The #1 reason for a transaction being declined is the billing address address as entered not matching the one on file with the credit card company.
Sometimes when an order is declined, you might see an entry on your credit card account when you view account activity on your bank's Web site. However, if the order was declined then it's very likely that you are seeing a temporary authorization rather than an actual charge, and you will never be charged for or have to pay the authorization amount.
What exactly is an authorization?
For many different types of credit card and debit card transactions, an authorization occurs before the actual purchase is processed.
These authorizations can have the temporary effect of reducing the available balance for the account, but they will automatically expire and drop off the account eventually. The duration for which an authorization remains on the account varies by issuing bank or card type, and cannot be controlled by ForresterBooks.
Important: Any failed authorizations are NOT charges. The cardholder will never be billed or have to pay those amounts. These items will also never appear on the cardholder's credit card statements - for most banks or card types, they can only be seen or noticed by viewing the account activity online or calling the card's customer service number.
What to do when you see a transaction on your credit card account for a failed order
Many banks' Web sites make a distinction between authorizations and actual charges. Double-check the entire item you're seeing - not just the description and the amount. Is there a heading, column or grouping that includes the word "pending" or "authorization"? If you see either of those words next to the item in question, you can know for sure that you're seeing an authorization rather than a charge. Furthermore, for any authorization from ForresterBooks, if the order failed, you can be sure that the authorization will NEVER be captured (that is, converted to an actual charge).
If your bank's Web site does not include an indication of "pending" or "authorization" and you're not sure, please call the customer service number on the back of the card, and speak to a live representative. Ask the bank's representative to confirm for you that you are seeing a pending authorization, and not a captured charge. The representative should also be able to tell you how soon the authorization - which was created by the bank, not by ForresterBooks - will expire and drop off the account permanently.