Amazon stops accepting Visa Credit Cards

[DoctorX]

Well this is pain in the arse. They'll no longer accept Visa from January 2022 due to 'high charges'. I think they can afford it. Hopefully other companies won't jump on the band wagon. I don't want to use a debit card for on line purchases.

[Evanivitch]

DoctorX said:

Well this is pain in the arse. They'll no longer accept Visa from January 2022 due to 'high charges'. I think they can afford it. Hopefully other companies won't jump on the band wagon. I don't want to use a debit card for on line purchases.

Where is this reported?

Found.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-17...

[buggalugs]

Amazon email said:

Dear BlueE30,


We’re writing to notify you of an upcoming change to Amazon.co.uk.

Starting 19 January, 2022, we will unfortunately no longer accept Visa credit cards issued in the UK, due to the high fees Visa charges for processing credit card transactions. You can still use debit cards (including Visa debit cards) and non-Visa credit cards like Mastercard, Amex, and Eurocard to make purchases. Please update your default payment method now, or add one of these new, eligible payment methods if you do not have one.

You can update your Prime membership here, and if you have any subscriptions on Amazon.co.uk, you can update them on the ''manage your subscription'' page here.

We know this may be inconvenient, and we’re here to help you through this transition so you can continue enjoying Amazon’s low prices and wide selection. Please visit this help page for more information on payment methods, or go directly to your account.

That's a ball ache most of our spending is on a visa credit.

[Braveheart300]

Yip just got the e-mail as both my credit cards are Visa....ball ache...so guess time for a change!

[Dingu]

It won’t affect most of the stuff I buy but I’ll likely head elsewhere if wanting to use credit card for something. I’m certainly not changing my credit card because Amazon aren’t accepting Visa Credit.

[WyrleyD]

Bloody annoying for me too as I only have a Nationwide Visa credit card, definitely won't use my debit card for on-line purchases either. I have Prime so not sure what to do now, don't really want to take another card out just for Amazon. Funnily enough Amazon have been pushing to take out their Amazon Mastercard!

[AllyBassman]

On the flip side - it may force Visa to reassess their costs.

Both of my current accounts are changing their cards from Visa to Mastercard - I do wonder why?

[PeteinSQ]

I came on here just to check it wasn't a phishing scam because it seems so incredible.

[Lifeisalemon]

I also got the same email. Surprised about that - I know the small % add up for them, but to block all visa credit cards seems a strange move. My online spending, most of which is through Amazon, is done with a visa cc for both personal and business so will need to think about this.

[hotchy]

Good. Hopefully everyone follows until they drop the charges to a reasonable level. Will be annoying for customers who use it, but its many of them who wanted cashless and don't see the charge in the background for businesses.

[Camelot1971]

First Direct recently changed my debit card from Visa to Mastercard. Interesting Amazon will still accept Amex, which is known for high fees. I always use my Amex on Amazon so this won't impact me at all, but will be interesting to see if either side cave in.

[ecsrobin]

AllyBassman said:

On the flip side - it may force Visa to reassess their costs.

Both of my current accounts are changing their cards from Visa to Mastercard - I do wonder why?

Yep it will just draw people away from visa. First direct and NatWest have switched to MasterCard this year from visa.

[Dashnine]

I've had two or more credit cards for years (paid off each month when used so zero balance to rack up interest). Have always split them between VISA and Mastercard so as not have both apples in the same basket, just need to switchover the Amazon default to Mastercard.

No reason why any supplier should get ripped off by the credit card company. Feel for the smaller suppliers you may use and the similar pain they're (uncomplainingly) suffering and get and use a Mastercard with them too, make VISA feel the pain.

[Ashfordian]

I'm sure the likes of Amazon are paying pennies in CC charges, but does anyone know what they pay?

Or is anyone happy to reveal what charges they get hit with for visa cc usage?

[eliot]

yep just had the same email and thought it was a phishing scam - but it's not.
I've got a Mastercard too - so i'll just swap over to that.

[Matthen]

Camelot1971 said:

First Direct recently changed my debit card from Visa to Mastercard. Interesting Amazon will still accept Amex, which is known for high fees. I always use my Amex on Amazon so this won't impact me at all, but will be interesting to see if either side cave in.

I thought the same. Visa must be having a laugh with respect to the fees they want to charge Amazon, or Amex have cut them a deal.

My Visa CC usage has gone through the floor, since my bank got rid of the cashback - Amex or MasterCard for all now.

[Drumroll]

WyrleyD said:

Bloody annoying for me too as I only have a Nationwide Visa credit card, definitely won't use my debit card for on-line purchases either. I have Prime so not sure what to do now, don't really want to take another card out just for Amazon. Funnily enough Amazon have been pushing to take out their Amazon Mastercard!

I use my Amazon MasterCard purely for online purchases.

[Eric Mc]

Got the e-mail this morning. If it is genuine, it sounds like a salvo in a battle between Amazon and Visa. I would say at least 1/3 of Amazon's business works through the Visa credit card system - so it is a risky strategy for Amazon to take. I'm sure something will be sorted.

It's a bit like the Sky/Virgin Media wars of a few years ago.

If you use Visa credit cards, can you still make the payments through Paypal?

If you can, it would be interesting if Jeff Bezos' company inadvertently drives business to an Elon Musk company

[Camelot1971]

I see Amazon in Australia are adding a 0.5% surcharge for Visa credit cards rather than declining them. Surcharge is not legal in the UK, otherwise I expect they would have done the same here.

[hyphen]

ecsrobin said:

AllyBassman said:

On the flip side - it may force Visa to reassess their costs.

Both of my current accounts are changing their cards from Visa to Mastercard - I do wonder why?

Yep it will just draw people away from visa. First direct and NatWest have switched to MasterCard this year from visa.

My Natwest moved to Mastercard years ago.

Will be interesting to see if Visa give in to whatever Amazon is willing to agree to.