Credit Card Use for mail-order in the USA

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TradewindSailor

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You might not think this is relevant for a Yachting forum ... think again!!!!

I am sitting in Mexico ..... and trying to order solar panels and controllers from USA companies to be delivered to a USA address. I haven't found one that will accept my UK Visa card. In fact they do not accept any Visa cards where the billing address is outside the USA, or on some occasions they add Puerto-Rico and Canada.

This is probably due to the increase in credit card fraud ..... In the USA the PIN for UK cards is not used, and they have never checked the signature .... totally crazy!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

So how does this effect us? How can we cruise around the world if we can't get the parts? I guess we'll have to go back to international bank transfers and wait 10 days for processing and pick up a £20 bank charge in the process.
 
surely you can pay by CHAPS - still £20 but at least same 1-2 days for international...?

C/C - depend what companies you order through, the smaller the more likely they process internally, larger companies will process the funds at time of order through a merchant server, which is much more likely to authorise your account.

Just because you enter your details online, doesn't mean they are not being printed off and manually entered in to a PDQ machine later in a small office with limited access to authorisation... I Often travel to the states and order parts to the UK never have had a problem. Tend to use M/C but no reason Visa should be a problem.
 
I've found, on a limited number of occasions it is true, that similar problems can be overcome by a willing seller accepting payment via PayPal which is inexpensive and effective.

PP does however deduct it's 2.9, or is it 3.4% from the sent amount so that has to be added to the amount sent by the buyer for the recipient to get full value

PP is not without its detractors and I wouldn't argue but when push comes to shove it can solve a problem

Hope this helps
 
This is the first problem that I have had. I have tried at least 6 solar panel mail order companies and come up with the same problem.

I phoned one .... they said that they use ABS to clear the Visa, and it is ABS that reject the foriegn Visa cards.

This may be a new problem .... or maybe linked to ABS
 
west marine do accept c-cards to differant addreses but you have to join the west marine club first,thay will need your home address to where the credit card bill is sent,takes 4-5 days to set up,but there service is 1st class
 
We use PayPal a lot when these issues arise~

Found in the USA that we had trouble with debit cards but Visa credit card was usually accepted. It varied from State to State and store to store !

Actually we have found the USA the most difficult country to use cards in of any that we have visited...

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com
 
I agree with you. Wanted to place a 'small' order with a USA company. Approached them first by email asking if it were possible to pay by UK c/c with a UK billing address but have the goods sent to a French address. Luckily they were a small company with no problem with that scenario. Extremely good service and helpful advise.

Gin was spot on as they did insist that the money was run through Pay Pal. Maybe it's a different situation if you are looking at high costs. Contact them and ask for advice you might be pleasantly surprised. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck.
 
I am sitting in Mexico ..... and trying to order solar panels and controllers from USA companies to be delivered to a USA address.
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This is unfortunately how it should be as a basic way of fraud prevention.

Your reasoning is not quite correct. The reason for not accepting your card is because the delivery address is not the billing address..More and more companies are applying this rule even in the UK so you need to be prepared for this. Paypal does get round it though there may be an upper limit for exchange purposes .

They are just trying to protect us from the bad guys and this is an easy though sometimes inconvenient way.
 
Me too. I have used a UK Mastercard for delivery from the US to a French address without problem. Some suppliers do, some don't /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
The advice given to me as a UK merchant was to only despatch goods to the card holder's address. 9 times out of 10 the credit card company will side with the card holder if absolute proof of delivery to the card holder in person cannot be made. The complete opposite of caveat emptor! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Me too. In fact I have just ordered the complete Tack Tick system from Defender.com for a mere $1,276 (they are having a sale). UK credit card (amex) to USA address. They actually have an 'international orders checkout' button on their site.

Also frequently use West Marine via the Boat US website, insure my boat thru BoatUS and use Boat Bandit.com , Pompanette.com (hatch spares), Sailnet.com and a small company in Florida who supply spares such as gas cylinders for Crewsaver lifejackets.
Boat Bandit have an international orders phoneline. I never have the stuff delivered to my UK billing address. I suppose I've just been lucky. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The only time I've ever encountered a credit card problem overseas was at Cameret, where the fuel pumps at the marina steadfastly refused every UK credit card onboard, and after a considerable delay we managed to get fuel via an expat Brit liveaboard who used his French CC and we gave him the cash. I hope they've changed this now. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Thanks for all the comments. I was beginning to think that using a credit card whilst outside of europe for boat spares was a real problem.
I will have to try harder to find a supplier for the solar panels.
As for PayPal ..... I find them very irritating. They know I am overseas .... and they give me a UK phone number where I have to sit for 15 mins listening to a computer giving me unwanted info ..... then pass me on to a guy who's first language is obviously not English .... or American .... He can't understand me, and I can't understand him. Not impressed!!
 
Re Defender ..... Yes they do sell solar panels ...... but at almost double the going rate.
If you look at:
http://store.solar-electric.com/kykc130wasop.html
you will see that a Kyocera 130W is only $559 compared to Defender's Sunsei SE-8000 130W for $1066 ..... and frankly I prefer the Kyocera unit as I have heard nothing but good recommendations from other cruisers.

Thanks for all for your comments. I must get on with my boat projects now.
 
I have an emergency situation where i need to get $1000 fast for my car to be repaired. I need the money fast but I still want to not get screwed over.
My friend suggested an online site that he used before called
www.instantbailout.com I looked it over and it looks ok, but I am not sure what is a reasonable rate for a payday loan. Is there a standard for this type of loan? Also does a payday loan effect your credit?
 
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