BajaNomad

Starlink credit card payment declined

larryC - 12-10-2023 at 09:12 AM

A friend is trying to sign up for a Starlink account but his credit cards keep getting declined. Not by the bank but by Starlink/SpaceX. It seems that Starlink doesn't want to use a payment method that is not based in the country where the account is located.
One suggestion of a solution is to use a Mexican prepaid credit card. Are there any requirments to get a prepaid card or can anyone get one from say Oxxo or Walmart?

BajaGringo - 12-10-2023 at 09:53 AM

Oxxo offers the Saldazo Debit Card which is prepaid and works through Citibanamex:

https://www.oxxo.com/saldazo

KaceyJ - 12-10-2023 at 10:21 AM

I have used my US based Visa for my SL Mex payments for 2 years . Unless SL has some new policy on card origin all you should have to do is call the CC company and tell them to allow usage in Mex for recurring monthly SL payments. In Nov. however , I did receive a note from SL that CC was declined and had to call my company again. They said they were just being extra vigilant during the holidays even though it was still on file for Mex usage . Probably an algorithm thing.

liknbaja127 - 12-10-2023 at 10:43 AM

We also had to get the Oxxo pre paid, after our card was declined by
Star Link, 2 months ago! seems to work fine.

RFClark - 12-10-2023 at 11:19 AM

This month our RV StarLink that we use in BCS was declined for the 1st time. I used a different debt card and it went through. So probably a software issue at StarLink.

In other interesting StarLink news. If anyone else has had issues getting things like cloud automation or reporting weather stations on the 2.4Ghz internet band to work via SL, here’s a possible solution. Split your SL wifi or if that doesn’t fix it try a 3rd party router.

Because of our metal walls, we run a 4 point mesh system and just renaming the 5Ghz channel solved our problem.

HeyMulegeScott - 12-10-2023 at 11:58 AM

This is an email a friend in Mulege received from Starlink support -

Our system will allow all of our customers to use any cards for their first initial kit order for convenience purpose and this authorization is going to last for a while and that's why you might be able to use your US issued card to pay for your account before without any issues.
Later when it is time for our system to reauthorize the payment method on file or when customers try to change the payment method on file, that's when our system is going to detect the "foreign cards" and starting to reject it.
The reason why you are not able to update the payment method on file to the new card is because your card was issued in US but you are trying to pay for an account in Mexico. The only solution for this is to use a card that was issued in Mexico to pay for your account.

RFClark - 12-10-2023 at 12:13 PM

Interesting! We’ve used a US debit card to pay for our Mexican StarLink in San Felipe for over a year. Our decline this month was on the US system and a US card!

chippy - 12-10-2023 at 01:13 PM

No problem with my usaa card and starlink down here. could it be a vpn thing?

twogringos - 12-11-2023 at 07:39 AM

We are still using the original US card, but Canadian friends have already encountered this problem. Their easy solution was to use ALBO, which gives you a Mexican debit card. You can fill ALBO with Paypal (Xoom) or WISE. Another MX debit card solution is MERCADO PAGO.

thebajarunner - 12-11-2023 at 08:09 AM

Could it be the bank charges that they are not wanting to eat?

I had a run-in here in Arizona with TMobile over my CitiBank card
They no longer offer discounts and preferred status if you use a credit card.
We had to arrange direct debit from my bank account
All because of the fees that they will not pay.

PaulW - 12-11-2023 at 09:22 AM

Saw a note on facebook that said it was his VPN.

