Why does my Apple Card decline international transactions?

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Level 1

4 points

Why does my Apple Card decline international transactions?

I seem to encounter this unique 'feature' with Apple Card. Anytime I place a transaction of >$1000 with an international merchant (e.g. Hotel) I get a 'transaction declined' followed by lengthy exchanges with a specialist. The same transaction goes thru on other cards (Amazon Visa etc). It confuses the heck out of payment systems at European merchants when this happens.

I tried proactively warning the Apple Specialist line that a transaction (specific amount, merchant ..) is going to hit. But they don't seem to be able to handle anything proactively.

p.s: I will add that the amount is way below my allowable credit balance, and I tend to pay my bills the month they hit (so no credit rating issues)

I like to travel light when I am international - but it makes me concerned if I can rely on an Apple Card as my sole card in these situations. As an all Apple household, I find this distressing and unbecoming of the brand

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 15

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,580 points

Feb 10, 2025 10:53 AM in response to venuv62

The brand cannot control or dictate policy to a federally regulated bank.

You may be running into several issues. Many foreign countries have strict limits on the size and daily cumulative total amount spent using Apple Pay. I have run into this using other cards in my Wallet app.

When I’m using my Apple Card and Apple Pay and a large transaction is declined, I immediately get a text from Goldman Sachs asking if that was me. I reply and I’m told to submit again and it goes right through. This is one reason I use AT&T when I’m overseas. I get my texts instantly. When my wife travels, she’ll pickup a local telecom SIM and texts are delayed many times.

The fraud detection algorithm Goldman uses does not seem to be able to be altered by customer support. I’m sure it’s some that could be discussed with a supervisor or by writing to Goldman Sachs.

CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank

Call toll-free at 877-255-5923

Write to: Goldman Sachs Bank, Lockbox 6112, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170-6112.

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Answer 2

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,580 points

Feb 10, 2025 11:43 AM in response to venuv62

Co-branded credit cards are different. They just don’t work the way you’re imagining. When I have a question about my American Airlines Citibank card I don’t call American Airlines. I call Citibank. The same for my Delta, Hilton and Marriott cards.

Apple does not do the customer support for the cards either. Goldman does the CS and follows their guidelines and regulations. Not Apple’s.

Are you paying using Apple Pay or the physical card?

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Answer 3

venuv62 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 10, 2025 11:17 AM in response to Jeff Donald

First, thanks for the GS bank contact info - this was what I was looking for in the card metadata (but hard to locate)

On the rest - this is not correlated to 'brand pressure'. the very next millisecond after an Apple Card decline(s), I was able to pay the same merchant, same amount on Amazon Visa. The merchant by the way is the German equivalent of Four Seasons, not a fly by night. The merchant is also one to whom I have previously paid an advance - using the same Apple Card, after going thru said awkwardness reminiscent of credit card experiences from the 1990s

This has nothing to do with fraud detection. Even if it were, Goldman isn't Slippery Rock bank, they have some of the most sophisticated Computer Scientists that money can buy - their algo could do a simple historical search.

The brand in question for me is Apple - not Goldman. When I have an issue with my iphone, I talk to Apple, not FoxConn. If Apple cannot control Goldman's behavior, Apple is losing control of its brand.

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