Verification Is A Nightmare.

[Paxy]

Using pre-paid cards for CREDIT CARD verification is plain stupid, and I respect the path steam is taking. Why did they decie to do it by "charging" the card again? If somebody (such as myself) buys a pre paid card worth 25 USD, They shouldn't have to verify it, and steam shouldn't lie by saying "Credit Card Verification" or "Your funds will be available for use instantly" with the community marketplace. Either change the text so it's not so mis-leading or find another verification method (Calling the given phone number maybe?), because my son just bought his own card and freaked out when he tried to verify it.

[Terminus]

Steam Wallet Codes
Steam Gift Cards and Wallet Codes are an easy way to put money into your own Steam Wallet or give the perfect gift of games to your friend or family member.

Steam Gift Cards work just like a gift certificate, while Steam Wallet Codes work just like a game activation code both of which can be redeemed on Steam for the purchase of games, software, wallet credit, and any other item you can purchase on Steam. You can find Steam Gift Cards and Wallet Codes at retail stores across the World in a variety of denominations.

Sources: https://store.steampowered.com/account/redeemwalletcode

[Paxy]

Sorry let me refraise, it was a prepaid debit card. AKA no refilling

[Terminus]

Steam Gift Cards and Wallet Codes do not require an additional layer of verification, as they have been approved by Steam.

Other cards usually need to be verified initially (at least based on the current framework). Regarding the verification - any cash used for verification will be back in the respective account within 1-2 weeks.

[aiusepsi]

Charging the card again is the only way to prove that you own the card, because only the owner would have access to look up the transaction amounts. Calling the provided phone number is not going to work; someone who's not the card owner using the card can just put their own phone number in there.

Alternatively, you can just wait seven days. The verification is there to let you skip the 7-day waiting period.

They should probably clarify the language on the funds page; you can use the funds immediately for e.g. buying games from the store, it's just the market that's restricted. That's because if the funds are subject to a chargeback on a purchase of a game from the store, they can just remove the game from your account. Revoking a market transaction is a lot worse, because the fraud can screw things up for innocent third-parties. E.g. what if someone bought a game with the wallet funds from a market purchase that gets revoked?