Amazon to stop accepting Visa credit cards issued in UK

worldtraveller

Amazon will stop accepting payments made using Visa credit cards issued in the United Kingdom starting next year.

Amazon customers can still use Visa debit cards, Mastercard and Amex credit cards as well as Visa credit cards issued outside of the UK.

Some customers received a notification from Amazon this week after making purchases, which said that "starting 19 January 2022, we will no longer accept Visa credit cards issued in the UK" due to the high fees charged by Visa to process the transactions.

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-stop-accepting-visa-credit-cards-issued-uk-bloomberg-news-2021-11-17/

emmajones1976

Existing thread (although I see three people have had the same idea now this morning):

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6312907/amazon-not-taking-visa-credit-cards-from-jan-19th-2022#latest

worldtraveller

Two points:

(1) This could well be some sabre-rattling from Amazon and still open for negotiation with Visa. By gut feeling is that something will be agreed before the 19th January.

(2) Some people say that they'll take their business elsewhere if Visa isn't accepted. IMHO, I really doubt that in most cases. Amazon are generally just cheaper in comparison to others (and, before anyone says it, yes, we know why!).

Grabs39

worldtraveller said:

Two points:

(1) This could well be some sabre-rattling from Amazon and still open for negotiation with Visa. By gut feeling is that something will be agreed before the 19th January.

(2) Some people say that they'll take their business elsewhere if Visa isn't accepted. IMHO, I really doubt that in most cases. Amazon are generally just cheaper in comparison to others (and, before anyone says it, yes, we know why!).

Absolutely right on both points.

I think it's possible that it would make me change my habits - I use my Visa Credit Card for all online purchases but there are some things which are either far more expensive or just harder to find anywhere other than amazon so I might need to use a Mastercard instead.  Though I'd like to think I'd just stop using Amazon, I say periodically I will but always wind up buying something or other from them eventually.

cx6

received an email with the info and a big 'update your account now' button - very naughty

noh

cx6 said:

received an email with the info and a big 'update your account now' button - very naughty

Received similar email which also offered £20 off next purchase if default payment method is set to debit or non-Visa credit card.

[Deleted User]

Well I just cancelled my Amazon Prime, it was due to renew on 1 Dec. 

Amazon is bullying Visa on this one... 

IanManc

ultrasilva said:

Well I just cancelled my Amazon Prime, it was due to renew on 1 Dec. 

Amazon is bullying Visa on this one... 

Bullying? The idea of the financial mega-giant Visa being bullied is laughable.  🤣 

It's more a case of the biter being bitten back.

4justice2

Randon thoughts........
Bargaining chip to get Visa charges lowered? (Though you'd think Amazon would get a good deal on processing charges already)
Amazon's "own brand" card (via New Day) is Mastercard, so perhaps they're hoping more people will sign up for that?
I have a Barclaycard Freedom Rewards Visa card,  with which you can collect points to exchange for Amazon vouchers, wonder if Barclaycard will stop issuing those?....

[Deleted User]

IanManc said:

ultrasilva said:

Well I just cancelled my Amazon Prime, it was due to renew on 1 Dec. 

Amazon is bullying Visa on this one... 

Bullying? The idea of the financial mega-giant Visa being bullied is laughable.  🤣 

It's more a case of the biter being bitten back.

Not that it matters much to mere mortals like us.... but Amazon's revenues are more than 15 times higher than Visa's. 

You can call it a negotiation tactic if you prefer. 

Ergates

It could be a negotiation tactic - or it could just be that Visa fees are higher than MasterCard and Amex and Amazon believe that most customers will change cards rather than ditch amazon.  More customers using lower fee cards = more profit.