Unable To Make Gem Purhases

[Sugar Min.5834]

I have been buying gems with my credit cards for years with no problem at all and recently my bank suddenly declined to approve my transactions with ANet. I checked with both parties; ANet Support email replied me to check with my bank, when I call up my bank I was told the block is for my protection and there is nothing wrong with my card account, it's ANet and their related sites (Steam maybe?).

I relayed the info to ANet Support and they replied me the next day and asked me to try purchasing again and then I was able to buy my gems on that day. But, two days later my gems purchased is being blocked. All over again. I contacted ANet once more and this time a different support staff replied and I have to explain A to Z again even though all parties correspondences are in the same email. Makes me wonder did they even read my mails. Then I got the same reply again, to check with my bank 😠

I told them I suspected that the problem could be just a payment process glitch on ANet and their related sites. I also informed Support that I am beginning to worry about this and I have deleted all my credit card saves from the gem store and I will not be making further purchases until this problem is resolved.

To date, ie three weeks later, nothing changed and no further response from ANet. I guess they don't need vet players' money now 👍

Edited December 29, 2022 by Min Min.9368

[Evga.2471]

Anet would like taking your money, just like everyone else.

LOL joking aside.

That issue has happened to a lot of us out there. Usually you'll log in to the bank or email saying yes I tried making that purchase. Clear it and try again. Usually it'll work. But banks will block a purchase because of the automated system flags it as fraudulent. And the typical answer is there's nothing wrong, which is true. I would say it has something to do with making that purchase through Anet systems, which then a bank will flags it as fraudulent. Don't quote me on this because I'm not a bank expert for online purchases.

 

Sorry I'm just being that typical copy & paste person.

Edited December 29, 2022 by Evga.2471

[Sugar Min.5834]

The thing is like I said, for many years my bank has never declined purchases from ANet, why now? My guess is perhaps it has to do with Steam payment system. The block came after the game is listed in Steam. Although I am not a Steam player but some how the bank gets a flag for fraudulent activities whenever I want to make a purchase on ANet site. Only ANet. I have no problem with other online transactions.

Edited December 29, 2022 by Min Min.9368

[Evga.2471]

True and it could very well be that.

 

Give a few days then try again. If it continues to happen. I would say go to the local branch and ask if there is a way to not have X payment blocked. They might be able to do that.

 

I know I'm not much help sorry.

[Sugar Min.5834]

Yes my bank did say that they could unblock for 24 hours if I call in but that makes me feel very uneasy and concern, like I authorised my own exposure to fraudulent activities. No way. Anyway it is a relief to know that I am not the only one with this problem and this could be a sign telling me to totally quit this game. Finally. 🙂

Thank you Evga.

Edited December 29, 2022 by Min Min.9368

[Healix.5819]

11 hours ago, Min Min.9368 said:

The thing is like I said, for many years my bank has never declined purchases from ANet, why now?

Depends on when you last made a purchase. ArenaNet changed payment processors (from Digital River to Braintree) in November 2021, so any purchases made after that would effectively be your first time. Steam is unrelated unless you're using Steam (Steam pays through Steam).

[SoftFootpaws.9134]

Be careful and don't continue to make purchases that are being declined, you could be banned. You can pay through PayPal instead of your credit card (with the card linked to PayPal as a funding source) and the bank shouldn't be able to block it since they see PayPal and not ArenaNet.

 

ArenaNet doesn't handle payments, they use Braintree, so its unlikely to be a fault on their end. They used to use DigitalRiver, which is likely why you remember it working.

Edited December 30, 2022 by Mariyuuna.6508

[Sugar Min.5834]

Thank you all  for the info 🙂

On average, I used to buy $30 - S50 worth of gems every month and for years. The problem started only about a month ago. So very likely this has nothing to do with Braintree. And no worries. I stopped trying already. And, if I really need some gems, I will tell the bank not to decline my purchase before I do anything. Or maybe I will try PayPal.  But tbh, I rather not commit to anything at all for now. Cheers!

Edited December 30, 2022 by Min Min.9368

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

You can, if in the US, always purchase from Amazon or Best Buy.  🤷‍♀️