If youre reading this, chances are you just had your credit card declined.

You know you are the authorized user and have been making your credit card payments.

Could it be credit card fraud?

A woman stresses out with her hands over her head and a credit card in her hand.

So why was your card specifically declined?

Here are seven of the most common ones.

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Your Card Is Expired

Another all-too-common reason credit cards get declined?

Theyve surpassed the expiration date.

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Some credit card issuers will automatically send you a new card as your current one approaches its expiration date.

Watch your credit card balance faithfully so this doesnt happen.

One way to avoid this is by signing up for account activity alerts with your credit card company.

That way they can contact you about potentially suspicious account activity, rather than automatically blocking the payment.

Not all credit cards have this trigger, but many do.

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6.

Youre Behind on Payments

Another not-so-fun reason your card may get declined is if youre behind on payments.

Credit card companies will start declining new purchases if youve recently missed one or more minimum payments.

Here are some of the best ways to troubleshoot a declined credit card.

If you have a new card, check that its been properly activated.

If you have an older card, check the expiration date.

Check Your Account

Assuming your card is valid, nows a good time to check your account.

Plug your card issuers customer service number into your smartphone now.

This will make it easier to call ASAP if your card is declined.

Use a Different Payment Method

Its good to have multiple payment methods on hand (ie.

Here are our best strategies to prevent your card from being declined.

Do yourself a favor and avoid having your card declined by keeping track of your credit card expiration dates.

Remember: Credit bureaus take things likepayment historyinto account when calculating your credit score.

That way, youll know that every card youre carrying actually deserves a place in your wallet.

Contributor Larissa Runkle frequently writes on finance, real estate, and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder.

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