Mastercard blocking steam purchases

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam Community > Topic Details

LordGooch 21 Apr @ 6:27am

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.

Last edited by LordGooch; 21 Apr @ 6:29am

< >

Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

pckirk 21 Apr @ 6:31am

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 21 Apr @ 7:06am

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 21 Apr @ 8:04am

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:
This is a newer policy for Mastercard that Valve can not change.

:nkCool:

Why does that matter?

LordGooch 21 Apr @ 8:30am

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 21 Apr @ 8:36am

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 21 Apr @ 9:30am

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 21 Apr @ 10:23am

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 ,

Lord S8n ( . Y . ) 14 Dec @ 5:06pm

Its happening to me with multiple platforms. If I use Wal-Marts One pay pre-paid service or Direct Express also If I link either of these to pay pal it still dont work. The one thing in common is MASTERCARD. They are blocking purchases from Valve and this is BS. Im never using mastercard again

Tezzious 15 Dec @ 12:38pm

I have been using mastercard without any issue, when i first used it on steam i had to verify the transaction in the app on my phone, since then all payments go through without verification.

76561199540158642 6 hours ago

its cause mastercard doesn't trust steam to pay them.

anotherwords steam has a very poor credit card rating and has been involved in numerous scam transactions that makes credit card company's leery to do any business with them.

you should call your credit card up and approve the transaction and then once you do you are responsible for any and all transactions, this way your bank or credit company doesn't get hit with your charge reverse or fraud when steam doesn't deliver the product you want.

you will then be stuck with the purchase and if you reverse the charges steam will either disable your account, or make it impossible for you purchase on the account again.

Last edited by Golden Unicorn; 6 hours ago

#10