Why does PayPal and/or Photobucket want a credit card?
February 11, 2013 12:07 PM Subscribe
Why does PayPal/Photobucket seem to insist on adding a credit card now? What if I have no credit card? What if I want no credit card?
Yesterday, Photobucket sent me a reminder that my Pro subscription is coming to an end. I tried to purchase another year via PayPal payment, as I have done in the past. Didn't work, reason "subscriptions need a credit card associated with the account". I tried to buy a one month Pro sub - again, no luck, same reason.
I have years worth of images on that account and need them to stay available at their current url, so moving to another hosting service is not an option.
I currently neither have nor want a credit card. I have PayPal for precisely that reason - to handle online purchases instead of a credit card.
What are my options to buy the 1 or 2 year subscription without getting a credit card? (The Pro runs out in less than a week, so I don't think I'd have the time to get one anyway.) Can I use some sort of prepaid card? If so, where (online) can I get one?
Yesterday, Photobucket sent me a reminder that my Pro subscription is coming to an end. I tried to purchase another year via PayPal payment, as I have done in the past. Didn't work, reason "subscriptions need a credit card associated with the account". I tried to buy a one month Pro sub - again, no luck, same reason.
I have years worth of images on that account and need them to stay available at their current url, so moving to another hosting service is not an option.
I currently neither have nor want a credit card. I have PayPal for precisely that reason - to handle online purchases instead of a credit card.
What are my options to buy the 1 or 2 year subscription without getting a credit card? (The Pro runs out in less than a week, so I don't think I'd have the time to get one anyway.) Can I use some sort of prepaid card? If so, where (online) can I get one?
You could get a debit card linked to your PayPal account from PayPal.
You can get a prepaid Mastercard linked to your PayPal account from PayPal.
You can get a prepaid card from any number of sources.
I should note that there is no rational reason not to have a credit card. I suggest getting one instead, as PayPal has no strong (ie, legislatively mandated) protections against fraud.
posted by saeculorum at 12:17 PM on February 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
You can get a prepaid Mastercard linked to your PayPal account from PayPal.
You can get a prepaid card from any number of sources.
I should note that there is no rational reason not to have a credit card. I suggest getting one instead, as PayPal has no strong (ie, legislatively mandated) protections against fraud.
posted by saeculorum at 12:17 PM on February 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
In general, places require a credit card for a few reasons. It helps for identity verification, it's easy to repeatedly bill, they're common, and most people (in the US) have them. Paypal, for instance, wants you to have one so they can charge you if your bank account runs short of money.
Specifically for subscriptions, most places online want to do that with a credit card. There's no recurring authorization equivalent for paypal (that I know of). Fewer people have paypal, the payment flow takes you offsite, and some people don't like paypal.
I would say you should contact photobucket's customer support, and ask them to help you out. You're trying to give them money, so they have an incentive.
Also, I agree with saeculorum. Unless you have a really compelling reason for staying "off the grid", get a credit card. Having a good credit score is useful.
posted by Phredward at 12:19 PM on February 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Specifically for subscriptions, most places online want to do that with a credit card. There's no recurring authorization equivalent for paypal (that I know of). Fewer people have paypal, the payment flow takes you offsite, and some people don't like paypal.
I would say you should contact photobucket's customer support, and ask them to help you out. You're trying to give them money, so they have an incentive.
Also, I agree with saeculorum. Unless you have a really compelling reason for staying "off the grid", get a credit card. Having a good credit score is useful.
posted by Phredward at 12:19 PM on February 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm not in the US, I'm in Europe. I really do not want a credit card for many reasons. I have paid my Photobucket subs (they don't automatically re-new, so it's not really a sub - it's a one time payment) with PayPal for years and would like to continue doing just that.
posted by MinusCelsius at 12:22 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by MinusCelsius at 12:22 PM on February 11, 2013
My German is, at best, horrific, but a quick Google search returns these Visa Prepaid Karte providers and a few Mastercard providers.
posted by saeculorum at 12:31 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by saeculorum at 12:31 PM on February 11, 2013
There's no recurring authorization equivalent for paypal (that I know of).
PayPal Recurring Payments
posted by zamboni at 12:32 PM on February 11, 2013
PayPal Recurring Payments
posted by zamboni at 12:32 PM on February 11, 2013
you should be able to get a prepaid credit card in europe.
The prepaid card is probably your best method.
posted by royalsong at 12:32 PM on February 11, 2013
The prepaid card is probably your best method.
posted by royalsong at 12:32 PM on February 11, 2013
Where in Europe? There should be a 3V alternative in your country.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:39 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by DarlingBri at 12:39 PM on February 11, 2013
Just a note that a pre-paid card won't necessarily be recognized by Photobucket or Paypal as a credit card -- there is a difference, and if they're requiring a credit card they may not take the pre-paid card. You can try it, but it's not a guaranteed solution, so don't splash out too much money on it.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:33 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by jacquilynne at 3:33 PM on February 11, 2013
Paypal is looking for an alternate funding source. Provide another bank account or something equivalent and this problem will go away. It doesn't want a credit card, it wants a visa/mc number.
posted by bensherman at 3:41 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by bensherman at 3:41 PM on February 11, 2013
This might not be helpful but... might it have anything to do with the fact that Pro accounts don't exist anymore? I think you may have to manually select one of their new plans. At the very least, I suggest you contact Photobucket.
Some banks sell prepaid credit cards online to their customers. But I've tried using a prepaid card with my Paypal account before and it didn't work. I ended up using my debit card.
posted by sm1tten at 5:17 PM on February 11, 2013
Some banks sell prepaid credit cards online to their customers. But I've tried using a prepaid card with my Paypal account before and it didn't work. I ended up using my debit card.
posted by sm1tten at 5:17 PM on February 11, 2013
Response by poster: Yeah, I signed up for a "virtual" prepaid, since it seemed to be the quickest solution. PayPal didn't accept it. I had a friend use his card now (from the US), so I have another year to find a permanent solution. Thanks for the suggestions.
posted by MinusCelsius at 7:55 PM on February 11, 2013
posted by MinusCelsius at 7:55 PM on February 11, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
If your bank/atm card has a visa, mastercard, or any of those similar credit card logos.. it can be used as a credit card.
You could buy a prepaid card, most pharmacies and grocery stores sell them and use that. Focus one the ones with the visa/mastercard logos on them.
As for why it's like that, I believe accepted forms of payment are driven by the company you're doing business with and paypal just accommodates that.
posted by royalsong at 12:16 PM on February 11, 2013