Steam are being too Nosey!!!

[Zaphod-TG-]

I and members of the clan I belong to plus friends, told me of GTFO game, I looked it up and thought yep I'm getting it went through the purchase details with my credit card and it wouldn't go through because I won't put a phone number in the sale, WTH? You have a valid email and that's it. You're not having my phone number EVER! SO I contacted my friends and they are not going to buy it either for the same reason.

STEAM, my phone number is none of your business and you have no reason to have it, I did attempt help but that's just a shame PR thing and is of no use. my latest two games that I had a choice from was not steam (Bethesda) all they need is an email address. Remove this need for a phone number or at least make it a choice of the purchaser, so if this is going to be your policy from now on then you will never sell another wares to me again or my friends or any gifting of games that I do plenty of.

Stop being nosey.

[Satoru]

9 years on steam and has magically never made a cc puchase that required a phone number on any website. sure buddy.

[KalGimpa]

just went and signed up with bethesda and tried to buy a game. had to have a phone number

[Mad Scientist]

I don't really understand the need for the phone number, but it seems each time I make a purchase I get more & more robocalls, only Steam and my bank generally have that info, sooooo....... not sure what's goin on there but I'd prefer purchasing without it, TBH.

[WolfEisberg]

They get a phone number? why? They don't need that. I have been using Paypal for purchases, so Steam never asked for a phone number.

GOG just asks for credit card number, expiration date, name, name CVV code, Epic store asks for that stuff + zipcode. But Steam asks for address and phone number? That seems unnecessary.

[crunchyfrog]

I guess it's more to do with which payment service your using, and where in the world you are.

In the US, there's taxation reasons why you have to provide certain identifying things, and as you have states there with differing rules, that can cause confusion.

Here in Britain, I've never provided nor been asked for a phone number nor mobile number - something I cannot give because I do not have in any case. I use a regular high street bank debit card.

[WolfEisberg]

Publicado originalmente por crunchyfrog:

I guess it's more to do with which payment service your using, and where in the world you are.

In the US, there's taxation reasons why you have to provide certain identifying things, and as you have states there with differing rules, that can cause confusion.

Here in Britain, I've never provided nor been asked for a phone number nor mobile number - something I cannot give because I do not have in any case. I use a regular high street bank debit card.

In the US a zipcode is all that is needed for taxation purposes. Though GOG doesn't charge tax for US citizens, so I have to claim my GOG purchases on my Utah State tax form so that I pay the state sales tax. I am thinking foreign countries probably don't have to collect US State tax, and it is up to the customer to make sure they pay the sales tax during tax season. Where as US based companies do need to collect the state tax.

[crunchyfrog]

Publicado originalmente por Togo:

Publicado originalmente por crunchyfrog:

I guess it's more to do with which payment service your using, and where in the world you are.

In the US, there's taxation reasons why you have to provide certain identifying things, and as you have states there with differing rules, that can cause confusion.

Here in Britain, I've never provided nor been asked for a phone number nor mobile number - something I cannot give because I do not have in any case. I use a regular high street bank debit card.

In the US a zipcode is all that is needed for taxation purposes. Though GOG doesn't charge tax for US citizens, so I have to claim my GOG purchases on my Utah State tax form so that I pay the state sales tax. I am thinking foreign countries probably don't have to collect US State tax, and it is up to the customer to make sure they pay the sales tax during tax season. Where as US based companies do need to collect the state tax.

Yes, I'm aware that some states like yours you merely self-declare on your tax form. Others I know from other users on here, they get charged the tax at checkout. It varies from state to state.

A sale to any "foreigner" like myself in Britain does NOT require anything more from me than me paying the tax of my country (and Valve need to do the same - NOT US tax in such a case).

But as I said, it might be more than this - despite those variances, many payment providers here in Europe have setups where when you pay by card there's extra security features like second passphrases or cross-referencing like phone numbers.

I seriously doubt that Valve would be doing anything malicious with it, like selling that data on, as the data protection laws would stamp all over that.

Many people have said and suspected this happens - but nobody has shown any evidence of it.

[Insomnia]

My bank requires phone numbers for purchases as it's another line of security. If someone has your details they also need to match the phone number associated with my account or the bank tends to block it. I'm all for that. Valve can't sell your phone number or call you for marketing purposes without your permission.

[Zaphod-TG-]

Publicado originalmente por Insomnia:

My bank requires phone numbers for purchases as it's another line of security. If someone has your details they also need to match the phone number associated with my account or the bank tends to block it. I'm all for that. Valve can't sell your phone number or call you for marketing purposes without your permission.

