Market Payment accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover
Market Payment takes four major card brands: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. These are the cards you'll see accepted at most retailers. If your card carries one of these logos, you can use it to pay through Market Payment's system.
The card itself can be a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card—what matters is the brand on the front. A Visa debit card works the same way as a Visa credit card from Market Payment's perspective. The transaction processes through the same network, and the money moves the same way.
Market Payment does not accept store cards, gas station cards that aren't Visa or Mastercard, or other proprietary payment methods. If you're unsure whether your card will work, look at the front: if you see Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, you're set.
Key Takeaways
- Market Payment accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards in all forms—credit, debit, or prepaid.
- Store-branded cards and gas station cards that don't carry one of the four major brands will not work through Market Payment.
- The card brand matters, not whether it's credit or debit; both process through the same payment network.
- If your card has expired or been reported lost, Market Payment's system will decline it even if the brand is accepted.
How to enter your card information
When you pay through Market Payment, you'll enter your card details at checkout or in the payment portal. You'll need the card number (the long number on the front), the expiration date, and the CVV (the three-digit security code on the back). For American Express, the CVV is four digits and appears on the front.
Market Payment encrypts this information, meaning it's scrambled so that only the payment processor can read it. Your card details don't sit on Market Payment's servers in readable form. The processor stores a token—a stand-in code—that lets Market Payment process future payments without asking for your full card number again.
If you're paying a bill or a loan through Market Payment, the system may ask whether you want to save the card for future payments. Saving it is optional. If you do, you can delete it later from your account settings.
What happens if your card is declined
A card can be declined for several reasons. The most common: insufficient funds, an expired card, or a mismatch between the address you entered and the address on file with your bank. Market Payment will show you an error message telling you the payment didn't go through, but it won't always say why.
If your card is declined, check these things first: Does your card have enough money? Has it expired? Does the billing address you entered match what your bank has on record? If all three check out, contact your bank directly. They can tell you whether they blocked the transaction or whether the problem is on Market Payment's end.
A declined payment does not charge you a fee from Market Payment, but your bank may charge a fee if they initiated the decline. Some banks charge a fee for a declined transaction; others don't. Check your bank's fee schedule or call them to ask.
International cards and currency
Market Payment accepts cards issued outside the United States, as long as they carry Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. However, if your card is issued in a different country and you're paying in U.S. dollars, your bank will convert the currency. Your bank sets the exchange rate and may charge a foreign transaction fee—typically 1 to 3 percent of the transaction amount.
This fee comes from your bank, not from Market Payment. Market Payment processes the transaction in U.S. dollars and sends it to your bank; your bank then handles the conversion and any fees that apply. Before you use an international card, check with your bank about their foreign transaction fees.
Prepaid and gift cards
Prepaid cards and gift cards that carry Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover logos work through Market Payment the same way a regular debit card does. The transaction processes instantly, and the money comes from the card's balance.
The main difference: if the card doesn't have enough balance to cover the full payment, the transaction will be declined. Unlike a credit card, a prepaid card can't go negative. If you're paying a large bill, make sure the card has enough money loaded before you try to pay.
Some prepaid cards have daily spending limits set by the card issuer. If you hit that limit, Market Payment will decline the transaction even if the card has money available. Check your card's terms or contact the card issuer if you're unsure about your limits.
Recurring payments and saved cards
If you set up a recurring payment—for example, a monthly loan payment or subscription—Market Payment can charge your card automatically on the date you choose. You authorize this when you save the card and set up the recurring payment.
If your card expires before the next scheduled payment, Market Payment will attempt to charge it and the transaction will fail. You'll need to update the card information in your account. Some billers send you a reminder before the card expires; others don't. Check your account settings regularly to make sure your saved card is current.
You can cancel a recurring payment at any time by logging into your account and removing the authorization. This stops future charges but does not refund payments you've already made.
Fraud protection and chargebacks
When you pay with a credit card through Market Payment, your card's fraud protection applies. If someone uses your card number without permission, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. This is called a chargeback. Your card issuer investigates and, if they agree the charge was fraudulent, they refund the money and remove the charge from your bill.
Debit cards have less protection than credit cards under federal law. If someone uses your debit card fraudulently, you have a shorter window to report it (usually 60 days), and your liability is higher if you wait to report it. If you use a debit card through Market Payment, monitor your account regularly for unauthorized charges.
Market Payment uses encryption and tokenization to reduce fraud risk, but no system is 100 percent secure. If you see a charge you don't recognize, contact your bank immediately. Do not contact Market Payment first—your bank is the one who can reverse the charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a virtual card number through Market Payment?
Yes, if your bank or card issuer provides a virtual card number (a temporary number for online purchases), you can enter it into Market Payment the same way you would a regular card number. Virtual numbers work through the same Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover networks. Some banks generate a new virtual number for each transaction; others let you reuse the same number for recurring payments.
What if I don't have a credit or debit card?
Market Payment requires a card from one of the four major brands. If you don't have one, you may be able to use a prepaid card or a gift card that carries a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover logo. Some prepaid card companies let you load money online and use the card immediately. Check whether the biller you're paying accepts other methods, like bank transfer or check.
Does Market Payment charge a fee to use my card?
Market Payment's fee structure depends on who is collecting the payment. If you're paying a bill or loan, the biller may pass a processing fee to you, or they may absorb it. Ask the biller directly whether a fee applies. Market Payment itself does not charge you a separate fee for accepting your card; the fee, if any, comes from the organization you're paying.
Can I dispute a payment I made through Market Payment?
Yes, but the process goes through your card issuer, not Market Payment. Contact your bank or credit card company and explain why you want to dispute the charge. They will investigate and either reverse it or deny the dispute. This typically takes 30 to 60 days. In the meantime, contact the biller directly to explain the situation and ask them to hold off on collection efforts.
What if my card information was compromised?
Contact your card issuer immediately and ask them to cancel the card and issue a replacement. Then log into your Market Payment account and remove the old card from your saved payment methods. If you have recurring payments set up, update them with the new card number. Your card issuer will send you a new card with a new number, and fraudulent charges made after you report the compromise are typically your card issuer's responsibility.