You have answered your own issue. As long as there are no funds available with this bank card, Apple will not be able to verify the account because the bank keeps declining Apple's attempts to verify funds, so Apple is not going to approve your account for use, even with free apps. Either put money in the bank account, or use iTunes app on a Mac or PC to select the None option or buy and redeem an iTunes gift card.

How has she answered her own ?.... I  keep getting same messages aswell my card is still valid and has money in account it's still saying declined for some reason ???

She has answered her own issue by stataing that she has entered card details for a card that has no available funds!

Thankful it won't take anything out as there's nothing in it now

As for your card, what kind of card do you have a credit card that has available credit or a debit card for a savings or checking account with available funds? Any other type of card is not acceptable.

i have debit card which is still valid, also why would i need funds to use it for just updating my apps on i-pad ???  there is available funds by the way...i was just wondering ?

I understand that Apple is, in some places, no longer accepting debit cards even though they were accepted in the past.

Apple does not accept debit cards that you buy at a local store. Apple only accepts a debit card issued to you by a bank and connected to an account in the bank.

Apple uses a card listed to verify that you are who you claim to be and that you have funds in the bank for purchases with a debit card or credit for purchases with a credit card. If the system tells Apple no, the card is not acceptible, then Apple cannot verify it is actually you trying to use the account. It is both a financial and a security issue. Apple is very careful with Apple ID accounts.

I'm sure this is true in the US, but acceptable payment methods are different in other countries.

iTunes Store: Accepted forms of payment

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5552

I wasn't speaking of the US, I was speaking from international experience with debit cards issued by banks in association with demand deposit accounts; checking & savings, in the bank. Other users in other nations where the payment methods don't specifically mention debit cards also report no issues because bank issued debit cards can be run by the system as if they were credit cards.