Available to Spend is an estimate, not a guaranteed spending limit. We assess each order separately at checkout, so an order may be declined even when your balance appears high enough.
If you received a specific message, such as “Payment declined,” “Insufficient funds,” or “Transaction not eligible,” read Common Afterpay Payment Error Messages and How to Fix Them. Continue below if you didn’t receive a clear message or those fixes didn’t resolve the issue.
1. Check your account status
Confirm that your account doesn’t have a restriction preventing purchases.
Overdue payments
Open the Afterpay app.
Select My Afterpay.
Select Orders.
Find any order marked overdue.
Select Pay to bring it up to date.
You can’t place a new order while a payment is overdue.
Frozen account
Check the app or your email for an account-restriction notice. If your account is frozen, follow the steps in Why is my account frozen?.
Locked or deactivated account
Too many unsuccessful login attempts can temporarily lock your account. Wait one hour, then try again.
If you previously deactivated your account, reactivate it before placing an order.
2. Check your payment method
These payment-method issues can cause a decline without a clear message:
Capital One credit cards: Capital One credit cards can’t be used with Afterpay. Capital One debit cards are accepted. Use a different card if you’re using a Capital One credit card.
Prepaid cards from other buy now, pay later providers: These cards aren’t accepted. Use a standard Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.
Cards issued outside the US: US accounts only accept US-issued cards.
Bank holds or restrictions: Contact your bank to check whether it restricted the transaction.
Accepted payment methods include:
US-issued Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards.
Cash App Card.
US checking accounts.
3. Check the merchant and order
Merchant spending limits
Some merchants set Afterpay limits below your Available to Spend balance. Try reducing your cart total.
Multiple active orders
Having more open orders may make the approval criteria stricter. Pay down existing orders before placing another order.
New account limits
If your account is less than six weeks old, your per-order approval threshold is lower. Try a smaller cart total.
In-store purchases
When using the Afterpay Card in a store, select DEBIT, not CREDIT, at the payment terminal.
Amazon purchases
Amazon requires a single-use Afterpay card. Include taxes and shipping when entering the purchase amount so the card covers the full order total.
4. Try the order again
Resolve any issues identified above.
Wait before trying again.
Try a smaller amount.
A recent decline can temporarily reduce your Available to Spend balance. It usually recovers within 24–48 hours if there are no other issues.