I’m looking for an online payment solution. Any ideas?

I have been using my Visa Check Card for years, but now it seems they’ve added a whole slew of countries to a list from which requests for payments are automatically declined. To get it approved requires calling the bank and getting the restriction lifted for that specific country for 24-48 hours which takes about 30 mins. Alternatively I can go down to the bank and sign a form which lifts the restriction on the *group* of countries the one in question belongs to permanently. This however releases Visa and the bank from all responsibility for subsequent transactions from those countries.

I discovered this when I attempted to make a purchase from a website in the UK which I occasionally do business with, only to have the transaction declined. Turns out their payments are processed by some outfit in Cyprus. "Cyprus is among a cluster of countries in that area that …" according to the bank manager. (I’m not sure he could find Cyprus on a map.)

I signed the form for the ‘cluster’ that includes Cyprus (he couldn’t tell me which ones were included.) But now I’m paranoid and thinking maybe I shouldn’t have done that.

A prepaid debit card seemed like just the thing, but found they can’t be reloaded online and most are either Visa or Mastercard, which would probably have the same stumbling block with no way to get around it.

I have a PayPal account, but it isn’t all that widely accepted. The most widely used means of paying are credit/debit card and e-check.

I’ve never used e-check and it really doesn’t look all that secure.

Countries mentioned in this Post: Cyprus, United Kingdom

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4 Responses to “I’m looking for an online payment solution. Any ideas?”

  1. WCSB - July 5th, 2009

    Paypal – simple easy and global.

    http://www.paypal.co.uk/uk

  2. NeRdArMy - July 5th, 2009

    I use a pre-paid mastercard online and have never had any problems with overseas purchases.

    http://www.titaniumcashplus.co.uk

  3. SuzyQuzy - July 5th, 2009

    just something off the top of my head but don't the usps offer a form of card payment scheme

  4. taintedmango - July 5th, 2009

    I think the best idea is to look at what other forms of payment are accepted. Be careful about Western Union though as there is a big scam in progress at the present time. Also look into Mastercard as they do business a little differently to Visa.

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