Dealing with a Declined Card for My Fundraiser Show - Tips and Tricks"

[Jessamary]

I got an email last night saying one card of my fundraiser show was declined. How do you guys handle this? Do you call or email the guest? What is usually the response? I don't want to embarrass her (I mean, I know what it's like to have your card declined), but at the same time, I need this taken care of ASAP.

Any words of wisdom?

 

[cincychef]

I usually call HO with the number first and have them re run it. Over half of the time it will go thru. If that doesn't work, I call the customer and say this is Chantelle with Pampered Chef, I met you at/thru Susie's party and I have a question about your credit card. I usually pause after that, and if they know it was declined they will usually fill in the blank, otherwise, I just ask them if we can verify the number in case I wrote it down wrong. Either way, I either find that I had the number wrong or they give me a new number to try. Hope that helps

 

[DebbieJ]

I do what Chantelle does....blame myself, I must have written it down wrong. They'll know if there is a problem.

 

[pamperedlinda]

Almost all of my declined CCs are because I entered the exp date incorrectly. Be careful when you enter the date and then scroll your mouse - it changes the year.

 

[jrstephens]

Blame yourself when you call them, I agree. All of mine have been a mix up with the expiration date.

I would call them not email, more personal and you can play off their voices and reaction better.

 

[gingertannery]

I always assure them that the technology is always on the blink. Or you might have put the info in wrong. Even if their card was really declined.. it will save face for them and they will appreciate that. I have had perfectly good cards declined before. It is always embarassing even if it is not your fault. I make any comment to relieve their fears. We want them to order again!!!!!

 

[sk8rgrrl99]

I agree Ginger - I used to bank with a small hometown bank and my debit card was declined one time because their network was down. I was trying to shop at Target on a Friday evening and the card was declined there, the transactions were declined at the ATM. I went home and their website was down. Monday morning everything was fine again. Another was declined once because the bank realized that there was some unusual spending happening and it turns out that the card number had been stolen!