I have not used PayPal for other reasons, I was going to use my Visa card (credit) and that takes me to verified by visa page for my security checks. The need for a telephone number by steam was not for security, this is a Facebook style spying tactic for marketing, Steam is not having my Phone number period. This is an online system and they have an email and that's good enough.

U.S. laws allow companies to telemarket you, Britain does not allow this, but I could end up getting unsolicited calls and I do not want or allow it.

But my point is they have no need for my phone number and they are not having it under any circumstances.

[Zilverling]

IMao, I was just planning to buy a game on Steam but they can forget it now, Because they want my phonenumber to. And that's only for family so BYE steam We gona find something better then you.

[KalGimpa]

Publicado originalmente por Zaphod-TG-:

Publicado originalmente por Insomnia:

My bank requires phone numbers for purchases as it's another line of security. If someone has your details they also need to match the phone number associated with my account or the bank tends to block it. I'm all for that. Valve can't sell your phone number or call you for marketing purposes without your permission.

I have not used PayPal for other reasons, I was going to use my Visa card (credit) and that takes me to verified by visa page for my security checks. The need for a telephone number by steam was not for security, this is a Facebook style spying tactic for marketing, Steam is not having my Phone number period. This is an online system and they have an email and that's good enough.

U.S. laws allow companies to telemarket you, Britain does not allow this, but I could end up getting unsolicited calls and I do not want or allow it.

But my point is they have no need for my phone number and they are not having it under any circumstances.

nothing in the us law allows a compnay to use the phone number you give them to validate a cc to call you. beyond that, there is the national do not call.

i have used my cc on most of the gaming sites, to order pizza and other foods, and for other items and i have given my number on all and never once had a call.

[crunchyfrog]

Publicado originalmente por Zaphod-TG-:

Publicado originalmente por Insomnia:

My bank requires phone numbers for purchases as it's another line of security. If someone has your details they also need to match the phone number associated with my account or the bank tends to block it. I'm all for that. Valve can't sell your phone number or call you for marketing purposes without your permission.

I have not used PayPal for other reasons, I was going to use my Visa card (credit) and that takes me to verified by visa page for my security checks. The need for a telephone number by steam was not for security, this is a Facebook style spying tactic for marketing, Steam is not having my Phone number period. This is an online system and they have an email and that's good enough.

U.S. laws allow companies to telemarket you, Britain does not allow this, but I could end up getting unsolicited calls and I do not want or allow it.

But my point is they have no need for my phone number and they are not having it under any circumstances.

That's obviously your right to do so, but all I can tell you is there is ZERO evidence where this has happened for users here.

There have been the occasional accusations, but each time we've dug into it, it turns out they can't be remotely sure. If this were the case, then I'm damned sure it'd be A MASSIVE hot topic on these forums, especially as Americans tend to get really feisty about this issue.


I would like some clarification on exactly WHERE this request pops up, as I've said earlier it might not be Steam at all by the payment provider. Steam doesn't usually ask this, so this is indeed peculiar.

[Γαῖα]

What i find puzzling is where does it say anywhere any person of any population must legally have a phone (mobile or landline) for the purposes of supplying a contactable phone number.

In this day and age one can simply up sticks, change a phone number or give up both despite prior having a bank account and that bank account stays open. Banks where i live advise only that you notify them but they dont mandate it.

What if for whatever reason a person decides they dont want a phone. Should they be excluded for making such a choice.

While it makes sense to supply a forwarding address, often because of cyber theft, your bank states it will never call you unless prearranged by yourself and said bank.
Further to this a person could have multiple homes and phones and is unlikely to inform said bank of all of these.

What if the thief has all the data necessary for a illegal purchase as so often happens despite so called laws stipulating how a business processes data. Could you prove a business isnt passing on your data or is the assumption built on faith and a so called small print and often vague agreement.

All in all nothing proves nothing to a point beyond doubt currently so the process has really little to nothing to do with your financial safety but more about culpability.

[AustrAlien2010]

You could check the forum, if someone ever had such an issue after adding their phone number. Or just get an extra phone number.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

So wait, giving phone number is a problem, but you're happy to give all your other information just fine...

Anyways use PayPal, paysafe, or other bank transfers payment method. But funny may still need to provide phone number to a bank transfer that ask for it too, not just Steam.


What could do is buy Steam key for the game if sold on 3rd party site.


Again still strange how phone number is a huge problem, when you're providing much more deeper private credentials than your phone number, but whatever.