Is it safe to use credit/debit cards on the playstation network now?

[rlemmon]

Hi, there’s something I want to buy for my ps3 on the PlayStation network. It cost $3.00 and I’m not really into add on content or downloading games so it doesn’t make sense for me to buy the $20.00 p.s.n. card when I won’t need most of it.   I know the psn had alot of troubles before but they seem to have died down. Is it reasonably safe to give them your credit or debit card number?

I have used mine with Nintendo a few times with no problems. Thanks.

[dre-w]

I used mine a couple weeks ago to d/l Daytonaaaa!  Haven't had any problems or anything out of the ordinary.  Although, it was kind of a hassle..  it wanted me to enter in my credit card info again, and after doing so it kept telling me something like Error - funds couldn't be added to wallet..  kept messing with it for a good half hour until I found the problem, changed the billing address from "St."  to  "Street".........  guess they weren't kidding when they said it has to be EXACT

[Howard_Casto]

Does the sony network not have points cards like the 360 and wii do?  It seems to me that woudl be infinately safer to use.

[DaveMMR]

I use my debit card on PSN.  Despite the fiasco a while back, I haven't had any issues (helps that the only info they had at the time was for a lost debit card long voided).

Can anyone give you a guarantee though?  No. That's true for any company you give you personal info and cc/dc info to. What happened to Sony can and has happened with other services. You don't even need to be using it online for your info to be compromised. As an example: the manager at a local department store my girlfriend had worked at was fired after he was found using personal information on employment applications to fill out bogus store credit card applications so the store could meet quota. It's a fairly mild example, but it goes to show you how your info can be misused at any time by anyone.

At the end of the day, you sometimes have to take an acceptable risk with your info. If you are still uncomfortable with Sony due to past issues, buy the $20 psn card and find something else you'd be interesting in downloading (there's got to be something; they have some fairly good stuff).  Either way, keep tabs of activity on your cards.

[ark_ader]

After what I just went through with the Xbox.  I would say a big NO.

Get a PAYG debit card and charge it with what you want to spend and use that.

[Well Fed Games]

After what I just went through with the Xbox.  I would say a big NO.

Get a PAYG debit card and charge it with what you want to spend and use that.

+1, these networks have all had security issues in the last year (even steam, which I buy the most from). Best not to share direct CC info with them.

[Howard_Casto]

After what I just went through with the Xbox.  I would say a big NO.

Get a PAYG debit card and charge it with what you want to spend and use that.

+1, these networks have all had security issues in the last year (even steam, which I buy the most from). Best not to share direct CC info with them.

See that's what I was getting at.  This shouldn't even be a question... you shouldn't use your credit card when you have an option not to use your credit card!  In any situation! Ever!

I'm not saying to be one of those paranoid people that will never use their CC on the net or something... sometimes that is just impossible, but when you have a better, more secure, option available to you why in the heck wouldn't you use it?

[Dartful Dodger]

I'm not saying to be one of those paranoid people that will never use their CC on the net or something... sometimes that is just impossible, but when you have a better, more secure, option available to you why in the heck wouldn't you use it?

I am one of those paranoid people, credit cards and internets don’t mix.

So maybe it’s just me, but I’d give my credit card to a Nigerian website before PSN.

PSN was already hacked.

It took weeks for them to sort it all out and get PSN up and running.

Let's them the benefit of the doubt and believe no credit card information was stolen.

Within a week it was hacked AGAIN.

Yo should treat PSN as an untrusted site.

[Well Fed Games]

I have a related question- possibly a dumb one, but when has that ever stopped me?! Is paying with Paypal a suitable level of security? For instance, I use Paypal with Steam, and was out of points cards so I used it to add MS points the other day to buy (the incredible) Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet on XBLA. So, disregarding Paypal's scammyness for sellers, how does it hold up as a level of protection vs credit cards?

[DaveMMR]

I have a related question- possibly a dumb one, but when has that ever stopped me?! Is paying with Paypal a suitable level of security? For instance, I use Paypal with Steam, and was out of points cards so I used it to add MS points the other day to buy (the incredible) Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet on XBLA. So, disregarding Paypal's scammyness for sellers, how does it hold up as a level of protection vs credit cards?

I don't think it's a dumb question but any website, person, company you give your information to does have the possibility of being hacked. Your information can be compromised without anyone hacking the site if they get to your account through deceitful means (e.g. phishing, etc.).  It's hard to say if Paypal specifically is more or less vulnerable without having inside knowledge. It'd be a little irresponsible to work under the assumption that Paypal is more safe than any other site. If you ask me, exercise maximum caution and vigilance across the board; if you're concerned, perhaps you need to assume the worst case scenario.

[Howard_Casto]

It's not a dumb question, but let's put it this way... if paypal isn't secure then 90% of the net is screwed.  Paypal=Ebay and Ebay=The largest online marketplace aside from maybe amazon. 

The way I understand, paypal is a online middle man.  When you buy somthing via paypal, it is paypal who is actualy buying it for you... using their own money and accounts.  Then paypal charges you and gets their money back plus a modest fee (usually like a dollar).  What this means is that it's pretty much impossible for the shadie guy you bought that monkey paw from on ebay to get your credit card number. 

That being said, your paypal account could be hacked.  That is a seperate matter though and thus far paypal hasn't been hacked.

[Well Fed Games]

Alright, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything- it certainly seems to keep the financial info out of the "store's" hands. I was glad to see it as a payment option on Steam/XBL. But don't take that as an endorsement of paypal- would love to see them have some competition to drive fees down.

On a broader level, it is too bad the services can't secure themselves better... there are more and more good games coming out exclusively as downloadable, and I would hate for those developers to lose money to consumer insecurity.