Amazon will use card for orders but reject for Subscriptions

[Deleted User]

I've got a very weird problem with Amazon. I've had an Amazon credit card for years (issued by New Day), always paid in full every month, no restrictions on the card, never a problem with any company or trader at all. Three weeks ago I got an email from Amazon saying the auto-payment for my Prime subscription had been declined and would I update my payment method. I contacted them and explained that this was the same card they always used for payments, not only for Prime but for all my orders (I use it for everything on Amazon to get the double points as a Prime member). Customer service advised various methods to try to rectify this including getting me to remove and re-add my card a total of twelve times until I questioned whether all these rejections might be affecting my credit score. They then suggested I cancel my Prime membership and re-apply. That didn't work either. My work around was to buy an £80 gift voucher with the SAME credit card and pay for Prime with that. I hope you can still follow all this!
All seemed ok, I could place orders until I had three Subscribe and Save orders due this week when I received an email from Amazon once again saying my card had been rejected and would I update my payment method. Once again I bought gift cards and paid for the orders with them using the same card with no problems. It would seem that "normal" orders are not a problem, but anything that involves a subscription causes a credit card to be handled by a different method.
My card issuer informs me that the problem lies at Amazon's door as they are not processing payments correctly in line with "current PSD2 rules" and that is why my card is being declined (meant nothing to me). I even got into a three way phone conversation with both Amazon and New Day customer service and it was just a case of one blaming the other. New Day have told me that I'm not the only person who is having this problem but Amazon refuse to give me any higher authority I can contact for help. I asked to speak to their finance department but was told "We don't have one". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Please excuse the length of the post but it needs the facts laying out to be fathomable (ish!). Anyone else in this position? Did you find a solution?

Sandtree

Your average Amazon customer service advisor is going to have no idea at all about the strong customer authentication requirements introduced under PSD2 that came into effect in March. The bank rep will know only a little more but will really just be reading off screen the reason listed as to why the transaction was declined.

You've already worked out a way around the problem with amazon gift cards so you could continue with that and periodically try the CC again until Amazon fix it.

Alternatively you try and get the complaint escalated in Amazon to someone who can do more than read off pre-written responses but that is much harder than it seems to do... I know I've had lots of promises and plenty of £5/£10 compensations for failed escalations in relation to my periodic ongoing problem with them. I'd strongly suggest that the problem is likely at Amazon's end, they have historically not towed the line with these things arguing their own solutions are better than what the industry requires. 

wiseonesomeofthetime

My Prime is up for auto-renewal next month so, with only my Amazon (New Day) Platinum card as the source for its debit, I am now curious to see what shall happen 🤔

born_again

Wonder if it's got anything to do with. 
So they do not want the cards used for any ongoing payments.

Amazon Classic and Platinum credit cards will be scrapped from January 2023 – here's what you need to know. Some 800,000 shoppers with Amazon Classic and Platinum Mastercards will no longer be able to use them from January 2023 as NewDay, the issuer, has walked away from the partnership.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/03/amazon-classic-and-platinum-credit-cards-will-be-scrapped-from-j/#:~:text=March-,Amazon Classic and Platinum credit cards will be scrapped from,what you need to know&text=Some 800,000 shoppers with Amazon,walked away from the partnership.

[Deleted User]

born_again said:

Wonder if it's got anything to do with. 
So they do not want the cards used for any ongoing payments.

Amazon Classic and Platinum credit cards will be scrapped from January 2023 – here's what you need to know. Some 800,000 shoppers with Amazon Classic and Platinum Mastercards will no longer be able to use them from January 2023 as NewDay, the issuer, has walked away from the partnership.

Good grief, I didn't know this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. This could possibly be why as my card expiry date was updated earlier this year to 2027 which would take me past the cut-off date. It's all starting to smell a bit fishy. Maybe time just to ditch the card for a different one. 

nyermen

Either that or as mentioned, PSD/2 - ie. the new SCA (strong customer authentication) stuff.  Had issues with my HSBC master card with hotels in europe because of that.

[Deleted User]

That's what my card issuer seemed to think it was but I have no idea. I think I'll just ditch the card and get a different one if it is going to be so much hassle.

wiseonesomeofthetime

I wouldn't ditch it, but keep it, for now, as I'm January it will turn into a Pulse card that pays cashback, apparently. 

No harm in getting another card, if you don't have one though. 

ifd001

I have this problem with my Virgin Credit Card (a mastercard).

klas82

Been having this problem for a few weeks now. I can purchase stuff instantly but can't subscribe and save, can't try before you buy can't auto tip up my Amazon credit. Very stupid this is and I was going to delete my cards and try again but seems that doesn't work either. 

Doesn't matter which card I use I've got 3 stored on there from try different banks/CC none will work.

Did anyone find a way to stop this from happening?