Can't buy anything from online store anymore!!!!

Update
The support services clarified the situation a bit further: "We can only accept payments made from the same country that the credit card was issued in [...] please note that the use of an anonymous proxy will also result in an unsuccessful transaction, as for security reasons we are unable to accept payments made via such a connection". It's a clearer indication of what the problem is, so I made changes to this thread accordingly...

I was having problems with buying the Pre-release GW:EN from the online store.

I happen to be working in China. However, I'm Portuguese and right now I'm on vacation in my home country. I wanted to use my Chinese credit card to pay for the pre-release while being in Portugal. To my surprise, I got a fraud alert.

When I initially contacted the support services with this issue, this was their indication:

"Payments with a foreign credit card are no longer automatically authorized. We recommend that you use a credit card issued in your country of residence."

Whoever made this decision, automatically barred me or anyone else in my shoes from buying Guild Wars stuff from the online store.

The credit card is from China but because I'm in Europe I can't use it. Why not? I should be allowed to make a purchase from the online store with whatever legitimate payment method I have available.

Everyday there's more and more people that travel around the World for long periods of time. Online games SHOULD have - MUST have - that into consideration and not tell a willing client that he can only buy online if he goes back to the country where the credit card was issued in.

While in Portugal I have been using my Chinese credit card for several online purchases, but not in GW online store?! I wonder if Anet won't have a lot more to lose than gain with this security decision...

lol, another retarded move by anet.

Bah, just use paypal...


oh, wait...

who's in charge with this stuff? It's thread after thread of insanely stupid online store decisions

anet seems to WANT to come up with tons of strange rules that keep people from handing them their money

I've got to say, I have never really been disappointed with Anet, NEVER, until this whole stupid online store thing. I mean, it really is ridiculous. We're given incentives to buy, but they make it almost impossible for all of us to do so.

What about the 13yo's who go on holiday to visit family overseas for 3 months? They are too young to hold CC's and will still want to play, and update their games. The natural thing to do would be to borrow a CC from the nearest family member, who is probably not going to be a card holder from their original country...

There are so many other scenarios...I must say, my mind reels...

Well at least they won't take your money instead of trying to take too much of it.
http://guildwarsguru.com/forum/showt...17#post2996017

^^^ is over in Q&A it's good for a chuckle.
Seeing things like this ease my wondering of why they do some of the seemingly silly things the way they do them. It's all about staying consistent.

I'm in a slightly different situation but with the same problem. I moved from the UK over to Cyprus and I'm still using a credit card obtained in the UK for purchases online. I get a "fraud suspicion" error whenever trying to purchase anything for Guild Wars, in-game or from my PlayNC account. Naturally I contacted support and got the same "Payments with a foreign credit card are no longer authorized" message in response.

Guild Wars is the ONLY game that I've encountered this problem with and it's incredibly annoying, especially with the bonus mission promotion going on right now. I really hope they fix this issue before GW:EN gets released but i'm not holding my breath

Hmm, is that because I said on this forum that people should say they lived in the US, so they could pay in Dollars and thus get everything cheaper then if they paid for the same stuff in Euros?

im beginning to think a-net doesnt want our money o_o
first no fee to play monthly, cheaper to actually buy campaigns (at least prophecies) and now a lot of people arent even able to buy stuff from the online store. its eerie....kinda like they may have some sort of background funding >_>

so whos seen tony montana lately lol

We do have the same problem but in different circumstances. Anyway this sucks.

Why can't a credit card be binded to the person that uses it in order not to penalize traveling clients? Why the need of it at all?!

I can't believe that there has been so many frauds in NCSoft that is so important to maintain this inflexible restriction, which is quite annoying...

Just want to be clear, they are refusing your CC because of the IP address you're playing GW at? Not the mailing address?

I'm working in China right now and only have a local credit card. But I might return to Canada soon. I'd like to put down a Canadian mailing address (and lock in the currency which is USD right?) if/when I link my account, but now I'm wary if doing that will prevent me from buying GW:EN online in the meantime!

This sucks. I tried to buy the preorder and a char slot but because my card is issued in The Netherlands and I live in Belgium I can't buy anything... I have bought 7 slots with it in the past but now I can't buy anything, thanks a lot NCsoft...

Yes, that seems to be the problem. If you're in Canada and try to use a credit card from China or anywhere else that's not from Canada, you cannot use it.

It seems to be related with the IP where you are trying to make the payment that gives them the indication if it's the same country where the credit card was issued or not.

Anyway, only when I'm back in China I will be able to verify if it's not also related with having a Portuguese address stated while actually living in China... Which doesn't seem to be the case at this time. I just hope that they don't make such an unfortunate (I'm being polite in the adjectives here) decision in the meantime...

Yeah, this seems like a move to prevent fraud, which is easier on them because they don't have to deal with it, but in the mean time it's a major headache for their customers. They may want to rethink this one.

My partner has an account that is on European servers so she can do uw and fow every once in a while since Americans are slackers in hoh. She bought the preorder with her american issued card and had no problems. Maybe the problem lies with your credit card?

Checking my credit card was the first thing I did. If your partner used the American credit card in the US, then no problem. But if that credit card was used outside the US, then there might be a difference in treatment that makes this situation even worse.

As you can read from other posts, this problem is happening with other players that had the misfortune to be outside the country from where their credit card was issued. That will make the purchase in the online store impossible unless you happen to have an available credit card from the country that you're staying at the moment.

In the European Union alone it's not uncommon for this kind of credit card circumstance to happen...

Actually, this issue may have nothing to do with NCsoft or Anet. I found out that my bank instantly has a block on NCSoft transactions, and if I want to make a purchase, I have to call my bank, have a temporary block removal, and make the purchase within the window.

The CC co. are taking extreme measures now to protect against fraud. Making out of the country purchases is already on visa's "danger" list. Now they block customers from making purchases period.

I wouldn't be surprised if NCsoft is doing this because they HAVE to according to the CC co. quid pro quo.

It's to prevent internet fraud.

Security trumps convenience.

i am having the same problem i tried with my CC and my gf's CC and neither will work. i tried in game and on the website.

Yet, I am perfectly able to use my credit card in a retail store overseas. It's part of the reason why people have Visa cards and the like.

Anyway, this is another glorious aspect of the online store. First they lock me into British Pounds. Now, I can't use my card because I'm studying in North America and my card is Australian.

You just have to ask yourself, does Anet really want your money? I think the answer is no.

Oh my god.... I really do hope they change their mind on this. I'm originally from Taiwan and have been studying in the UK, I move around alot due to work/study. With the time limits they're putting on all these online offers maybe it's Anet's way of telling me to quit GW.

That actually might be another issue that's different or indirectly related from what is happening specifically with NCSoft and their all-new policy with local credit cards in foreign countries.

That is not a uniform protective measure. I'm still able to make purchases with Amazon, eBay and many, many other online places...

I do believe that this is the EASY way to prevent fraud with total disregard to traveling players eager to pay for something they like but CAN'T.

It goes against what the internet can offer to players that could still pay to have fun even being out of their countries. Guild Wars is NOT a local game binded to ONE country. It's international and the game was designed that way.

Fraud prevention or not, this system is a total deviation of their own goals in a way that totally penalizes players who now are forced to buy in the country where the credit card is based.

Overall, this is a slap in the face of everyone having the same problem and MUST be changed.

Thats difficult to answer, especially as ANet has nothing to do with your money... NCSoft, the company that deals witht he transactions, handles the money, runs the account management and support however, they're the ones you want to be asking, not ANet