Websites making it difficult for you to pay them

Complaints Corner
1

I’m literally trying to give them my money but:

  • I have to register
  • I have to click on stupid things to prove I’m not AI during checkout
  • My credit card sends an SMS to confirm
  • I type it it
  • It is declined? WTF? Wasn’t the whole point of the code to prove it as me?!
  • Now I need to send SMS to credit card to unblock
  • Try paying again
  • Do the stupid click on shape anti-robot thing 2 more times
  • Get another SMS code
  • Type that code in
  • Now my booking ‘is about to be confirmed’?
4 Likes
2

Welcome to my World

3

One of the reasons I really like website’s that integrate apple pay. No creating an account… scan the weird round QR code, it grabs your address and done.

1 Like
4

I almost always use guest checkout and either Paypal, ApplePay or TWINT if available. I don’t want points, join mailing lists or anything else.

2 Likes
5

Yes, for me TWINT or PayPal are the least frustrating.

6

I feel your pain, Phil.

And raise you US idiocy.

I use US sites to send gifts to folks back home so that recipients don’t get hit with duties. But half those sites seem to have trouble with the idea that there is a world outside US borders and make it painful - or impossible.

And don’t get me started on the Wedding Industrial Complex with the new normal of booking hotels and giving from a registry via an all too often US-centric wedding website. These ‘services’ take a hefty slice off the top.

I’m at the point of offering the young couple a small fortune if they’d just elope…

7

That’s a bit unusual.

Within Switzerland, most shops have implemented twint, so scan the QR and slide to approve.

The credit card sends a notification to phone app, enter password, slide and approve.

Maybe the issue is the shop, name it :winking_face_with_tongue:

1 Like
8

B&B guy in Canada insisted I pay via PayPall - who wanted a 100 Canuck bucks for the privilege. I declined and sent him the money via Revolut before giving him a chance to say no. A couple hours later he texed he had the money and everything was confirmed. Seeing as I had C$ on account it cost me nothing and him nada.

2 Likes
9

Airbnb seems to have a very straightforward booking experience too.

1 Like
10

I don’t have any of these problem while buying something unless my card is expired or I mistyped the number. Most of the shops allow me to buy something without registration (but I register anyway to be able to manage my order and have a history of orders).

I have never had to send SMS to the bank in my life.

11

Maybe it is my Cembra credit card, but it seems whenever I buy stuff online, it sends me an SMS code that I have to type into the website.

12

Even living in Canada, I’m still annoyed about the one time in the last 10 years I was required to use Paypal. It’s such an expensive PITA.

13

But it’s the bank that sends you an SMS, not you to the bank.

I have this function in the apps.

14

The only weird experience I had was with apple CH, they took my order, didn’t complain about anything, sent me an email that my order will be confirmed soon and I’ll know by email, then nada… I’ve found that it was cancelled a few days later checking the order number on the web

That made me rethink what I really want to buy, so I should thank them :joy:

15

The SMS is done by the bank - but it’s considered an older and more insecure way of doing things.

Nowadays, it’s suggested to use a MFA app instead. Heck, even a whatsapp message is (marginally) more secure than a SMS.