JDCanuck - 12-11-2023 at 06:17 PM

Odd, we just had our most recent charge go through today on a Starlink near La Paz, and on a Canadian credit card. There seems to be no consistent treatment of payments?

larryC - 12-13-2023 at 04:03 PM

Thanks for all responses, for my friend it looks like the easiest for him is to get the prepaid Oxxo card and add to it electronically on line. I'm thinking that maybe I should get a card also so that if they decline my existing card in the future I have a back up Mexican card. Elon/Starlink is a hard company to do business with. When and if Jeff Bezos gets his internet running I'll look very closely at switching over. I don't quite understand why they would change policies and make it harder for existing customers to pay their bill.
Amazons customer service is very good and maybe their internet will be as customer friendly.

surabi - 12-13-2023 at 04:24 PM

While Bezos and Musk are both obscenely wealthy, Bezos seems to be a better businessman with an understanding of customer relations that Musk is too arrogant to muster.
When Amazon first started, they only sold books. Bezos asked customers what other products they would like Amazon to make available, and the answer was essentially "everything". So he listened to his customers. And the hassle-free return policies also attract and keep customers.

RFClark - 12-13-2023 at 04:55 PM

If Bezos was really a “better businessman” he wouldn’t have signed up with ULA to launch his satellites and have to be dragged kicking and screaming to SpaceX which is the only operation that runs a real Space Delivery Business! Just like UPS! (On the ground)

BTW StarLink 4K+ satellites - Amazon 2!

surabi - 12-13-2023 at 05:13 PM

There are a lot of factors involved in being a good businessman. Both Musk and Bezos treat their workers like chit, which may be good for their bank accounts, but isn't good for business as they can lose customers who don't like to support businesses that don't show respect for their employees.

RFClark - 12-13-2023 at 06:07 PM

Don’t know about the box packers who work for Amazon, the rocket scientists are standing in line to work for SpaceX. That would be because unlike the government and their contractors (ULA, NASA, etc.) SpaceX is actually getting things done. In fact, SpaceX is a real space trucking Co and the Falcon9 is the “model T” of space.Boeing and ULA are cost plus government contractors. Emphasis on the “Cost” part.

It’s about delivering the mail not feelings!

surabi - 12-13-2023 at 06:52 PM

Don't know why you right-wingers always feel the need to sing Musk's praises. I guess you are unaware that Musk instantly fired 30% of the Twitter employees when he took over, including the ones who were experienced in blocking out hate speech? And that he has lost tons of advertisers who don't want to associated with his hate-speech ridden platform, nor his amplification of rascist and anti-semitic posts.
Or that the X employees were instantly expected to work longer hours for no more pay and had to start providing their own toilet paper, as if the billionnaire can't afford TP.

But I guess as long as he impresses you with his space games, you don't care about any of the rest.

[Edited on 12-14-2023 by surabi]

RFClark - 12-13-2023 at 11:11 PM

I don’t do “X”. Personally I would have closed it down and fired the lot. That said the original point was whether Musk or Bezos is the better businessman.

Bazos’s company sells imported merchandise. Currently it (Amazon) is in serious legal difficulties for marketing a video camcorder built into a clothing hook and suggesting placing it in bathrooms. A minor was recorded by someone who followed Amazon’s suggestion. The case has very serious ramifications because Amazon not a 3rd party did the marketing and the suggested use.

Your characterization of SpaceX and StarLink as “space games” is reminiscent of those prior to WW2 who viewed aircraft and aircraft carriers as useless compared to capital ships. Since 12/7 is just passed it’s worth remembering how that turned out not to be the case. In fact practically every capital ship sunk in the pacific in ‘41-42 was sunk by carrier aviation.

Space X’s technology is as important an advance today as aircraft flying from carriers was back then.

On political beliefs, you have no idea what mine are past who I won’t support. That said, if you bother to vote rather than just carp I would guess you probably vote NDP.





HeyMulegeScott - 12-14-2023 at 03:42 PM

Another thread goes off the rails with stupid political fights.

Just checked our Citibank and looks like this month's charge went through successfully. I guess I will try my Intercam debit Visa if it stops working.

RFClark - 12-14-2023 at 05:26 PM

Hay,

No, it’s not just politics. I couldn’t care less who runs Canada. StarLink and its affiliated companies are critical to the well being and security of the country I’m concerned about. The US.

