasons for declines. You can see the exact reason for a specific decline on the Cardholder’s Declines tab.
  1. There’s a Spend Rule block (a spend restriction you’ve set up for the card)
  2. The card isn’t in Active status
  3. The card has an insufficient available balance
  4. The card reached its daily spend limit
  5. The card’s expiration date was entered incorrectly
  6. The Cardholder tried to spend at a merchant your Spend Rules don’t authorize
  7. The merchant doesn’t accept prepaid debit cards
  8. The Cardholder tried to spend at a non-US merchant
  9. The Cardholder selected debit at checkout, but the card has no PIN assigned
  10. The merchant’s system automatically processes the transaction as PIN-required, and the card has no PIN set
  11. The Cardholder tried to access cash through an ATM, a financial institution or a merchant
  12. The zip code entered doesn’t match the card profile
  13. Gas pump purchase: PEX authorizes and holds $49 for gas pump purchases. The merchant can hold up to $120.00, which may cause a decline due to insufficient funds
Most declines can be fixed by adding funds to the card or adjusting spend permissions.
Last modified on September 9, 2026

Related topics

Card TransactionsSingle Use Virtual CardDashboard analytics: understanding your business at a glanceManage & Troubleshoot Bill PayDeclined Card Transactions (PEX Declines vs Merchant Declines) on All Programs