If you were planning on or have been using your credit card on Backpage.com adult ads, beware that you cannot continue using the cards on the website because the services are no longer available.
On Wednesday 1st July, Visa joined other major card companies who have stopped the use of their cards on Backpage.com to purchase adult ads. MasterCard removed its card from the website the week before while American Express was the first to make such a move, removing its card late last year.
Visa’s decision came after a formal request from Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. Dart was voicing his concerns over the high rate at which sex trade was spreading in his country, partly fuelled by the ads. He wrote to both MasterCard and Visa at the beginning of July saying that minor were being involved and that the trend had to be reversed. Backpages.com, which operates as a classified ads website, hasn’t commented on the sheriff’s statements.
When announcing Visa’s decision during a news conference, Dart expressed his fury with Backpages.com for refusing to acknowledge that pimps and traffickers were taking advantage of the ads in the adult section. He criticized the company for suggesting that it works with law enforcement agencies to root out the traffickers.
“That is pure rhetoric, “said Dart, “I have heard more sensible logic from my five –year-old. They try to look like they are our biggest asset, and that they are really helpful to the community. They know very well that we have always arrested the prostitutes with ease. The big problem is the traffickers and the pimps.”
“If you want to help us, here is what you need to do…, stop what you are doing.”
After listening to Dart, MasterCard immediately contacted Backpages.com and ended their contact with the company. A week later, Visa was also removing its card from the website. With American Express being the first to end their contract with Backpages.com late last year, the only payment option left on Backpages.com is Bitcoin.
As you can see, trading in adult content can be tricky. Before you know it, all credit card companies are running away from you.
If you haven’t opened an adult merchant account yet, maybe this is a good reason to get one now. You can open your account with eMerchant.com right away to start enjoying the benefits of secure payments.