Online shopping on the websites of foreign stores is gaining more and more popularity. This is quite convenient and profitable, but the ordering system is somewhat different from the usual Russian buyer. For example, the Billing Address is almost always requested. What is it?
What you need to make sure before making a purchase
It is worth noting that before choosing goods on the site, you need to make sure that it is possible to pay here with a Bank of Russia card. Usually this information is indicated directly on the site in the sections "Help" (help), "FAQ" (frequently asked questions), "Personal finance" (personal payment) or subsections with the names "Payment Methods" (payment methods), "Credit Cards" (credit cards). If you did not find this option on the resource itself, then on the Internet you will certainly find a blog of this portal or just a forum with this topic, where you can consult with more experienced buyers. It is worth noting that these days this possibility is almost always present, since the creators of stores are interested in making profit from more countries.
If you found the cherished phrase on the website of the store you need: International creditcards are accepted ("international payment cards are accepted"), then feel free to proceed to checkout. And here, pay attention to the lines Shipping Address and Billing Address. What it is? And what is the difference between them? This needs to be sorted out first.
Difference between address types
Literally translated, Billing Address is a "billing address". That is, the one that you reported when registering your bank card. It is to him that you receive letters from the bank. But if you have forgotten it, then do not hesitate to check this information with a bank employee.
This address verification system is heavily used in the US. It allows you to confirm the identity of the buyer. And, it is possible that when filling out the corresponding form, you will not find Russia. Then write any other country. Often for foreign buyers, this is just a formality. Although, of course, it is better to play it safe. The seller can also clarify your address independently, manually, by contacting you at the specified phone number or by e-mail.
Now you should learn more about the shipping address. This is the actual delivery address. It may differ from the details that you indicated as "payment". It depends on where and to whom you deliver this package. Check if the store delivers to the Russian Federation. Enter the address carefully, only in English. If you specify it in Russian, an error is possible when sending.
Ifdelivery to Russia is not made, you can use the services of LiteMF. You contact an intermediary in America who will send you the package. Then in the line Shipping Address you will have to specify its address. You will find all the necessary information in your personal account on the site. It is worth adding that delivery through an intermediary, as a rule, is cheaper, no matter how strange it sounds. Although almost all foreign sites can be sent to citizens of Russia. Often there is even more than one delivery option, which will differ in time and cost.
Be attentive to the site's policy. On some foreign resources, if the two above addresses match or, on the contrary, do not match, the order will be automatically canceled. Then you will receive an email asking you to contact their support team. But do not worry, your money will not be lost anyway, the account on the site will be unblocked.
Read all the information that interests you in advance. She is always registered. It’s better to know right away what the sellers of the store require from you than to carry out additional operations later to unlock your money or return the goods.
Foreign banks check Billing Address: what is it?
As noted above, Billing Address translates as "billing address". This concept came to us from foreign banking systems. This is the address of the cardholder from which the purchase is supposed to be paid. These details are used to receive statements from his accounts. In the column "billingaddress” the client specifies his address of residence. It is used for additional verification and reduces the risk of fraud.
This card details is widely used in the banking system of the USA and European countries, but it is not available in Russian banks. Despite the fact that Russian bank cards do not have a billing address, stores abroad continue to accept them as payment details. How is this payment system verified?
How to check Billing Address
What is this? Foreign banks have introduced a system called Address Verification Service (AVS). It is designed to automatically check if the Billing Address entered in the online store matches the real place of residence of the owner of the electronic card. Due to the absence of the specified requisite in Russian banks, automatic reconciliation of AVS for Russian citizens is not possible.
There are three options for checking a transaction on a Russian card:
- Skip the transaction even though the Billing Address cannot be verified.
- Perform additional manual verification steps.
- Transaction rejected.
These options need to be considered in more detail.
Transaction Completed
Foreign stores are experienced in selling goods abroad and are familiar with the differences in banking payment systems in the US and other countries. If they reject all purchase requests from foreign citizens who do not have a Billing Address, then this will not be slow to affect their income. For such citizensautomatic reconciliation is not carried out, but the billing address data is stored in an electronic database in case of additional verification.
Additional check
The seller has the opportunity to manually check all entered data before making a transaction. There are only two manual verification methods:
- Please send a scan of a paid invoice, a scan of your passport or other document that can confirm your billing address (in English).
- A request to your bank to verify that the data you entered in the Billing Address matches the address in your bank details. Due to the fact that there is no “billing address” in your bank card, the only thing left for your bank employees to do is to verify the information received with those that you indicated in the personal data of the card (for example, address of residence or registration).
When a transaction is not possible
If the foreign store does not get the opportunity to verify the billing address, then the transaction cannot be completed. All attempts to pass it will be rejected. There are very few such stores abroad, but they do exist.
What to enter in Billing Address
When paying for goods in most stores located abroad, filling in the Billing Address field, you can enter any address in English. There is a good chance that this data will get through anyway. To avoid problems associated with additional checks by the seller, enter your valid address in the appropriate field. This could be your placeregistration or your permanent residence.
How to fill in this line?
As mentioned above, on a foreign site, the Billing Address field is filled in only in Latin. Translation of words into English is not required (not only the names of streets are meant, but also such words as "avenue", "lane" and so on). At the beginning of the line, the name of the street is indicated, then the number of the house, building and apartment number. An example of filling in this field might look like this: ul. Sovetskaya 140-32. In this case, it is highly recommended not to specify non-existent addresses (for the reasons stated above).
