ucfalumknight: I would suggest getting a pre-paid card as taj suggested. Since you're in the states, I use a Wal-Mart Money card, I load it up with cash when I'm in a spending mood. Originally they blocked my purchase, but a quick phone call and they added GoG to their safe list. Haven't had a problem since. There are a number of alternatives now with MasterCard, Visa, and American Express offering pre-loaded cards.

dirtyharry50: Hmm. I like that idea. My problem is, I don't have all that many cents to move so they probably wouldn't care. On the other hand though, it would be fun for me and feel good. :D

EdwardB: I live in the United States..

Cronjob: I sort of know how you feel.

Bank of America flags my credit card for a fraud alert for about 90% of my GOG purchases and 40% of my Steam purchases. I can predict it, almost every time. Despite spending many thousands of dollars over four and eight years, accordingly, with an average of a couple transactions every single week.

It's beyond aggravating. I understand their intention and if I didn't know that any other bank and credit card would do the same thing, I'd close my account. It always means that I have to dig out the fraud department phone number. Pick up the phone. Dial them. Go through the prompt. Speak to someone. Go on hold. Wait on hold for a couple minutes to a half hour, then answer a bunch of personal questions, then confirm recent purchases, then listen to their "we care about you" spiel, then go make the transaction all over again.

I have had to deal with this at least 35 times in 2012. (You would think, after four to eight years and many hundreds of transactions, they'd build a profile on their customer so as not to flag the charges that they make ALMOST EVERY WEEK).

Cronjob: any other bank and credit card would do the same thing

EdwardB: I may have to do that, although I've avoided it because I don't want to link my bank account to PayPayl.

I have to ask, though, and hopefully someone from GOG.com will be able to answer this, are payments even processed through any of those countries - Russia, Spain, Germany?

Because the last time I had problems with a bank, I thought someone said that GOG.com processes payments through the UK.

Cronjob: snip

EdwardB: I live in the United States. I like GOG.com. I have been a member for a few years. I have had three banks in that time. My first bank never gave me any problems buying from GOG.com. I moved.

Bank 2 hit me with all kinds of little charges that they could never explain, and finally (after much persistence) relented and took them off my account.

I had a few other problems with that bank, and switched to Bank 3. The people at this bank are generally very helpful and friendly.

However, I tried to purchase a game the other night and found I wan unable to do so. I went to the bank today and was told that I was probably not allowed to purchase from GOG.com because the country they were in was on a "restricted" list. I told them the company is in Poland. Nope, Poland is not on the list.

A phone call is made to a manager. They say that GOG.com is trying to process my payment through either Spain, Germany, or Russia, and that those countries are restricted.

Why are those countries restricted?

Because there is a lot of fraud in those countries, says the bank. And the bank can be held liable for any kind of fraudulent charges that occur as a result. But the bank can unblock my card for $50.

Oh, I say, does me paying $50 relieve the bank from liability?

No.

Then why am I paying $50?

That helps the bank recover any losses.

$50 isn't that much money to protect against losses.

*Blank stare.*

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It's becoming more and more commonplace for individuals to make financial transactions across national borders. Maybe it's just the area I'm in, but I would really hope that banks would be on top of this sort of thing since it is their business.

I really like the people working at this bank, but I was beginning to get aggravated. The person I spoke with was acting like I was in some kind of danger of getting my information stolen even though I told them I have been doing business with GOG.com for years and never had a problem.

In fact, I told them that I was at risk of someone stealing my information if I used their online banking system. Again, I was just met with the kind of stare from someone who doesn't have an answer. I know that stare, because I've given it before, lol. Difference is I then admit that I don't really know the answer. Here, I just keep getting talked into circles.

dirtyharry50: This is interesting. I've noted recently my bank is charging me "exchange" fees which are small but still annoying, for GOG purchases. The fee is small enough I haven't felt like going through the hassle of arguing with them over it. I know it would be a hassle. Trying to get a bank to stop ripping you off always is. I've yet to do business with a bank in the United States that did not screw me over at one time or another. I really hate them. I'm tempted to take my chances and stuff my money (little that it is) under the mattress where at least I control it and it is all mine.

I had a bad experience with PayPal in the past too. I will never use them.

I might try switching to my local credit union. Maybe that would help.

Immoli: I'm pretty sure you don't have to link your bank account to Paypal to use it. You should be able to just use a debit or credit card.

Edit: Paypal also doesn't have the bullshit "Foreign Transaction Fees." At least from the consumer side, not sure if the businesses you buy from have to pay something like that.