I'm an independent developer looking to migrate my Python projects to Azure and I've hit a roadblock with billing. I've got the budget for a standard Pay-As-You-Go subscription, but my only option for international transactions is a Prepaid Virtual Visa (RedotPay).
Whenever I try to sign up, Azure's system blocks me right away. Here's what happens: I input my card details, Azure does a $1 charge (which is refunded), showing my card is valid, but I get an error saying I'm not eligible for a subscription. It seems like my prepaid card is flagged as "High Risk," probably due to its card BIN or because it's a prepaid card.
I'm not looking for free credits – I just want to pay for my services. Are there any alternatives for developers in regions without standard credit cards? Is there a reseller or 'Azure Pass' provider that can help, or any specific licensing options where I can prepay? I just want to set up a VM and use Cognitive Services, so any help to access billing would be appreciated!
3 Answers
You mentioned matching your IP with the billing region, which sounds suspicious. If you're actually in Hong Kong, you should be able to get a standard credit card like a MasterCard or American Express. Those are generally accepted by Azure, so it could be worth looking into.
Honestly, the easiest way out of this is to get a proper card linked to a bank account instead of trying to use a prepaid card. They tend to be considered high risk for services like Azure, which is why you're hitting these roadblocks.
You might want to consider reaching out to Azure support directly, as they can provide options specific to your situation. Alternatively, finding a reseller who handles these kinds of payments might help you get around the issue, but be careful with terms of service.
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