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How to get round Amazon’s Visa ban

Emma Lunn
Written By:
Emma Lunn
Posted:
Updated:
14/01/2022

The online giant will stop accepting payments made with UK-issued Visa credit cards from Wednesday 19 January.

Amazon announced the move in November and blamed the high cost of processing payments for the decision. Online card payments attract a range of fees including interchange fees and other transaction charges.

An email to Amazon customers, said: “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.”

Amazon will continue to accept Visa debit cards and other credit cards, including Mastercard and American Express.

How to still use a Visa credit card on Amazon

However, there is one way Amazon customers can still pay by Visa credit card – and that’s by using financial app Curve.

Curve combines all of your debit, credit and loyalty cards into one smart card. To use it, you need to download the Curve app then enter your card details or scan your card to upload it to your digital Curve wallet.

Through Curve, customers can spend from any of their accounts via one card, with one PIN, and manage or move money within the Curve app. 

The company claims the Curve solution allows customers to continue paying with their Visa credit cards with Amazon after next Wednesday’s ban.

Shachar Bialick, founder and CEO of Curve, said: “We’re proud to enable customers to continue paying with their Visa Credit cards after the changes come in on Wednesday. Amazon’s decision to stop accepting payments using UK-issued Visa credit cards will harm a huge number of customers. 

“Consumers without a financial super-app are losing choice and flexibility when it comes to their finances. Curve is the only solution in the UK that can offset this decision by Amazon. Users will still be able to use their Visa credit via Curve to shop at Amazon while continuing to earn their bank’s rewards.”