Why Is Venmo Declining My Payment? Why It Happens and What to Do

Venmo Direct Deposit
7 min readApr 3, 2023

It can be difficult to identify the root cause of Venmo Transaction Declined. Venmo uses an algorithm to approve or deny transactions when you use it to send money or request money. The decision is made based on several factors including the amount transferred, the relationship between sender and receiver, and Venmo’s internal fraud detection system.

This guide will help you understand Venmo Transaction Declined. It will also help you to avoid them in the future.

8 Reasons Why Venmo Transaction Declined?

Venmo payments can become frustrating and embarrassing. A Venmo -based company could lose a sale or fail to collect payments. A declined payment can have serious consequences for someone trying to pay rent money or split a check at the restaurant. There are many reasons Venmo payments may be declined. However, there are often common issues.

1. Account balance insufficient

Insufficient funds errors are common, especially for users who have multiple linked bank accounts. Before Venmo payments can be processed, the platform checks that your linked bank account or balance has sufficient money to cover the cost. Venmo will notify you if the funds are not available. This issue can be resolved by adding funds to your Venmo balance, or your linked bank account, and attempting the transaction again.

2. Internet and technical issues

Venmo transactions may fail due to insufficient connectivity. Try connecting to another network in this instance. Try again if this fails. Venmo customer service can be reached if Venmo still isn’t working after your internet connection is established.

3. The payment was declined by the bank or card issuer

Sometimes, the connected bank and card issuer might block the transaction from being processed. This could happen because of possible fraud or a freeze on your account. Your bank or card issuer will decide if your transaction will proceed. Your customer can quickly resolve this issue by calling their bank.

4. Limits on payment to Venmo exceeded

Limits apply to the amount of money that a Venmo user can send. For peer-to-peer payments, a user can send $299.99 per week. A person can send $599.99 per week if they complete their identity verification.

5. Uncomplete, obsolete, or untrue account information

Failure to set up your account properly could result in Venmo Payment Declining. First, create an account. Next, link your bank account to your Venmo account. Venmo will send you a message to confirm your account information. Venmo may decline your first attempt at using Venmo if you fail to verify your account. Venmo may also decline your payment if you have an invalid bank account number. Make sure you enter the correct account number.

You may be declined for a transaction if your bank information is outdated. Double-check to make sure that the customer’s credit or debit cards aren’t expired. Your customer must add the newly issued card to their Venmo account if they have expired.

6. Account locked or frozen

Venmo is secure like all other networks. To log in, you will need to provide a username and a password. Venmo sometimes sends a verification number to prevent fraud. Venmo can freeze your account if you fail more than one login attempt or fail the two-factor authentication process. Venmo will allow your account to be reopened within minutes or hours of being locked out. Contact customer service if you have an urgent need to proceed.

7. High volume transactions or suspicious payment activity

Venmo may experience a decline in transactions if there are a lot of them. The suspected activity could include international payments, transactions that are associated with high-risk accounts, payments sent from new devices, and transactions that result in Venmo Chargebacks. The following are some other reasons:

Your account became inactive suddenly and you received several payments in succession.
You have sent or received large amounts of money.
Your account suddenly becomes more frequent than usual.

8. High-risk products and services are not recommended

Venmo will decline a payment if you are dealing with a high-risk business. A high chargeback rate, high transaction volumes, and many card-not-present transactions are all indicators that a business is considered high-risk.

Businesses operating in high-risk sectors are also assigned a high-risk label. Venmo recognizes that these businesses may be profitable but they are more susceptible to fraud and chargebacks than other businesses.

What to do if your Venmo transaction was declined?

Below are some troubleshooting suggestions if you are unsure about the root cause of your Venmo transaction, not processing.

You can also use an alternate payment method

Venmo payments can be declined by using an alternative payment method. Another payment provider such as Stripe or Square, PayPal, is an option.

However, all payment service providers have to deal with declined transactions, held funds, or frozen accounts. A merchant account can be a good alternative. Merchant accounts can be tailored to meet your business’s specific needs so that it is less likely that you will experience declined transactions, funding hold, or frozen accounts. Your dedicated account manager will also be available to help with any payment issues you may encounter. Although it is easier to process payments with a payment service provider initially, the long-term benefits of a custom merchant account are usually greater.

Double-check your Venmo account details

Venmo will also allow you to correct any errors in your account information. Although it may sound simple, Venmo can sometimes reject payments due to a typo.

Here’s a list:

  • Double-check that the card information is correct.
  • Verify that your card is valid.
  • Make sure your profile information matches the bank information.
  • Confirm that you have an internet connection.

Contact Venmo customer service

Venmo customer support is the best option if your transaction is not working after you have tried all possible troubleshooting techniques.

Venmo Payment Rejected: Final Thoughts

It can be frustrating to have a Venmo Payment Declining. However, as we’ve explained, there are simple ways to fix the problem. Most cases can be resolved by paying more attention to details, reviewing your information, and checking your internet connection. Venmo declines are a common problem when you rely on Venmo for payment processing. You may want to avoid the frustrating issue of declined payments. The customizable nature of the card processor helps to reduce the likelihood of declined payments. Your account manager can also help you resolve any issues that may arise.

FAQs:

What is Venmo?

Venmo was founded in 2009 and allows you to request or pay money from your friends, family, or business. It makes it simple to split the bill at restaurants or send rent payments to small businesses.

Venmo would prompt me to call the person I want to pay.

This message means that there was an error in your transaction. This error usually means that your bank declined to process the payment. Venmo can’t override this transaction failure. You should contact your bank or card issuer for assistance. If you believe the problem was with the card, you can also try another card or payment method.

Scammers may use Venmo’s platform to ask for additional information to steal your identity and money. Unsolicited calls or messages may be scammers using Venmo’s platform. They might ask for more information to steal your identity or money.

Venmo wants me to give it another try later.

You may get a message asking for you to try again later. This could be due to one of the following errors:

  • You have attempted too many unsuccessful login attempts to your account. Wait and log in again later. Or contact customer service.
  • You may have received an error message when you attempted to make a transaction. Check your transaction history to confirm that the transaction went through. Try again later if it didn’t.
  • The transaction may not be possible due to the weakening of your internet.
  • It could be as simple as a Venmo glitch.

If my Venmo payment is declined, can I get a refund?

In many cases, if a payment is declined, the funds transfer will be canceled automatically. You will not be entitled to a refund in this situation.

Venmo can help you if you are having trouble with a payment or a dispute regarding a transaction. Venmo cannot guarantee a refund in any situation.

Where can I find my Venmo transaction history?

Tap the “Me” button in the app’s bottom right. Navigate to “Transaction history” on a web browser or click the “Statements” tab. Either of these options will allow you to easily view or download your Venmo transaction histories.

I get a message saying that my payment is “pending”.

An unpaid payment might appear as “pending” if it was sent to an address or phone number that is not linked to an active Venmo account. Another reason for this is that the person you want to pay has not yet verified their account.

Venmo customer service can help you to get your money refunded if you send a payment to an incorrect person. There are no guarantees. Always verify that the recipient of your payment is correct.

Why does Venmo continue to decline my payment?

App glitches, unreliable internet connections, inappropriate banking information, incorrect personal data, and suspicious activity can all cause Venmo accounts to continue to fall. Venmo customer support may be contacted if you continue to experience payment decline despite having tried to resolve these issues.

Why can’t my Venmo balance be used?

Your Venmo balance may not be available because it has been allocated or used for another payment. If your Venmo balance falls into the negative, any money received will then be redistributed to make up the difference. If you transfer the money accidentally to your bank, Venmo may not be available.

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