If you receive an error message when trying to link your card to your PayPal account, here are some possible reasons and solutions:

Different billing address

The billing address you’ve entered when linking a card to your PayPal account is different than the one on your card statement. As a security measure, you need to enter your billing address exactly as it appears on your card statement.

What to do: Check your card statement to ensure both addresses match. If you're sure you've entered the information correctly, contact the card issuer. Sometimes the information may take longer to be updated after a recent move.

Card linked to another PayPal account

A card can only be linked to 1 PayPal account at a time.

What to do: You'll be able to add your card to another PayPal account once you've removed it from the account it's currently linked to. If your card is linked to an older PayPal account you no longer use, consider closing your newer account and using the older one.

If you believe your card was stolen and linked to another PayPal account without your knowledge, please contact us and your bank immediately.

Authorization charge declined

When you link a new card to your PayPal account, we send a $1 USD (or currency equivalent) authorization charge to your card issuer to ensure the card is active. Your card issuer declined this charge.

What to do: Contact your card issuer to find out why the authorization from PayPal was rejected. After they correct the problem, you may try to add your card again.

Wrong CSC code

You linked your card to your PayPal account but entered the card security code (CSC) incorrectly 3 times.

What to do: Contact us. We can help you finish linking your card. We may ask you to provide some additional information.

Limit of cards in account reached

You have added the maximum number of cards allowed on a single PayPal account.

What to do: Remove at least one card from your account.