Why was my card declined at checkout?

Resolve issues that occur if your payment isn’t accepted when paying for a Squarespace subscription or service.

Last updated January 6, 2025

If you're trying to make an initial payment for any Squarespace subscription or service, and your payment was declined, it could be because of an invalid payment method, incorrectly entered billing details, or an issue with your bank. Use this guide to help troubleshoot failed payments at checkout when you're initially trying to purchase a subscription or service.

If your payment isn't processing and one of the error messages below is not appearing, it could be an issue with your browser. Follow our browser troubleshooting steps.

Unaccepted payment method

Ensure you're using a card we accept for payments. Review which cards and payment methods we accept for Squarespace billing.

Invalid card number

If your card number is incorrect, a red warning will display. Check your card number for errors and try again.

Error message: Purchase error

A pop-up message saying Purchase error will appear when your bank's authorization request fails. Only banks located in the European Economic Area (EEA) will request you authorize the payment as part of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA).

You can ensure that your credit card information is correct by clicking Edit card in the pop-up message. If the credit card information is correct, click Try again and watch for the authorization request from your bank to complete the purchase.

Error message: Subscription failed

A message saying Subscription failed will appear when the bank denies a charge. This can happen for two reasons:

Incorrect Information

If the expiration date or CVC code is incorrect, your bank will deny the charge. Correct the information, and the issue should resolve.

Transaction declined

If your card number, expiration date, and CVC are all correct, then your bank is denying the charge for another reason.

Contact your bank with the date and time you tried to make a charge to either Squarespace Inc. (if you're based in the United States) or Squarespace Ireland Ltd. (if you're outside of the United States). After resolving any issues with your bank, try the payment again.

Note

Due to banking regulations, Squarespace may decline charges to Verified by Visa, MasterCard with SecureCode, and Maestro cards.

Note

JCB, Discover, and Diners Club cards can only be charged in USD.

Footer Image
  • Get help from our community

  • Get help from our community on advanced customizations.

  • Hire a Squarespace Expert

  • Stand out online with the help of an experienced designer or developer.

Why was my card declined at checkout?