So I just finished Prince of Persia on my PS3. I decided that I would go and purchase the $9.99 Prince of Persia: Epilogue DLC from the PSN (PlayStation Network) store so that I could have some more PoP game time.
Turns out that I can’t purchase anything using my Bank of America debit card, because Sony’s billing and account system is seriously messed up.
First I tried just entering in my account information in the PSN store interface as a direct purchase. I put in the card information and billing information. I get an error back that says “Credit card is invalid. Check your entries.” Thinking that I may have punched something in wrong when relying on my memory, I go get the physical card and verify that all the data was correct. Hit continue. Same error.
I then tried to just enter the billing information into the account management thinking that maybe that would work. Same error.
I tried logging into my PSN account over the web on my laptop and entering the information there. Same error.
Having now exhausted all the possible avenues for entering in my information, I search the Google to find out if others have had this problem and what the fix might or might not be. Turns out there have been numerous people with the same problem.
The first thread I listed had the most information. They were discussing the possible values necessary in the address fields, etc. I checked all my information. Here’s what you need to double-check:
- Make sure your console has been activated using the System Activation item in the dashboard
- Make sure that if your billing address is a post office box that you are not adding in punctuation
- Make sure that your zip code is matching exactly with the bank records, especially if your bank uses an address verification system
- Make sure that your phone number, if listed, matches the bank records
The problem is that I checked all of this and none of it helped. So I called the Sony Computer Entertainment America support number (800-345-7669) and waded through the menu system to get a support representative. I have to give kudos to the support representative, because she was very calm and nice, and she didn’t even have a problem with the fact that I had already checked everything that she had on her checklist for me to check.
Unfortunately, she said “Sometimes the PO Box addresses just don’t work. The only suggestion I can make is that you use a different credit card or go buy a PlayStation Network Card.” She was very sorry that it wasn’t working, but there was nothing she could do to help.
I am not blaming the support folks, but that kind of answer is really pretty unacceptable. I use my BoA card online, in stores, and over the phone all the time with no problems at all. To make matters worse, when I logged in to my BoA account over the web I had a $1 pending transaction for each of my attempts to connect my card to the PSN store. The customer service representative did assure me that they would drop off since a complete account transaction had never occured.
This is unexcusable. Why even bother creating an online store for your game console if it doesn’t reliably work to purchase things? Someone at Sony really needs to get this ironed out.
I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
All that made sense until the $1 pending transactions. How could it post a pending for all those tests but not post the $9.99?
Is this server- or client-side validation in the web version of the billing system? I use the Firefox Tamper Data plugin to pay the water bill online because their Atlanta Water Department’s system has the same issue with my billing address being a PO Box and not the service address.
I see that this is an older post but this really is BS. I’ve used my BoA card to purchase stuff on my 360 and Wii (along with every other online store) yet Sony still hasn’t fixed their system. Whatever authorization system they’re using, it sucks. How convenient that my info is invalid yet they put a $1 hold on my card for each time I try to enter it. Oh well I guess I’ll be enjoying downloadable games on the other systems.
Having the exact same problem right now trying to download a couple of new games for Rock Band 2. Now my account is locked for 24 hours, to which I’m like “if they don’t think the account is valid, how could they lock it?” Sony apparently doesn’t want my money. Hopefully an update will happen soon that changes this whole process. My question is, why can’t you just link a credit card to your account and sign in with it, like you do on every single other web store ever?
This is ridiculous. Sony STILL has not fixed this problem!!!! As of today I can’t add money to my PSN account through my Credit Card. I have been purchasing Wii and Xbox 360 games for over 2 years now and Sony still has not figured out a way to fixed this problem??? JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
i’m having the same problem i contact sony did everything they said and i’m still having problems i wanted to buy marvel vs capcom 2 but i couldn’t because of this
i just dont get it sony rahhhhhhhhhhh
ive been using my CC on ps3 for about year and half with np.then we get new update 3.00 and i carnt use it.i spoke to xbox woops strok sony lol.they said u get 3 chances to enter your CC.i can enter my CC as many times as i wont.and dont get blocked for 24 hours.that tells me im doing it right.it must be sony.i dont like the new sony top up card eather.and yes ive checked my bank aswell.if i get told one more time check your bank ill make my ps3 into a door stop lol.cum on sony sort it i want to buy HD moveis in november not nexted nov
come on sony i want to buy HD moveis in november not nexted nov
if enyon finds the true answer to this problem please email me scotty.12332@yahoo.com no time wasters plz.
Did the charges of $1 really drop off? or you had to pay them?
@F1 Clienti
Yes, the $1.00 charges did drop off just as they said.
how long did it take to drop?
@xavier: In all honesty, I don’t remember. This was well over 6 months ago, I just remember that at the time I looked for them to be refunded, and they were.
I got that problem right now aswell. Had the problem before, and will again soon. It’s getting pretty old, trying to recheck the billing information over and over again, though the billing information is correct.. And i’ve even used the billing information before, when buying something on the Playstation store. So i wounder what the damn problem with this billing system is.. I bought stuff, but then out of nowhere i cant, cause the billing information is invalid. So yes, i agree!
Yeah, well its 2011 and this problems still exists. Im going through it right now. I bought a 100$ pre- paid visa, which i have used many times, and it is very touchy on the spelling, but this time no matter what i do it wont let me add funds. So no more DC Universe online. Im sure the people who made DCUO will be happy to know that i cant purchase a subscription because PSN wont accept the same credit card its accepted many times before. FUCK YOU SOE. FUCK YOU.
Just want to shoot a big thanks to PSN for:
1. Not doing it right the first time.
2. Creating a fix that makes it more difficult for the consumer (since I’m trying to use the same ****ing card I used prior to the hack).
3. Blocking two of my cards on a Sunday when it’s almost impossible to contact my bank’s security department.
4. Making me spend hours on the phone (including the 30 minutes on hold with just PSN support) to find for them what every other online payment system seems to be able to do automatically, just to discover that my bank has the EXACT case/space sensitive (as stated by PSN support) AVS address I try entering.
Thanks PSN. Thanks for a whole lot of nothing.
I wonder if Microsoft has the same payment issues? I’ve never owned an XBOX and had been a loyal PS customer, but I guess it’s time for something new.
Same here. Been using my credit card on the PS store for ages and now all of a sudden its invaild. WTF??? Sort your shit out Sony, Im getting sad.
It’s still an issue. I just bought a Vita and enjoyed the daylights out of it for a bit over a week. I bought 2 games for it via PSN, but out of the blue, it just stopped authorizing my card. Why did it work fine and just stop? No amount of fiddling with my billing address on PSN is making it work again. I’m guessing the problem is because I use a PO Box. But I’ve done this for years and no other merchant has a problem with this. If Sony has a problem with it, why did they accept my card for purchases for over a week before the started denying them? This whole payment system seems so fractious. I’m not sure if I went to the trouble of changing the billing address on my card to my street address that Sony would let me purchase anything then either. And if I have to do that, I have to remember to do this on every website where I use that card/cards…all because Sony can’t do something that all of the other online merchants can do?