Why don t stores accept Discover card?

Asked by: Prof. Donnell Boehm DVM  |  Last update: September 12, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (49 votes)

It may come as no surprise that the reason many merchants opt-out of accepting Discover cards (and American Express, for that matter) is about the bottom line. The Discover card is also like American Express in that they both charge a bit more to store owners to accept their cards.

Why do some stores not accept Discover?

Some local businesses and restaurants -- that is, those that aren't franchised or part of national brands -- won't accept Discover credit cards, mainly because the processing fees are slightly higher than Mastercard and Visa.

Does anywhere not accept Discover card?

Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards. Get the facts—99% of merchants nationwide who take credit cards accept Discover. How do you know whether a merchant will accept your Discover Card or Discover student credit card? The best thing to do is to ask.

Why does Discover have a bad reputation?

Discover is a bad credit card company for people who plan to travel abroad because Discover cards are accepted in fewer countries and territories than Visa and Mastercard. Some merchants also think Discover is a bad credit card company because it often charges high fees for card acceptance.

Why are Discover cards being declined?

Your card may not get approval if you've reached your credit limit, or if you attempt a purchase that exceeds your available credit. A large purchase that doesn't fit your spending patterns may appear suspicious to your credit card company, so they may decline the transaction.

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Why does Discover keep rejecting me?

Common reasons applicants are denied credit cards include low credit scores, no credit history, inadequate ratio of income vs. expenses, and not meeting minimum age requirements. There are alternatives to standard credit cards to consider if you keep getting denied for credit cards.

Why can't I use my new Discover card?

If you don't activate a new card you receive, you typically won't be able to use it to make purchases or earn rewards for those purchases. A retailer may decline your payment if you use a card that isn't active. Though this may be inconvenient, it won't impact your credit score.

What is the disadvantage of Discover?

The cons of banking with Discover Bank include no physical branch presence, no specialty CDs, and no brokerage accounts.

Does Amazon accept Discover cards?

Amazon Pay accepts credit and debit cards. Credit cards currently accepted include Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB. The Amazon.com store card is available for use with selected merchants. In some circumstances, you might be limited to using Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

What is happening to the Discover credit card?

On February 19, Capital One announced it would acquire Discover in an all-stock transaction worth $35.3 billion. Both companies are among the largest credit card issuers in the country while Capital One is the ninth-largest bank in the United States.

Does Walmart not accept Discover?

Simply bring your contactless Discover debit card and cash to any Walmart and ask the Walmart cashier to add the cash directly to your Discover bank account.

Does Target take Discover Card?

Target stores

Third-party credit cards: Visa®, Mastercard®, Discover®/Novus®, American Express®, credit cards from foreign banks (JCB Japanese Credit Bureau), Diner's Club International, and FSA/HSA cards are redeemable for FSA/HSA eligible items. Debit/ATM and EBT cards: U.S.-issued debit/ATM cards.

Why does Costco not take Discover?

Since Costco has an exclusive contract with Visa, shoppers can't use credit cards backed by the other three main networks — American Express, Mastercard and Discover — at Costco warehouses.

Why is Discover card not popular?

Merchants Pay More

It may come as no surprise that the reason many merchants opt-out of accepting Discover cards (and American Express, for that matter) is about the bottom line. The Discover card is also like American Express in that they both charge a bit more to store owners to accept their cards.

Does McDonald's take Discover?

Yes, McDonald's does take credit cards. Customers can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards issued by a U.S. Bank at McDonald's locations. Credit cards can also be used when ordering through the McDonald's mobile app, as well as third-party delivery apps.

Does Home Depot accept Discover cards?

We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, The Home Depot® Consumer Credit Card, The Home Depot® Pro Xtra Credit Card, and the Home Depot Commercial Card.

Where is Discover Card not accepted?

While Discover acceptance is higher in the United States than you might think, with 99% of U.S. merchants accepting it, it's still not as prevalent in other countries. One notable U.S. merchant that doesn't accept Discover is Costco, who only accepts Visa branded cards.

What credit card is Amazon no longer accepting?

Amazon cited Visa's “outstandingly bad” credit card fees as the motive behind dropping the scheme.

Does Kohl's accept Discover Card?

Kohls.com accepts a variety of online payment methods, including Kohl's Card and other major credit cards such as Discover, MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Only one credit card may be applied to each purchase.

What are the cons of having Discover It card?

  • Categories aren't always lucrative.
  • Rotating categories require activation.
  • There's a cap on the higher cash back rate.
  • You can't increase the value of rewards.
  • Other benefits are limited.
  • Discover has limited acceptance.

How many credit cards should I have?

It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.

What are two disadvantages of discovery?

However, it also has disadvantages such as taking more time than direct teaching, requiring greater resources, and relying on students having sufficient prior skills and knowledge to learn effectively through discovery.

Why does Discover keep denying me?

The reasons will be listed in the denial letter Discover sends out shortly after its decision. They may include an annual income below what's needed to make minimum monthly payments, a low credit score, too many recent credit inquiries or a high amount of debt, among others.

Why is my credit card declined when I have money?

Your card may be declined for a number of reasons: the card has expired; you're over your credit limit; the card issuer sees suspicious activity that could be a sign of fraud; or a hotel, rental car company, or other business placed a block (or hold) on your card for its estimated total of your bill.

What happens if I don't use my Discover card?

Your credit card could be closed due to inactivity

That's partly because closing a credit card account can reduce your overall available credit, which increases your credit utilization ratio. Closing an older credit card may also hurt your score by reducing the average age of your accounts.