Hi,
I live in the UK and need to buy items from various US websites for my online affiliate business. The problem is 99% of the websites I use operate the AVS (Address Verification System) on the credit card you enter when setting up your account. For those that don't know, AVS only works within the borders of the US so if you have a non-US credit card, the AVS system cannot confirm your billing address and prevents you from making the transaction.
ok then...lets get a US Method of payment...
This is alot harder than it sounds if you don't live on planet US. The Patriot Act (introduced post 9/11) requires all financial institutions to confirm the identity of new customers. To get my foot in the door, so to speak, I have setup an LLC which has a US address (mail forwarding service that does not use PO boxes!!), telephone number and EIN Tax ID.
I have tried the following approaches and drawn a blank....
Opening a US Bank account (for a non-US person)
------------------------------------------------
This is possible but you need to physically go into a branch with valid photo ID and proof of address. I cannot do this as I don't live in the US
Opening an online US bank account (for non-US peeps)
-----------------------------------------------------
they ultimately ask for photo ID etc, as dictated by the patriot act
Getting a US prepaid debit card (for non-US peeps)
-------------------------------------------------
50% ask you to call them as thier automated system does not like the EIN Tax ID that I have put in place of the SSN. The other 50% appear to work with confirmation emails being sent telling me my card is on it's way. Unfortunately a few days in they also perform the same checks on the EIN Tax ID and cancel the request
Opening a US Business Bank Account (for non-US peeps)
------------------------------------------------------
Again, the Patriot act requires me to prove I live in the US. They want photo ID etc... They also want a physical address where they will be able to see that business is being conducted. Not a simple mail forwarding service.
VCC's
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It seems to me that alot of these services are scams and you will never see your money again. I would require a reloadable VCC but the only sources I can find want ridiculous %'s of each deposit made. These guys are also less than kosha making me uneasy about sending large sums of money. I am trying to run a legitimate online business so I would only want to deal with real services offered by real banks etc..
...Ultimately, all I need is a method of payment (credit card, debit card etc) that has a valid US Billing address on it so that I can get past the AVS system. Not much to ask but it seems the entire US financial system is geared to fiercly prevent non-US people from applying for US financial products & services.
If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations then It would be greatly appreciated.
Ian P.
I live in the UK and need to buy items from various US websites for my online affiliate business. The problem is 99% of the websites I use operate the AVS (Address Verification System) on the credit card you enter when setting up your account. For those that don't know, AVS only works within the borders of the US so if you have a non-US credit card, the AVS system cannot confirm your billing address and prevents you from making the transaction.
ok then...lets get a US Method of payment...
This is alot harder than it sounds if you don't live on planet US. The Patriot Act (introduced post 9/11) requires all financial institutions to confirm the identity of new customers. To get my foot in the door, so to speak, I have setup an LLC which has a US address (mail forwarding service that does not use PO boxes!!), telephone number and EIN Tax ID.
I have tried the following approaches and drawn a blank....
Opening a US Bank account (for a non-US person)
------------------------------------------------
This is possible but you need to physically go into a branch with valid photo ID and proof of address. I cannot do this as I don't live in the US
Opening an online US bank account (for non-US peeps)
-----------------------------------------------------
they ultimately ask for photo ID etc, as dictated by the patriot act
Getting a US prepaid debit card (for non-US peeps)
-------------------------------------------------
50% ask you to call them as thier automated system does not like the EIN Tax ID that I have put in place of the SSN. The other 50% appear to work with confirmation emails being sent telling me my card is on it's way. Unfortunately a few days in they also perform the same checks on the EIN Tax ID and cancel the request
Opening a US Business Bank Account (for non-US peeps)
------------------------------------------------------
Again, the Patriot act requires me to prove I live in the US. They want photo ID etc... They also want a physical address where they will be able to see that business is being conducted. Not a simple mail forwarding service.
VCC's
-----
It seems to me that alot of these services are scams and you will never see your money again. I would require a reloadable VCC but the only sources I can find want ridiculous %'s of each deposit made. These guys are also less than kosha making me uneasy about sending large sums of money. I am trying to run a legitimate online business so I would only want to deal with real services offered by real banks etc..
...Ultimately, all I need is a method of payment (credit card, debit card etc) that has a valid US Billing address on it so that I can get past the AVS system. Not much to ask but it seems the entire US financial system is geared to fiercly prevent non-US people from applying for US financial products & services.
If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations then It would be greatly appreciated.
Ian P.