During WW2 25% of the electronics manufacturing companies were required to manufacture just one top secret device. No it wasn’t the bomb. It was the proximity fuse. A secret device far more important than the bomb.

How many domestic electronic manufacturers are there in the US today? StarLink mass produces satellites and very high tec receivers in large quantities right here.

SpaceX manufactures more rocket boosters than any other country on earth.

We’re in a time similar to the mid-late ‘30s hopefully the rather large outbreak of “special military actions” won’t continue to spread.

StarLink and SpaceX are important. It’s not politics!



Starlink

mrioux - 12-20-2023 at 10:28 AM

Here in Punta Abreojos both myself and another group ordered Starlink systems and had the same issue with credit cards being declined. We both contacted our credit card companies all saying no issues with the card.

Both parties waited a day and tried again and purchased with no issues. Myself using a Cdn. credit care and the other party using a U.S. credit card.

RFClark - 12-20-2023 at 11:25 AM

People who have had problems with billing have resorted to using wise via their digital debit card in pesos with an address and zip code on the card that matches the service address and zip code for the starLink instillation.

Other people have filed multiple service tickets with StarLink and after about 6 weeks seen the problem vanish.

We pay monthly in pesos for our Mexican system and as yet have had no problems. (Fingers crossed)

JZ - 2-24-2025 at 07:20 AM

You can get a virtual credit card without having to go to OXXO, etc. Just put some credit on it.

lencho - 2-24-2025 at 08:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
Don't know why you right-wingers...
:rolleyes:

PaulW - 2-24-2025 at 08:36 AM

I read the using a card that has been successfully previously used by your friend to get activated. Then change the card to your own card via Starlink account.

SFandH - 2-24-2025 at 11:40 AM

I recently purchased Starlink via the MEX website using a MEX delivery address. My Citibank Mastercard charge card didn't work; my Fidelity Brokerage Visa debit card didn't work, but the third time was the charm; my Bank of America Visa debit card did work.

It doesn't make any sense. I bet it's a system glitch.

After the purchase and system set up, the same card was debited for the monthly service fee.


[Edited on 2-24-2025 by SFandH]

BeachSeeker - 3-25-2025 at 08:53 AM

I just bought the hardware at Home Depot in Mexicali and signed up on the Starlink website using my Amex card. Worked flawlessly.

mtgoat666 - 3-25-2025 at 09:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
I recently purchased Starlink via the MEX website using a MEX delivery address. My Citibank Mastercard charge card didn't work; my Fidelity Brokerage Visa debit card didn't work, but the third time was the charm; my Bank of America Visa debit card did work.

It doesn't make any sense. I bet it's a system glitch.

After the purchase and system set up, the same card was debited for the monthly service fee.

[Edited on 2-24-2025 by SFandH]


Merchant payment processors have algorithms that evaluate each attempted transaction for risk, and reject those that have undue risk of fraud or rejection. And vendors may reject certain cards that have high transaction fees.

In usa the merchant processing (interchange) fees are outrageously high, like 2 percent. In europe the fees are much less, like under 0.3 percent.
Credit card companies and merchant processors are robbing american businesses. Imagine losing 2 percent of all your revenue in usa when europeans are losing only 0.3 percent!

[Edited on 3-25-2025 by mtgoat666]

LancairDriver - 3-25-2025 at 10:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
Don’t know about the box packers who work for Amazon, the rocket scientists are standing in line to work for SpaceX. That would be because unlike the government and their contractors (ULA, NASA, etc.) SpaceX is actually getting things done. In fact, SpaceX is a real space trucking Co and the Falcon9 is the “model T” of space.Boeing and ULA are cost plus government contractors. Emphasis on the “Cost” part.

It’s about delivering the mail not feelings!

I worked for Space X for a couple years and I can assure you they have the cream of the crop with very smart and motivated technical young people in all areas. They are very well compensated and are accomplishing things never before done such as landing the booster that normally would be laying on the ocean bottom with thousands of others. There is a long list waiting to join Space X.