Using Google Play Credit for Family Library Purchases without Giving My (Primary) Credit Card Details

peteru on 04/07/2021 - 23:28
Last edited 04/07/2021 - 23:55

I've got some Google Play credit (earned from surveys) and want to use it to purchase Minecraft from Google Play store for my son's Android tablet. Google's payment mechanism restrictions are getting in my way.

Our accounts are linked using the Family Library option in Google Play store. In order to add Minecraft to the family library, Google requires me to have a valid family payment method. Apparently, neither Google Play balance, nor PayPal are suitable. Google insists on having a credit or debit card. I don't want to give Google my primary credit card information for many reasons.

Any tips on workarounds here?

I'd rather use the Google Play store balance I already have to make the Minecraft purchase and only give Google Pay a burner credit card number with no access to any funds, just to meet the requirement of having valid family wallet in order to assign existing purchases to the family library. If a burner credit card is the solution, any recommendations for something suitable?

Financial

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Comments

  • thefinalproblems on 05/07/2021 - 07:02
    +2

    Easiest way is to add a prepaid mastercard/visa card.

    • peteru on 05/07/2021 - 17:36

      Thanks. I looked into it, but it seems that most places that used to have prepaid credit cards have now dropped them.

      Any suggestions for a low cost low value option that is still available?

      • thefinalproblems on 06/07/2021 - 07:32

        There's one upcoming at Coles on Wednesday. Not cheap. Think it's $100 plus $5 activation fee with $10 worth of flybuys. I just use value on groceries and leave a small balance for things like this, prepaid mobile phones, free trials, etc. Best to leave at least $1 for companies that do the whole pre authorisation thing.

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/636034

        Or if you're Optus Postpaid you might be able to add that as your billing method. Not 100% sure on that one.

  • Namespoofer on 05/07/2021 - 09:09
    +1

    Sign up to a Revolut. This is usable as a prepaid credit card, no annual fee and takes ~10 minutes to setup.
    There are a few referral offers on Ozb that give $20 (Net $10 once off card delivery fee)

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