Card Not Working? The Most Common Reasons and How to Fix Them Fast

Before diving into specific troubleshooting steps, run through these three essentials first:

• Is there money in your card account? Your Visa card is linked to a separate account. If it is empty, the payment will be declined—even if you have plenty of funds in your main Paysera account.

• Is the card temporarily frozen? If you previously froze your card in the app for security, it will not work until you actively unfreeze it.

• Is your internet connection stable? You will need a working network connection to adjust card settings in the app or to complete online checkouts.

If these three points are in order but your transactions are still failing, look for your specific scenario below.

Insufficient funds in the card account

This is the single most common culprit. The Paysera card account is completely separate from your main multi-currency account. Your card cannot automatically "reach over" and pull funds from your main balance.

How to top up your card account instantly:

1. Log in to the Paysera app.

2. Go to the Cards section and select Top up card (or navigate to Transfers ➔ Between own accounts).

3. Enter the amount and confirm.

The funds are credited instantly, so you can retry your payment at the checkout terminal straight away.

Contactless payment not working (for physical cards)

If you are using a physical Paysera card and contactless (NFC) payments are not registering, the feature likely needs to be activated first.

• The Solution: Complete your very first transaction by inserting the physical card into the reader and entering your PIN code. This physically activates the chip’s contactless capability for all future "tap-and-go" payments.

Card chip blocked due to incorrect PIN attempts (for physical cards)

If you enter an incorrect PIN several times in a row at an ATM or store terminal, the physical chip locks automatically for security. The screen will usually display an error stating that the PIN attempt limit has been exceeded.

• What you should know: This physical lock on the chip cannot be bypassed or reset remotely via the app. While your card will still work perfectly fine for online shopping, in-store payments will be declined. To resolve this, please contact our Client Support team directly.

It helps to know the difference between these two security codes:

• PIN: The 4-digit code used for in-person transactions and ATM cash withdrawals.

• CVV (or CVV2): The 3-digit security code found on the back of your physical card (or inside the app) used for online purchases.

Both codes will automatically lock after consecutive incorrect attempts as a standard anti-fraud defence.

If your CVV is blocked (Online payments)

Good news—you can unblock this yourself instantly:

1. Log in to the Paysera app.

2. Go to the Cards section.

3. Tap Unblock CVV.

If your PIN is blocked (In-store / ATM)

For safety reasons, a blocked physical PIN cannot be reset in the app. You will need to contact our Client Support team to verify your identity and restore your card's offline functionality.

Withdrawing cash abroad with a digital card

If you are travelling and trying to withdraw cash using a digital Visa card (via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay), you may occasionally run into compatibility issues. This is usually due to older-generation international ATM networks not fully supporting modern digital card technologies.

• The Solution: Simply try an ATM operated by a different bank. Switching to a more modern network usually solves the problem.

Convenient contactless withdrawals in Lithuania

At home in Lithuania, cash operations are incredibly simple—no plastic required. With your digital Visa card, simply hold your smartphone (with your active Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay wallet open) against any ATM that supports contactless (NFC) technology.

Card restrictions in specific countries

Due to international sanctions, regulatory compliance, or high-risk fraud zones, Paysera cards may be blocked in certain countries. If you are planning a trip off the beaten tourist track, it is always wise to check country-specific restrictions with our support team before you travel.

Please note: in Lithuania, contactless payments without a PIN code are available for purchases up to 50 EUR (this limit may vary in other countries). If your purchase amount is higher, simply insert your card into the reader and enter your PIN code. You can find more details about contactless payment limits in other countries here.

PayPal shows the error: "Sorry, we can't add this card"

When you link a card, PayPal makes a tiny, temporary test charge (usually around €1.50) to verify the card is active. If your card account is empty and this transaction fails multiple times, PayPal’s security filters may automatically flag and block your card number.

The Solution:

1. Transfer a few euros to your card account to cover the authorisation fee.

2. Contact PayPal Support directly and ask them to lift the block on your card number.

3. Once they confirm the block is lifted, try adding the card again.

Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay suddenly stopped working

The most common culprit here is that the card was temporarily "frozen" inside the Paysera app. When you freeze a card, it is instantly deactivated across all linked digital wallets too.

• The Solution: Programėlėje pasirinkite kortelę ir spustelėkite Atšaldyti kortelę. Kortelei vėl tapus aktyviai, skaitmeninės piniginės pradės veikti automatiškai – iš naujo pridėti kortelės duomenų nereikės.

• Please note – currently, subscriptions on various online platforms (such as Shopify, Facebook, Netflix, Trafi, YouTube, etc.) are not working. For security reasons, this service is disabled for all holders of Visa payment cards issued by Paysera.

If you suspect your card or card details have been compromised, speed is everything. Take these steps immediately:

1. Secure your funds: Transfer all money from your card account back to your main Paysera account instantly via the app.

2. Block the card permanently: If you are certain the card is gone for good, select Block card (or Cancel) in the settings. This permanently and irreversibly deactivates the card, and the associated card account will be closed.

3. If an ATM swallows your card: Contact the bank operating that specific ATM first. If they cannot retrieve it, block the card permanently in the app and order a replacement.

💡 Top Tip: If you have simply misplaced your phone or physical card around the house, don't block it permanently. Use the Temporarily freeze feature instead. If it turns up under the sofa, you can unfreeze it with a single tap and carry on as normal.

Why is my card declined if I have plenty of money in my Paysera account?

Your card is linked to its own specific IBAN account, not your main Paysera account. Simply make a quick, free transfer between your own accounts in the app to top up the card.

How many times can I enter the wrong PIN?

Three consecutive incorrect PIN entries will lock your card's chip for security. You will need to contact Paysera Client Support to get it resolved.

Can I still order a physical plastic Paysera Visa card?

Currently, we are focusing on advanced digital Visa cards, which are faster to issue and more secure for smartphones or smartwatches. Existing physical cards remain fully active and usable until the expiry date printed on them.

Manage your card settings conveniently and securely in the Paysera app – any time of day.

Have more questions or couldn't solve the issue? Contact our Client Support team – we're ready to help.