Mastercard refusing online pharmacy purchases(Update in post #3)

[DanicaCarin]

For any of you who use Inhouse pharmacy for your HRT meds........

I was informed Yesterday by Inhouse that Mastercard considers them a "disreputable" organization and will not allow purchases with a Mastercard. Now my Visa card was declined due to the purchase being an overseas online pharmacy. I'm hoping to get some answers later this morning when I contact my bank. Anybody else having this problem?

[JessicaH]

They take AMEX so you may want to see if you can buy a prepaid AMEX card for those purchases.

[DanicaCarin]

Hey Jessica,

According to Inhouse Visa & Amex are accepted, but the prepaid Visa I bought was declined by Visa due to it being an "overseas pharmacy". I don't want to buy a prepaid Amex and have the same thing happen. There is something going on with the banks and online pharmacies. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this Monday or Tuesday.

[DanicaCarin]

Here is the reply I got from Inhouse. Jessica you are correct, an Amex will work.

Hello Dani

We were recently advised by our Credit Card processor that MasterCard is targeting overseas online Pharmacies. They consider any Pharmacy outside of the US to be bringing the MasterCard brand into disrepute.

We are operating legally in our country, and are a fully licenced Online Pharmacy here in Vanuatu.

We can currently accept Visa and American Express cards.

It was not our decision to stop accepting Mastercard. Mastercard do not like overseas/online pharmacies. Mastercard are based in the US and it was the US Mastercard that have pulled OUR account. This in turn affecting all of our customers not only in the US, but worldwide as well.

We are endeavouring to get Mastercard back through another bank but this will take several months to set up and we cannot say when this will happen.

We consider the best option to purchase is the Amex Prepaid card.
"The link to the American Express prepaid card is:

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/american-express-prepaid-card/home.html

You can apply online and they post a permanent card to you which is reloadable each time you wish to use it to purchase anything. The permanent card is able to be used overseas whereas if you get a card form Walgreens or CVS these are only 'temporary' cards and only can be used within the US.

Once your PERMANENT CARD has been issued, this can be used for overseas transactions. We have many customers using them with no problem. (The temporary cards are for US transactions only).

Aside from Visa and American Express, we accept payment via Western Union Money transfer or IMT (International Money Transfer - or Bank to Bank Transfer). If you would like information about this please let us know.

We do not have an account with PayPal as PayPal disagree with the sale of prescription medicines on the internet.

We recognise this is an inconvenience but it is totally out of our control.

Thank you for your patience and understanding with this matter.


Regards
Cat
Customer Services
Email: customerservices@inhousedrugstore.biz
Website: www.inhousedrugstore.biz
Phone: USA: 877-756-4702   UK: 0808 234 9688


I guess the key is to get one of the "permanent AMEX cards" that Inhouse linked to in the email as the temporary cards will not work for purchases outside of the US.

Thanks Jessica

[Renee]

Their card processor hit my account with an extra $1.97 for international processing without warning me about two weeks ago, it was a visa.

[Arch]

Online pharmacies tend to be dicey. We have all sorts of weird laws about them in the U.S., so it looks like MC is just covering its ass.

My old MC was canceled (and a new one reissued) as soon as I made a particular overseas purchase. I had made one or two such purchases in the past, so I still don't understand why my card provider did this. They didn't even call me to confirm the purchase. They just thought it looked suspicious, so they replaced the card.

Yes, I had been engaging in some shady business...with a perfectly reputable online bookseller.

[emilyking]

I bank with First Bank in Colorado, and I have a Visa Debt card.
I have no problems, buying from them.  They do charge a tiny fee for over seas purchases (like 20 cents).

[Jessica Merriman]

Sounds like the good old U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is throwing it's weight around again. Born here. raised here and starting to hate it here. 

[Missy~rmdlm]

The government has an axe to grind for their pharmaceutical bosses. Now how the heck the government gets all the way around to pressuring a private enterprise like MasterCard to discriminate against another profitable and legal business just because another third private enterprise wants to shelter differential pricing on the same legal product blows my mind.

edit added: In full disclosure I'm a government worker and I don't get it...

[MaryXYX]

I haven't had any problems, but I'm in the UK.  It is of interest because the rich and powerful American drug companies operate here too.

[Cindy Stephens]

I have used inhouse in the past so I understand the concern.  However, I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to defend the Satanic force known as "The Banks."  Several have been caught up as perceived financiers and money launderers for overseas scams and illegal activities.  The result of which have been enormous payouts to various Government agencies.  It is very hard to write a policy that forbids certain illegal (or perceived or potential) acts while allowing others.  Mastercard may have just adopted an aggressive policy that covers it, or the enforcer at that bank has interpreted the policy in a certain way.  If it were a vast "Govmint" conspiracy, all the cards would be refusing to honor those purchases.   

[Eva Marie]

The government has an axe to grind for their pharmaceutical bosses.

That's my take on it too. The particular entity involved is encroaching onto big pharma's turf and they don't like it. Big pharma has politicians that they have bought and paid for and they used them to pressure Mastercard.

[Chloe]

For any of you who use Inhouse pharmacy for your HRT meds.........

Danica last time I ran into a problem ordering via web I called a US toll free number and placed it over the phone . . .

Are you saying this option is not avail anymore?

. . . . "accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government (and the bankster/corporate minons who now own/run it), and to provide new Guards for their future security".

[KarynMcD]

Inhouse is accepting MasterCard again.

[Randi]

Virtually every card charges an extra fee for a foreign transaction.  Typically 3%.

Their card processor hit my account with an extra $1.97 for international processing without warning me about two weeks ago, it was a visa.

[JRD]

Virtually every card charges an extra fee for a foreign transaction.  Typically 3%.

They didn't use to do so though. Been ordering from them for a long time.

[Carrie Liz]

Huh... weird... I just bought a tube of Retin-A from Inhouse within the last week using a MasterCard, and I didn't have any problems.

[Chloe]

. . . the Satanic force known as "The Banks."  Several have been caught up as perceived financiers and money launderers for overseas scams and illegal activities.  The result of which have been enormous payouts to various Government agencies.

Not to mention gov't sponsored import of ILLEGAL DRUG(s) in exchange for GUN RUNNING . . .

Sign on Ron Paul desk: The Gov't HATES competition!!


UPDATE: Says

** SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT OFFER **

Pay by E-check as your payment method and receive a further 10% discount now!

Address is currently inhousepharmacy.vu/ Comments? Anyone use lately??

[MaryXYX]

I use inhousepharmacy.vu.  They put an extra charge on using a credit card directly so the prefered method now is to use their international funds transfer company.

[marsh monster]

E-check works well with Inhouse and its processed by an American company.