PlayStation Store PSN PlayStation Network

There are more games launching on the PlayStation Store than ever before, but many people are having problems actually purchasing them. Sony's payment servers have been randomly rendering credit cards invalid for as long as we can remember, but the issue appears to be getting worse – as active threads on various websites testify.

The persistent problem goes as such: when trying to purchase something from the PlayStation Store with a credit card – be it on a PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita, or Sony's own web store – an error message will occur. This prevents the transaction from going through, and thus stops you from purchasing the digital goods.

This author has been affected by this issue for about eight or so weeks now, and it started with a card that used to function without a hitch on the PlayStation Store. But we're not alone: a NeoGAF thread popped up earlier this week in the wake of the Japanese giant's Flash Sale, where dozens of users from around the world identified the same problem.

In the past, the solution has always been to check the way that your address is displayed. Sony, apparently, has some form of extra security on its payment system which requires payment details to be replicated exactly as they appear on a bank statement. But this hasn't solved the issue for your humble host – or many others on the PlayStation support forums.

In fact, the platform holder will probably direct you towards your bank, who will – in turn – likely inform you that the problem is on Sony's end. We understand why this buck passing occurs, of course, but it's incredibly irritating when the problem never seems to get solved. In this author's case, it's pre-paid vouchers for the foreseeable future.

And that seems to be the route that many are taking, with PlayStation Network credit a constant best-seller on the Amazon charts. But with Sony parading record breaking PlayStation Store profits in the wake of this week's NPD report, shouldn't it be making its payment system a little less flaky if it wants to maximise digital revenue?

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.