Garmin Pay, failed to add card

Try to clear cache and data for Garmin Connect.

Read this thread: forums.garmin.com/.../garmin-pay---fails-to-add-cards

Thanks for your reply, I did see that thread but couldn't add to it since it was locked. I have tried clearing the cache and data, and reinstalling Garmin Connect three times. No difference.

I suspect that the problem is related to having the credit card linked to my Garmin wallet on my Fenix 6. The bank (Commonwealth Bank, in Australia) will only allow one device to be used. The bank's instructions refer to being able to use "Manage wallet" on Garmin Connect, but this doesn't exist. There isn't an explicit way to delete a wallet that I can see. In any case, the card is no longer on the Fenix 6, and I still can't enable it on the Epix.

My suspicion is that the bank thinks that the card is still connected to the Fenix 6, and so it declines adding it to the Epix. I have no idea how to convince Garmin Connect to tell the bank that the Fenix 6 wallet is now empty.

maybe its a software issue on the bank side - have you tried discussing with them?

Alternatively look for a digital card service like Curve/ Revolt. Never had any issues using them, and having bank connection issues like that.

I spoke with the bank, and they say it isn't a problem with their systems.

I did only enter the card details, and there was no screen for name/address/etc since the card was already linked to Google Pay on my phone, so all I had to do was verify with the fingerprint sensor. At which point I get the legal agreement from the bank regarding using Garmin Pay, click Accept, and it then declines.

I am having the same issue. Card (visa from chase) worked perfectly on Fenix 6. Epix 2 won't authorize. Says bank declined. Bank has no idea and says its not them. I cleared everything and reinstalled. Fenix was retired via garmin connect online. Hoping garmin issues a fix because I really liked the garmin pay feature. 

Success at last! Here is what happened today:

I tried to add my card again to the Epix. This time the Connect app gave an error message I hadn't seen before: "Not connected to Garmin Pay" and said "To connect, toogle your phone's Bluetooth off and on and try again"; this was despite the watch itself being connected via Bluetooth (e.g., syncing worked fine). I tried many times toggling Bluetooth, no luck - I got the same error message.

I then turned the watch off/on, still no luck. What worked was restarting the phone. Then I again tried adding the card, got the "declined" message, then I tried again, and THIS TIME IT WORKED! For the first time it went to the screen where it asks for the name and address on the card, then it contacted the bank, sent an SMS code, and activated.

My new theory is that there is some error in the Garmin Connect app, where it sometimes goes straight from the screen where you input the card number, date and CVV, to contacting the bank BEFORE asking for the name on the card and the address. So the bank declines the card.

I must have tried this 20 times or more, plus multiple power-cycles of the watch and phone, and multiple reinstalls  of Garmin Connect over a couple of weeks, before it worked.