How to pay with a bank card at stock photo banks?

If you have decided to buy a photo from a stock bank, you will definitely encounter the need to pay for the photo (illustration) or illustration at the stock bank, along with a decent variety of payment options available. Stock banks on the Internet can accept payment for images in several ways:

1. Payment by bank cards.
2. Payment via the PayPal payment system.
3. Payment via the WebMoney payment system.
4. Payment by phone via SMS.
5. Payment through Skrill payment system
6. Google Checkout

Let’s take a closer look at the payment method using bank cards. And what about the other payment options for images, you may ask? I believe that they are not particularly relevant for citizens of developing countries at the moment. For example, the PayPal payment system is not widely used in countries with low living standards, and there are certain restrictions on its use for representatives of such countries.

Other payment methods at stock banks are also not very widespread and are not relevant for all stock banks. For instance, payment for images via SMS can currently only be made at the stock bank Depositphotos.

For most users, the payment method using bank cards still seems unclear due to a lack of understanding of the mechanism of cashless payments by cards online. However, it is quite straightforward, quick, and convenient.

First, let’s make a brief theoretical digression. The largest online services and stores in the world have long introduced the ability to pay for goods and services using cards from the major international payment systems Visa, MasterCard, and American Express on their websites. Since these are international systems, cardholders have no issues with transactions in any country in the world and in any currency, as the conversion of the account currency to the transaction currency is performed automatically.

Given the huge number of payment cards issued worldwide, it is clear why cards are currently recognized as the best and most practical payment method on the global Internet. In fact, most cardholders are unaware of this functionality of their cards. Many people do not even realize how to pay online.

Yes, some are accustomed to using electronic payment systems like WebMoney or PayPal for online payments, but these systems have not yet gained recognition and popularity on a global scale. Considering their ties to smaller markets with their, shall we say, economic opacity, these systems are practically unrecognized by the largest Internet services and stores, including major stock banks. In contrast, payment cards can be used without issues at almost all online stores, including stock banks.

You can pay with a card issued in any currency, and as mentioned above, the conversion will happen automatically. The optimal choice for payments is to use Visa and MasterCard payment system cards, which can be obtained at virtually any bank.

For online payments, it is best to order mid-range Visa Classic and MasterCard Standard cards or more prestigious and expensive Visa Gold, MasterCard Gold, Visa Platinum, and MasterCard Platinum cards. Although, of course, the cheapest options would be entry-level debit payment cards like Cirrus/Maestro and Visa Electron, but such cards are often declined when attempting to make online payments.

What causes potential declines for online transactions with Cirrus/Maestro and Visa Electron cards? Essentially, these cards are not designed for online use as they require mandatory electronic authorization by swiping the card through a reader.

However, many banks have recently begun to issue Cirrus/Maestro and Visa Electron cards for online payments upon request from cardholders. So, if you only have a Cirrus/Maestro or Visa Electron card (which banks primarily issue for salary payments and various social benefits), you should first check with your bank about the possibility of using this card for online payments.

To find out about the functionality of your payment card, just call your bank’s call center at the number provided on the back of the card and ask what you are interested in. If they inform you that it cannot be used, ask whether this option can be activated for your existing card. Often, this is entirely feasible.

If you do not yet have your own payment card or if your existing card is blocked for online payments, the best option for you would be to order a virtual card (internet card) like Visa Virtuon or MasterCard Virtual, which are specifically issued for online transactions. Such cards can be processed very quickly, with some banks taking as little as 15 minutes. The fees for servicing these cards are quite low.

In addition to the card itself, the bank will open a card account, which you can top up either there or at any other branch of the bank for the amount you need. When you decide to close the card, any unused balance will be refunded to you through the bank’s cashier.

I do not recommend topping up your card with an amount greater than what you need at that moment. It is better to come back later to add more than to keep significant sums on the virtual card.

Payments online are high-risk in terms of card data transmission, so be cautious. To obtain detailed information about opening such a card and the bank’s service fees, you should visit the bank’s website or contact the nearest bank branch.

Many banks offer virtual cards to their clients, including Bank of Moscow, Alfa-Bank, VTB 24, Promsvyazbank, Vozrozhdenie, and Sobinbank.

The best stock photo banks for purchasing images that allow payment with bank cards are listed at https://microstock.top/pokupka-izobrazhenij-na-fotobankah/.

Before buying photographs and illustrations from the stock photo bank, you will need to register with the stock photo bank, then you will need to top up your account at the stock photo bank, that is, buy stock photo credits in a package or for the minimum required amount, or pay for a subscription at the stock photo bank. After that, you can download photographs and illustrations from the stock photo bank’s database within the limits of your credit package or subscription conditions.

Before topping up your account at the stock photo bank, you need to decide which credit package you will purchase or which subscription you will pay for. Usually, the relevant section for payment at the stock photo bank becomes available after registration and logging into your account.

To pay for stock photo bank services, you will need to enter your card details in the appropriate form: 16-digit card number, expiration date of the card (selected from the dropdown menu), and three-digit CVV (CVC) code, which are the last three digits on the back of the card.

If all the data is entered correctly and there are no issues with your card, the specified amount will be deducted from your card account in favor of the stock photo bank, and the corresponding number of credits will be added to your stock photo bank balance.

Be careful not to confuse the CVV (CVC) code with your PIN code! The PIN code is used for transactions at ATMs and terminals, while the CVV (CVC) code is used for payments without the physical card.

Moreover, if you confuse the codes, you will not be able to pay for the stock photo bank services with your card, and you may also expose your PIN code online, which is quite unsafe.

To reduce risks when using your payment card online, I recommend that you actively use the option to set limits on certain types of transactions. For this, you will simply need to call the bank’s Call Center using the toll-free number usually found on the back of your card, and request that a specific limit for online payments be set for you.

For example, if you need to pay for a credit package at the stock photo bank costing $15, just call the bank operator and ask them to set a limit of $15 for you. You will pay the amount you need, $15, and no one will be able to charge more from the card until the limit is raised or its validity period ends.

Alternatively, you can go another way. For instance, you can impose a complete ban on card payments on the global network, meaning to restrict CNP (card not present) transactions with your payment card. When you need to buy photos from the stock photo bank, you simply call the bank, request to raise the limit or remove the restriction on payments. After that, you make the payment and call the bank again, asking to restore the limit or ban on online card payments. This method might allow you to minimize the risks of using payment cards online.

Also, to simplify your work with card limits as much as possible, you can subscribe to an online banking service. This way, you will be able to easily log into your bank’s designated page with your provided password and username to change your card limits yourself and view all transactions with your cards. Online banking is already a fairly common service in most banks and is quite inexpensive.

I also recommend that when applying for a payment card, you activate the SMS banking service. With this service, you will receive SMS notifications about all transactions with your payment card and stay informed about all transactions – online payments, cash withdrawals, payments in the retail network.

Don’t forget to check the bank’s commission for currency conversion before ordering a card. If the bank’s commission for conversion exceeds 1%, it is advisable to open a card at another bank or consider applying for a dollar card to avoid currency conversion. This will be significant for you when making large payments.

Yes, returning to limits, I want to mention another point. If you are making payments for large amounts, for example, paying for a subscription at the stock photo bank that exceeds $1000, don’t forget to check with your bank about the maximum limits for the card, as banks have monitoring systems for card transactions that can automatically block transactions for large amounts. Therefore, you need to call to clarify and also inform your bank that you intend to make a large payment to avoid any payment issues.

Happy purchasing at the stock photo banks!