Steam gift card regions / Contacting support

[Time Paradox]

So I'm in Qatar and the only way for me to feasibly buy games on steam is to load up my steam account with wallet codes. I used to buy UK codes and they'd redeem fine, however on the last attempt I was given an invalid code error, eventually I gave the code to a friend in the UK to try and it worked for him.

I dig around and find out that steam made changes to what regions can redeem what gift cards recently, but don't actually specify the exact changes anywhere. I want to know what wallet regions it is actually possible to redeem from (I remember physical stores used to sell USD wallet codes here) before I waste more money, but it's literally impossible to contact steam support with issues regarding to wallet codes.

Anyone have any information/advice regarding this? And no, I can't switch regions.

[Zekiran]

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

So I'm in Qatar (SNIP) I used to buy UK codes

This is why you cannot do that any more.

You were defrauding your government's tax system, and Steam becomes responsible for this.

You cannot do this in any way. You don't want to pay your local amounts, then take it up with your government.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by Zekiran:

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

So I'm in Qatar (SNIP) I used to buy UK codes

This is why you cannot do that any more.

You were defrauding your government's tax system, and Steam becomes responsible for this.

You cannot do this in any way. You don't want to pay your local amounts, then take it up with your government.

Not sure exactly how I can defraud the government's tax system considering the government here has no literally no taxes on video games lol.

Valve literally does not sell steam wallet codes in my currency, and I do pay local amounts, in the local currency for my store, which are Qatari riyals.

When redeeming a steam wallet code it converts the currency into whatever currency the store region you're on is, or it used to anyway.

[Crazy Tiger]

Read the green box here: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1122-RTSC-0478

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Read the green box here: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1122-RTSC-0478

Yes, this is what I was referring to in my original post. It said MAY encounter an error, it doesn't specify which regions are actually locked out for my local currency. It also says contact steam support "If you have questions about your ability to redeem Steam Wallet Codes", yet it's actually impossible to do so with their support system.

[Crazy Tiger]

Is the Steam card different from your local currency set in the Steam client?

You can try this for a ticket: Support pages - Purchases - "I can't complete my purchase on the Steam store" - Steam Wallet Funds. Then you get to a ticket field to type your text.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Is the Steam card different from your local currency set in the Steam client?

You can try this for a ticket: Support pages - Purchases - "I can't complete my purchase on the Steam store" - Steam Wallet Funds. Then you get to a ticket field to type your text.

Thanks, I'll give that a go then.

The currency is different yeah, but the thing is afaik wallet codes in the local currency don't exist, I've only ever seen retail stores sell them in USD or GBP, and online searches turn up nothing of wallet cards in QAR.

The currency would convert into QAR from pounds at the normal exchange rate when I redeemed them, I understand that the changes were done to prevent scams, but I think it's fairly unlikely that a lot of scammers were using my store region in particular lol, so these blanket changes kinda suck.

[ericjr]

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

Anyone have any information/advice regarding this? And no, I can't switch regions.

Where to buy Steam Wallet Codes
Maybe pick the closest country to you on that list and buy from there?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

The currency is different yeah, but the thing is afaik wallet codes in the local currency don't exist, I've only ever seen retail stores sell them in USD or GBP, and online searches turn up nothing of wallet cards in QAR.

The currency would convert into QAR from pounds at the normal exchange rate when I redeemed them, I understand that the changes were done to prevent scams, but I think it's fairly unlikely that a lot of scammers were using my store region in particular lol, so these blanket changes kinda suck.

You can only use QAR cards/codes now. If no stores in your country sell them, ask those stores to start carrying them. This is not something Valve does.

It is a blanket change because no 1 region is is immune from the abuse.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

The currency is different yeah, but the thing is afaik wallet codes in the local currency don't exist, I've only ever seen retail stores sell them in USD or GBP, and online searches turn up nothing of wallet cards in QAR.

The currency would convert into QAR from pounds at the normal exchange rate when I redeemed them, I understand that the changes were done to prevent scams, but I think it's fairly unlikely that a lot of scammers were using my store region in particular lol, so these blanket changes kinda suck.

You can only use QAR cards/codes now. If no stores in your country sell them, ask those stores to start carrying them. This is not something Valve does.

It is a blanket change because no 1 region is is immune from the abuse.

:qr:

Well if what you're saying is true that sucks. I really don't think it's a store thing, surely they have to literally exist for stores to stock them. Surely it's up to Valve to get Wallet codes printed for a region, which they haven't done for here?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

If the currency is supported on Steam, the cards can be produced for that currency. But it is up to the retailers to source them.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

If the currency is supported on Steam, the cards can be produced for that currency. But it is up to the retailers to source them.

:qr:

Don't want to say I don't believe you but do you have a source? I'm pretty sure stores have been stocking cards of different currencies because ones in QAR aren't produced.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by ericjr:

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

Anyone have any information/advice regarding this? And no, I can't switch regions.

Where to buy Steam Wallet Codes
Maybe pick the closest country to you on that list and buy from there?

Not sure I want to risk dumping more money on a card that I likely won't be able to use, when I could get the information for free first

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Use a credit card or bank card.

[Time Paradox]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Use a credit card or bank card.

:qr:

If that were possible I would be doing that lol

[Satoru]

Originally posted by Time Paradox:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Use a credit card or bank card.

:qr:

If that were possible I would be doing that lol

So magically you're paying for things over internet in foriegn countries using unicorn poop?