Why was my Facebook Ads payment declined?

A Facebook Ads payment can be declined for several reasons, and figuring out the exact cause helps you resolve it quickly. Here are the most common reasons your payment might fail—and how to fix each one:

🔍 Top Reasons Your Facebook Ads Payment Was Declined
1. Insufficient Funds
Your card or account didn't have enough money to cover the charge.

✅ Fix: Check your card balance or funding source and retry the payment.

2. Card Expired or Blocked
The card you used may be expired, temporarily frozen, or restricted.

✅ Fix:

Make sure the card is not expired.

Contact your bank to check for blocks or restrictions.

Try adding a different payment method in Billing Settings.

3. International or Online Payment Restrictions
Some banks or VCCs block international or recurring charges by default.

✅ Fix:

Enable international/online payments in your bank app or by calling your provider.

Use a card that supports recurring and advertising payments.

4. Virtual Credit Card (VCC) Limitations
Some VCCs are flagged by Facebook or don't support recurring billing.

✅ Fix:

Use a VCC known to work with Facebook Ads (e.g., from trusted fintech or banking apps).

Make sure your VCC supports merchant transactions and isn't single-use or expired.

5. Bank or Payment Processor Declined the Charge
Even if everything looks okay on your end, your bank may have flagged the transaction as suspicious.

✅ Fix:

Contact your bank or card issuer to approve the charge.

Ask them to whitelist Facebook/Meta charges.

6. Incorrect Billing Information
Typos in your card number, CVV, or billing address can cause declines.

✅ Fix:

Double-check your card info in Payment Settings.

Make sure the billing address matches your card's registered address.

7. Facebook-Side Payment Error
Occasionally, Facebook may have issues processing your payment due to technical errors or account review.

✅ Fix:

Try again later or use an alternative payment method.

Contact Facebook Ads Support if the issue persists.

🔄 What Happens After a Declined Payment?
Facebook pauses your ads.

They'll retry the charge automatically (especially on postpaid accounts).

Your ads resume automatically once payment is successful.

✅ Pro Tips to Avoid Future Declines:
Keep at least two active payment methods on file.

Use reliable cards or accounts that support advertising transactions.

Set up payment alerts to avoid running out of funds.