Avianca Credit Card Issues – Card Auto Declined & Passcode On Account

Reader Tom let me know that he has been having issues with his new Avianca credit card. Here’s what’s happening/happened:

  • Applied 12/28/2016 and was approved
  • Received card one week later
  • Card activated
  • Card now gets declined whenever he tries to use it
  • When he calls customer service they tell him their is a passcode on his account and transfer him to the fraud department
  • They claim their systems are having issues and it’s affecting all cardholders (not true)

He isn’t the only one running into this problem, others on Flyertalk are also having issues. If anybody has any idea on how to resolve these issues, please share your experiences/tips in the comments below. Hopefully somebody knows a work around as this is one of the top credit card offers currently.

I’ve also contacted Banco Popular about the issue and will update this post if I get a response.

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Enrico
Enrico (@guest_489756)
October 8, 2017 00:58

I had no issues. Reside in California. Applied beginning Dec. Got 60k miles after 2nd billing cycle. The first billing cycle is only a few days but already has the Annual fee.

Enrico
Enrico (@guest_489759)
October 8, 2017 01:04

Sorry I meant beginning of Sept not Dec when I applied. And I did use the code for the 60k.

Btw. Thanks for publishing this Already saved me some money before even getting teh sign up bonus.

zack
zack (@guest_431139)
June 30, 2017 10:20

I had all of these same exact problems. After numerous calls and a couple hours on hold, I gave up. At least I got my 60k no problem.

About 1 month after the first decline, I go to my parents house for dinner, and there is a letter addressed to me from banco popular. It had the code in it!!

I never gave that address to the bank, I had applied with my correct address, and I haven’t lived there for over 15 years! I called and gave the code to the CSR and voila. Been working ever since!

juan david
juan david (@guest_344639)
January 27, 2017 10:21

any update on this FXXXX card? Any ideas on what to do? Cancel? refuse to pay annual fee?

They have no idea what is happening a and not sure why they can not solve this.. is being already a month and they simply can not solve this issue

Shawn
Shawn (@guest_341770)
January 20, 2017 13:52

Called customer service number and liberal seems to be out of service now. Anyone else experienced that?

Juan David
Juan David (@guest_341389)
January 19, 2017 21:56

Any updates??? I received my 60,000 miles but unable to use my card. I was able to do a 12 usd purchase to trigger the offer but nothing has happened since then….. any news? BTW I applied at the end of december and YES I received the 60k miles by using the code.

Mark
Mark (@guest_339961)
January 17, 2017 01:33

Banco Popular and BBVA shouldn’t be getting involved in these cobranded deals if they can’t handle it

Bo knows
Bo knows (@guest_340067)
January 17, 2017 10:31

they don’t know how much they can each until they are full quickly

Bo knows
Bo knows (@guest_339935)
January 17, 2017 00:34

activated and used for several days….make grocery purchase for around $5k, then card got locked out for over 3 weeks and counting. 60k +5k miles have been posted to my life miles account. it is supposed to get 5k*2 on the grocery purchase, but I only got 5k on it.

juan davis
juan davis (@guest_340278)
January 17, 2017 17:02

So.. will they honor the 2 miles on grocery? or this is part of the system failure the bank is having?

bo knows
bo knows (@guest_340433)
January 18, 2017 01:53

nobody knows currently… CSRs are clueless

JB
JB (@guest_339800)
January 16, 2017 20:16

Hmmm…I got my card, called and activated it, made first purchase, 60,000 miles showed up last week.

Are the people that are getting declined sure they called and activated it? You can’t activate it online, only setup online banking. You HAVE to call to activate.

Dirah
Dirah (@guest_339764)
January 16, 2017 18:51

I had issues to. What I realised: When I received the card, the sticker on the card gives both a website and a phone number. I set up online banking through the website, assuming this now meant the card was activated (as with their issuers, such as Amex). After getting declined many times it dawned on me to try activate by phone too. Now the card works fine. Made first spend, but I am waiting for statement close for the 60K.

Miz
Miz (@guest_339679)
January 16, 2017 17:12

I applied 12/23/16. and received the card 12/30/16, activated the card 01/01/17, and used it a few days after to buy a small amount Amazon e-GC. Statement closed Jan 9. Miles were in my Lifemiles account when I checked at 01/12/17.