Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter
Amazon will stop accepting Visa credit cards for payments in the UK from January, it said.
The costs of processing payments on the cards made it too expensive to support them, Amazon said.
Amazon will continue to accept payments on Visa debit cards as well as credit cards from other firms, such as Mastercard and American Express.
The new rules will start from 19 January, Amazon said in an email to customers.
The online giant said technology advancements should be making payment processing fees reduce, but complained that they were actually increasing.
“The cost of accepting card payments continues to be an obstacle for businesses striving to provide the best prices for customers,” the company said in a statement.
“These costs should be going down over time with technological advancements, but instead they continue to stay high or even rise.
“As a result of Visa’s continued high cost of payments, we regret thatAmazon.co.uk will no longer accept UK-issued Visa credit cards as of January 19, 2022.
“With the rapidly changing payments landscape around the world, we will continue innovating on behalf of customers to add and promote faster, cheaper and more inclusive payment options to our stores across the globe.”
A Visa spokesperson said the company was disappointed and hoped to resolve the situation before the deadline went into effect.
“UK shoppers can use their Visa debit and credit cards at Amazon UK today and throughout the holiday season,” the company said.
“We are very disappointed that Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice in the future. When consumer choice is limited, nobody wins.
“We have a long-standing relationship with Amazon, and we continue to work toward a resolution so our cardholders can use their preferred Visa credit cards at Amazon UK without Amazon-imposed restrictions come January 2022.”
FAQs
Online retailer Amazon has, at the last minute, cancelled plans to stop accepting Visa-issued credit cards. Amazon previously announced that it would stop accepting Visa credit cards this Wednesday, 17 January (see story below), criticising what it said were the card issuer's high payment costs.
Is Amazon blocking Visa cards? ›
UPDATE: The two sides resolved this dispute in February 2022, announcing that Visa payment cards will be accepted at Amazon globally.
Does Amazon accept Visa credit cards? ›
Amazon Pay accepts credit and debit cards. Credit cards currently accepted include Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB. The Amazon.com store card is available for use with selected merchants. In some circ*mstances, you might be limited to using Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Why is Amazon declining my card? ›
To determine why your payment was declined, consider the following, and, if necessary, contact your bank for more information: Have you exceeded your credit limit? Did you enter your credit card number, credit card expiration date, billing address, and phone number correctly in Your Account?
What is the problem with Visa and Amazon? ›
The dispute between Amazon and Visa is to do with the fees the credit card company charges Amazon for its services in the UK. Amazon is also considering dropping Visa as a partner for its US co-branded credit card.
Why can't I use a Visa card on Amazon? ›
First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn't ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.
Can you order on Amazon with a Visa card? ›
Amazon.com accepts a variety of payment options, including credit and debit cards. The following payment methods are available for use: Visa (including the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card)
Why is Amazon saying my card is not supported? ›
Verify the payment information that is entered on your order. Did your billing address change recently or did you get a new card with a new expiration date? If you used a payment method already on Your Account, you may simply need to update some of the information.
Is it safe to use Visa card on Amazon? ›
One reason for that is because Amazon uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software to encrypt your credit card number, making your number impossible to read without two "keys" to decode the encryption -- which anyone intent on stealing your info won't have.
Why does Amazon keep declining my Visa gift card? ›
Amazon may place a hold on your Visa gift card balance to ensure that it is valid. This hold typically amounts to $1, but the transaction will fail if the remaining balance on your gift card is less than $1. In this case, you will need to add another payment method to complete the purchase.
Why might my debit card be denied even if I have money in the account? It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Your debit card may be denied due to overdrafting, reaching daily purchase limits, or your bank suspecting fraud.
Why does it keep saying revise payment method on Amazon? ›
The Revise Payment option could appear due to the following reasons: Your payment failed and the transaction wasn't completed. The bank declined your payment. You accidentally closed or refreshed the page or pressed the backspace button while the transaction was being processed by your bank.
Why are prepaid cards not accepted? ›
Prepaid cards can be declined because you don't have sufficient funds in your account, the card hasn't been activated, the merchant doesn't accept the network's cards, or you have exceeded your spending limits. Any information you provide to the merchant must also match what's on file with the prepaid card issuer.
How to add vanilla Visa gift card to Amazon? ›
All you need to do is head to your account settings on Amazon, click on Amazon Wallet and then tap add debit or Credit Card. Now input your Vanilla gift card details and then save it. That's all!
Why is my Visa gift card not working? ›
If you're unable to use your Visa gift card for online purchases, you might need to activate the card or register your card online prior to use. If the problem persists, it's best to contact the customer support team of your card provider.
)
