When a payment does not go through
Payments
Use a safe, methodical checklist when a card, checkout, or cashless payment does not work as expected.
10 current guides · checked against official sources
Short answer
Choose what failed. An ATM decline, an issuer block, a shop tap, a rail ticket machine and an IC-card top-up need different fixes. Start with the matching problem below; use the card issuer's official app or number when it alone can explain a decline.
Guides
Short answer first.
Card and checkout declined
01Why Won’t My Foreign Card Work on a Japanese Website?Diagnose 3-D Secure, issuer blocks, form rules and merchant-specific card limits.02My Card Was Blocked for Fraud While I’m in Japan — What Should I Do?Check a suspected issuer security block through your official banking channel and arrange a backup payment while it is reviewed.03My Contactless Card Isn’t Working in Japan — What Should I Do?Find out whether the shop accepts your card's tap method, then try chip or another supported payment route.04My Card Works in Shops but Not at the Ticket Machine in JapanA working retail card can still fail at a railway machine. Identify the machine and use the operator's accepted purchase channel.
Cash at an ATM
01My Foreign Card Was Rejected by a Seven Bank ATM — What Should I Do?At a Seven Bank ATM with no cash? Check the card mark, amount and issuer, then choose a safe ATM or issuer fallback.02The ATM Charged My Card but Gave Me No Cash — What Should I Do?Record the failed ATM withdrawal, contact the operator and card issuer, and check whether the account entry is pending or posted.
IC card balance and charging
01What Happens If My IC Card Doesn’t Have Enough Money at the Exit?How to get through the gate when Suica or PASMO does not have enough balance.02Can Two People Use the Same Suica Card in Japan?No. One Suica or other IC card normally records one person’s train or subway journey. See what couples and families should use instead.03My Suica Recharge Failed with a Foreign Card — What Can I Do?Choose the right fallback for a physical Suica or PASMO versus Apple Wallet or Android mobile transit card.