Steam wallet adding money

[Hiigara]

Is it correct that i have to fill out all personal information when adding funds to my steam wallet? This is a new feature?

[Cheezus Crisp]

Yes it's normal. It has been "recently" added for tax allocation reasons

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/3047182696782226158/

[Ogami]

You dont need to add these information when adding Wallet money but if you want to use those funds to buy something.
That is correct. Its a new systen based on new tax laws Steam has to follow.
At the moment this new requirement is only for North America and the EU.

Here is the Steam Support Info about it:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6112-TDHB-4392&auth=99f0bf472b9f241cc83ba56baa54e257

[Hiigara]

Thanks for the answer. I do not like the fact i have to write down my full adress into Steam....for billing...

[Hiigara]

Originally posted by Ogami:

You dont need to add these information when adding Wallet money but if you want to use those funds to buy something.
That is correct. Its a new systen based on new tax laws Steam has to follow.
At the moment this new requirement is only for North America and the EU.

Here is the Steam Support Info about it:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6112-TDHB-4392&auth=99f0bf472b9f241cc83ba56baa54e257

I cannot add funds to my walleet without adding personal billing info...

[wuddih]

Originally posted by Ogami:

You dont need to add these information when adding Wallet money

he does. you do for everything. you just don't need to enter it ... when you have saved it ;)

[Tokrar]

Just to be clear: do we now need to add our billing information when using a redeem code from a steam gift card as well ? Not only when we actually buy something with the wallet money?

[Vandread]

Originally posted by Hiigara:

Thanks for the answer. I do not like the fact i have to write down my full adress into Steam....for billing...

I personally am not convinced entirely that it's legally required for Europeans. At they very least, it might not be the case for certain payment methods.

If you live in Europe, I'd suggest trying to read through article 24b and 24f of the directive they linked, here[eur-lex.europa.eu]. The directive also comes with some explanatory notes[ec.europa.eu] - once reading through article 24f, I'd refer to section 9.5.1 of those for an explanation of the term other commercially relevant information. Then you can combine that with the GDPR[eur-lex.europa.eu], specifically article 5.1c of it.

There is a current theory of some users that believe Valve is crossing the line with the request for personal information for taxing purposes. I'm not telling you the above theory is right, but at the very least I'd prefer it if you're informed of this possibly being Valve being way too overzealous. Valve has already backpedaled on the mandatory telephone number (which was never mentioned in any law to do with VAT anyway) - even though that at the moment still seems mandatory due to the form spitting out an error about the billing address being too long otherwise.

All I'd tell you is - if you live in Europe, consider giving this a second thought before you outright fill it in. Perhaps attempt to get more informed. You can try getting more information from Steam Support, but they will likely stone-wall you with an answer along the lines of 'It's for tax purposes for your region. We'll be closing your ticket and you cannot contact us about this again'. Which perhaps means you're better off taking the plunge and asking for more information from your country's Data Protection Authority - they might be able to assist you more than Steam Support can.

Regardless - it's still your personal information, so it's up to you to determine what you do. =)

[BitsOfSkin]

Originally posted by Vandread:

Wall of somewhat relevant text

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_2010

That's most likely why: it looks like they're trying to end-run the EU commission's findings and make it so people still get charged based on where they live, even IF the EU forces them to stop geoblocking.


TL;DR for the lazy folks : Valve was told by the EU to stop blocking EU citizens from buying cheap copies of games from Russia etc., it looks like Valve's trying to find a way around it.

[Tokrar]

Well Support just came back to me stating that I indeed need to provide my full name and adress as of now, refering to the billing FAQ.

- No further explanation on why this is needed now, despite it involving a 2013 law text.
- No further explanation on why this is needed considering the secondary evidence like historical IP adress, country identification etc mentioned in the explanatory notes

Polite respons but not beyond my expectations, but hey ... just closed the ticket and didn't bother anymore.

I'll keep my wallet shut for now and wait for what happens next like this being rolled out elsewhere or getting comfortable with it. Won't be losing sleep over this.

Gaming is becoming less and less of an activity anyway and it's a nice motivation to dive into those unplayed games in my library.

I don't know, sort of makes me nostalgic about the days of actually holding that new game in your hands and going through the manual etc. Never had "can't connect" issues like the one Steam is having in the past week ...

The whole dependency on a third-party platform and their ability to unilaterally change the rules (justified or not) doesn't sit well for the moment.

Though I guess if your house burns down, at least you won't lose it all ... dunno. Getting old I guess :)

[Zylfrax791]

What happens if your full name is "Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg" but theres no empty fields for all the weirdo middle names?

[Cryptic]

Originally posted by Zylfrax791:

What happens if your full name is "Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg" but theres no empty fields for all the weirdo middle names?

You would just put Greta Thunberg

Though I am curious if they would say anything if you just put first initials for your First and Last name.

[Konstantin]

Honestly I thought there might be a few games on Steam I might play but right now I will stay with third party seller like Fanatic and Humble for those Steam only titles and rest, well steam can keep their 12,18€ currency I still have. I think I will stay at GoG. Is DRM Free and there is no need for adress if not buying with CC.

[Look]

You can buy cards, emoticons, wallpapers andso on with the wallet without giving ID...only a hint.

[Vandread]

Originally posted by BitsOfSkin:

Originally posted by Vandread:

Wall of somewhat relevant text

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_2010

That's most likely why: it looks like they're trying to end-run the EU commission's findings and make it so people still get charged based on where they live, even IF the EU forces them to stop geoblocking.


TL;DR for the lazy folks : Valve was told by the EU to stop blocking EU citizens from buying cheap copies of games from Russia etc., it looks like Valve's trying to find a way around it.

Not exactly - at the very least Russia plays no role in this as its not a member of the EU. The price harmonization principle applies to only members of the EU afaik. Meaning if one checks SteamDB, the quickest example to find would be Poland.

I have to admit that I haven't read the directives regarding geoblocking exactly, cause it's rather late here - but I'm having doubts here if it's to do with that in all honesty. Taxes would still sound like a more reasonable explanation - even though that also sounds a bit iffy still to me.

Originally posted by Tokrar:

Well Support just came back to me stating that I indeed need to provide my full name and adress as of now, refering to the billing FAQ.

...

Though I guess if your house burns down, at least you won't lose it all ... dunno. Getting old I guess :)

Could I ask what you actually asked in the ticket? Just about your full name and address being necessary or was there more to it? Don't feel pressured to answer if you don't want to though.

It's more out of interest. I might end up taking the plunge myself and asking some questions, but I'd rather not ask duplicate questions as that'd serve no purpose. I'd know the answer to those already anyway then...

Whatever others too most likely, 'cause it sounds like Steam Support only has one answer to it, but hey... :)

[Cryptic]

well they have added a ? next to Billing information "Due to tax requirements in your country, we need to collect your address. If you do not have a billing address, please enter your name and physical address."