Steam Gift Purchases Revoked?

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SilentShores 20 Oct @ 6:19pm

Hey guys, so I have never had an issue with buying gifts with my Steam Wallet for around 4 years now. Only until this month have I been told and not explained by I have a restriction. I don't know why or if it can be appealed?

I have never returned or refuted a purchase to even one of the titles I own or gifted. I have gifted successfully 4 different friends and family of mine from indie to AAA games with no issues! I never sell or trade games or whatever skins on my account either. So why am I punished? I don't want to put my PayPal or credit cards on here, because I want to be better about limiting my cards being stolen. So I get Steam cards, which is awesome in supporting Steam and it stays on here! The only thing I can think of is Steam being upset my last two attempted gifts prior were refunded, but that went back to MY Steam Wallet and stays on Steam.

I'm upset because now all my friends are on pc. I'm primarily a console player honestly and this discourages me to game online with my friends and family. I've always thought highly of Steam, been happy with all the money I spent on here the past 4 years, and look to continue to support Steam. Again, is this something I can appeal and I'm looking for answers on how it happened?

Appreciate the help or thoughts on the matter guys

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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments

Callahan420 20 Oct @ 8:40pm

Wallet gift restriction. Use an external payment method instead of wallet funds.

Submit a ticket to steam support.

Just an fyi, if the restriction happens again it will be permanent.

rawWwRrr 20 Oct @ 8:55pm

Originally posted by SilentShores:
Appreciate the help or thoughts on the matter guys

Steam has been restricting the use of wallet funds for gifting games in an effort to thwart possible fraud or money laundering. Something about the gifting habits of some users triggers whatever threshold they are using to make that determination. So to combat that, Steam will remove a user's ability to use wallet funds to gift games.

Originally posted by SilentShores:
So why am I punished?

It isn't that you actually are as much as it just appears that you might be.

You will still be able to gift games to others with non-wallet funds. And you can still use wallet funds for yourself. You just won't be able to use wallet funds for buying game gifts.

Do keep in mind that wallet funds are simply store credit and they can dictate their use how they like.

Originally posted by SilentShores:
I don't know why or if it can be appealed?

Some have been able to... but then the restriction comes right back with the next gift purchase.

Originally posted by SilentShores:
I don't want to put my PayPal or credit cards on here, because I want to be better about limiting my cards being stolen.

You can make credit card purchases without storing them on the platform. Given how many users have stored payment methods on Steam over the years, if there was a problem of credit cards being stolen we would have heard of it by now. But I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing your efforts to protect yourself, just providing some details.