Mastercard blocking steam purchases

[LordGooch]

I've had a mastercard associated with my steam account for years. Never had a problem. For the last 6 months, EVERY purchase I make is blocked with a message something like "Your credit card company has declined this payment". The only fix is to call mastercard and have this specific transaction unblocked. They claim their "fraud system detected an anomaly". One would think after the first time, they would flag steam as legit (at least for my account) and let future purchases go through. But they seem unwilling / unable to do that. I've tried escalating this to management - they insist there is nothing they can do. I don't understand - steam is not some small shady company - how can a major credit card not recognize steam? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a solution?

P.S. - I'll add none of these purchases were for "adult" games or anything controversial. Also - if it matters this is a regular credit card - not a debit or prepaid.

[pckirk]

it depends on what credit card processor you were sent to by steam, some banks do not allow out of country online processors to complete the transaction. Steam uses 25+ credit card processors around the world. My previous bank (Credit Union) was like this for both Steam, GoG, Epic. Had to use PayPal as my credit card processor for that bank. Now I have a new bank, and no longer need to do this.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by LordGooch:

Mastercard blocking steam purchases

I've had a mastercard associated with my steam account for years. Never had a problem. For the last 6 months, EVERY purchase I make is blocked with a message something like "Your credit card company has declined this payment". The only fix is to call mastercard and have this specific transaction unblocked. They claim their "fraud system detected an anomaly". One would think after the first time, they would flag steam as legit (at least for my account) and let future purchases go through. But they seem unwilling / unable to do that. I've tried escalating this to management - they insist there is nothing they can do. I don't understand - steam is not some small shady company - how can a major credit card not recognize steam? Anyone else have this problem? Is there a solution?

P.S. - I'll add none of these purchases were for "adult" games or anything controversial. Also - if it matters this is a regular credit card - not a debit or prepaid.

This is a newer policy for Mastercard that Valve can not change.

[sandokanski]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

This is a newer policy for Mastercard that Valve can not change.

:nkCool:

Why does that matter?

[LordGooch]

I was hoping there was some way to get either Steam or Mastercard to fix this. Hard to believe Mastercard can ignore a mutli billion dollar company like steam...

[pckirk]

Originally posted by LordGooch:

I was hoping there was some way to get either Steam or Mastercard to fix this. Hard to believe Mastercard can ignore a mutli billion dollar company like steam...

Nothing needs changing. asking either to fix it wont get it changed. setup a PayPal account, set your mastercard up as your funding source for paypal, then add your paypal account as your steam funding source.

Safet that way anyway since you have to locally approve all paypal transactions outside your steam account

[sandokanski]

Originally posted by pckirk:

Nothing needs changing. asking either to fix it wont get it changed. setup a PayPal account, set your mastercard up as your funding source for paypal, then add your paypal account as your steam funding source.

Safet that way anyway since you have to locally approve all paypal transactions outside your steam account

Hmm. If nothing changes, in 10 years there will be 5 payment processors, instead of 2. Each of them charging you their fee,

[Princess Luna]

Originally posted by sandokanski:

Originally posted by pckirk:

Nothing needs changing. asking either to fix it wont get it changed. setup a PayPal account, set your mastercard up as your funding source for paypal, then add your paypal account as your steam funding source.

Safet that way anyway since you have to locally approve all paypal transactions outside your steam account

Hmm. If nothing changes, in 10 years there will be 5 payment processors, instead of 2. Each of them charging you their fee,

Good luck beating PayPal ,