A payment card check confirms the visitor holds a valid credit or debit card. ComplyAge charges a small one-time verification fee through Stripe and records the successful charge as a verification. Because issuers do not extend credit to minors, several age-verification statutes accept a card check as a commercially reasonable method, and it is one of the two methods offered in strict zones such as Texas and Louisiana.
How it works
The verification window embeds Stripe's payment element, so card details go straight to Stripe and never touch ComplyAge's servers. Stripe charges the card a small verification fee (currently $2), ComplyAge confirms the charge succeeded and records the result. The fee is not refunded — a successful real charge is the proof.
Where it counts
Every zone in the ComplyAge catalogue accepts a card check, and it is the alternative to government ID in strict zones. Texas HB 1181, for example, names a commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data; Ofcom lists credit-card checks among highly effective age-assurance methods for the UK.
Its limits
A card proves a banking relationship, not a date of birth. Prepaid and some debit cards are issued to minors, which is why Ofcom accepts credit cards specifically and why ComplyAge lets you restrict a zone to government ID where a regulator requires a document.
Billing
Card checks are billed per completed check on paid plans. The visitor also pays a small one-time verification fee (currently $2) when they complete the check.
Frequently asked questions
- Will I be charged?
- Yes. The check charges a one-time verification fee (currently $2) to your card. It is a real charge, not a temporary hold, and it is not refunded. A verification is reusable, so you normally pay it once.
- Do you store my card number?
- No. Card details are entered into Stripe's element and tokenised there; ComplyAge sees the outcome, not the number.
- Is a card accepted as proof of age everywhere?
- In every zone ComplyAge ships, yes — but some regulators prefer credit over debit or prepaid cards. You can restrict a zone to government ID where that matters.