Have you ever encountered a situation where you tried to purchase a game on Steam, but the transaction failed, and yet you were still charged for it?
It can be frustrating to deal with such an issue but don’t worry, there are ways to fix it.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through some simple steps to help you resolve the Steam purchase failed but charged problem and get you back to gaming in no time.
What Causes Steam Purchase Failed But Charged?
When attempting to purchase games or add-ons through Steam, you might occasionally encounter an issue where the transaction fails but your account is still charged.
The causes behind this problem are varied:
1. Holding Of Funds
Sometimes, Steam might place a temporary hold on your funds rather than an actual charge. This is often mistaken for a charge because your available balance is affected.
2. Bank Or Payment Processor Issues
Your bank or payment processor might cause a transaction to fail. This could be due to insufficient funds, incorrect payment details, or a technical issue on their end. Despite the failed transaction, a hold may still appear on your account, which can be misleading.
3. Steam Server Issues
At times, technical difficulties with Steam’s servers might result in a failed purchase. These errors can occur during high-traffic periods or when Steam is undergoing maintenance. Your account might show a charge that will later be corrected by Steam.
4. Third-party Interference
If you are using a VPN or proxy during the purchase process, Steam might be unable to complete the transaction securely. Due to security protocols, Steam declines transactions that are routed through anonymous proxies, but a temporary charge might still show up.
How To Fix Steam Purchase Failed But Charged?
To fix the steam purchase failed but charged error, contact your bank or payment service and wait for a while. Additionally, disable the VPN and restart your device to resolve this issue.
1. Contact Your Bank Or Payment Service
Often, what appears as a charge is a hold or pending authorization. Contact your bank or payment service to verify whether the charge is final or if it’s a temporary hold that will be released.
Often, your funds may appear to be deducted but are actually on hold. Wait for 2-3 days for the hold to be released and the money to be returned to your account.
2. Wait For A While
Sometimes, there can be a delay in the transaction’s processing. Wait a few hours to see if the transaction completes or if the charge is reversed.
3. Purchase Through Alternate Method
If you tried purchasing through the Steam website, switch to the Steam application, or vice versa. Different purchasing methods use different processing elements which may resolve your issue.
Steam supports a variety of payment methods, which can include:
- PayPal
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- Discover
- JCB
Also, some payment methods available through Steam do not support refunding a purchase back to the original payment method. For these purchases, refunds can only be issued to the user’s Steam Wallet.
4. Check For Steam Server Issues
Ensure that Steam’s services are running normally. If there’s a technical issue on Steam’s end, it could affect transactions.
Use a third-party service like Steam DB Check for any outages or notices of maintenance that could affect Steam’s functionality, including payment processing.
If there is a reported outage or maintenance, you may need to wait until Steam has resolved the issue.
5. Disable VPN
If you’re using a VPN, Steam might have trouble verifying the CAPTCHA. Try disabling any VPN services and attempt to complete the CAPTCHA again.
To disable VPNs to solve Steam payment issues, follow these steps:
Option 1: Disable VPN Directly:
If you have VPN software running, open the application and look for a disconnect button or similar option to turn it off. Make sure it’s completely disabled, not just disconnected from a server.
Option 2: Disconnect from Settings:
- On your device, you can navigate to Settings, click on the “Network & Internet” icon, and there should be an option to turn it off.
- After disabling your VPN software, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect and any lingering network configurations are reset.
6. Restart Your Device
Sometimes, simply restarting your computer and attempting the purchase again can resolve the issue.
To restart your device:
- Reboot your computer or laptop.
- After restarting, try the transaction again to see if it goes through.
7. Contact The Steam Support
If you are still unable to solve this issue, contact Steam Support with detailed information, including your Steam account name and the exact error message that you are seeing.
If the transaction appears in your purchase history but you haven’t received the item, you can request a refund through Steam.
To submit a support ticket:
- Go to “Help” > “Steam Support” and find the transaction.
- Click on “I have a different payment issue.”
- Sign in using your Steam account credentials.
- Fill in the details of your issue in the support form.
- Attach relevant screenshots or documents as evidence, if applicable.
- Review your information for accuracy, then submit the ticket.