Don't be positive that someone being denied for a little charge means that
they are over their head.

Although I don't recall the exact reasons and circumstances, MasterCard
once denied approval at a gas station, for me, once. I was briefly
****ed, then pulled out my emergency Visa, and vowed I would get to the
bottom of it when I got home.

True, there are the occasionally screwy things like this. It's happened to
me, too.

Still, the vast majority of denials are directly due to the card-holder
being up to their hips in credit card debt. I've had people try three
different maxed-out cards before hitting on one that would allow them a
crummy $100 pre-auth. It's downright scary.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"