If you made a payment on Ruby Sweeps and the purchase failed, but you see the amount temporarily held in your account, it could be due to an AVS error.
What is an AVS error?
An AVS error is a mismatch between the address you enter and the one your bank has on file for your card.
Imagine your bank is like a doorman. You try to pay online, and the doorman asks, “What’s your address?” If what you say doesn’t match exactly what’s written in their guest list (your billing address), the doorman says, “Nope, you’re not coming in.”
That “Nope” is an AVS error — AVS stands for Address Verification System.
Common reasons:
You moved recently and didn’t update your bank address.
You typed your address differently than the bank has it (e.g., “Street” vs. “St.” or missing apartment number).
There was a typo in the address or ZIP you entered.
Why did my payment decline?
Your payment didn’t go through because the billing address you entered doesn’t exactly match the one your bank has for your card. Even small differences — like “Street” vs “St.” or missing an apartment number — can make it fail. This is a security check to make sure the person using the card is really the card owner.
To fix it, double-check your card’s billing address with your bank, then enter it exactly the same way when you pay.
How do I resolve an AVS error?
To resolve an AVS error, you can follow the steps below:
Check for typos
Carefully review your billing address for any spelling mistakes, missing numbers, incorrect numbers or incorrect abbreviations.
Match your bank’s records exactly
Enter your address exactly as it appears with your bank — same spelling, abbreviations, and punctuation.
Try using a 9-digit ZIP code
Add the 4 extra numbers to your ZIP code (e.g.,
123456789) if you know them. Note: do not add a dash in this 9 dig ZIP code
Update your address if you’ve moved
If you recently changed addresses, make sure your bank has your new billing address before trying again.
Note: Sometimes it can take a few days for your new address to take effect after updating it with your card issuer. You can try using your old address in the meantime to see if that works!
Where are my missing funds? What happens with them!
If your payment failed — for example, due to an AVS (Address Verification System) error — you might still see the funds “leave” your bank account. Don’t worry, the money hasn’t actually been taken.
What’s Happening?
When you try to make a payment, your bank first checks if you have enough funds. If you do, they place a temporary authorization hold for that amount.
This hold makes it look like the money is gone, but it’s just set aside while the transaction is verified.
If the payment fails (e.g., your billing address didn’t match your bank’s records), we never receive the money.
How Long Until the Funds Return?
Most banks release the hold within 1–7 business days.
Some banks may take longer depending on their policies.
Can I Get the Hold Released Faster?
Yes — If you reach out to the customer support team, we can void this payment manually for you as long as your bank has not already started this process!
I have tried all these steps and my payments are still declining!
If you have tried all the troubleshooting options above, please reach out to customer support for further assistance! 💖