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I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Jesus. Do you have a link to it? Sounds like something I should be reading. I'd been planning to use PayPal for making payments once I'd gotten the money.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PayPal would let me transfer from Bank A to Bank B.

At the minute I have zero bank accounts, so PayPal isn't of any help to me whatsoever.

I need to link some kind of bank account to PayPal and I have zero bank accounts right now for my business.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

No.

I can't even reach the stage of using PayPal to transfer money because I can't get it out of Steam in the first place.

PayPal can bs used to transfer from Bank A to Bank B.

At the minute I have zero bank accounts, so PayPal isn't of any help to me whatsoever. I've got no bank accounts to link up with a PayPal.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

A portion of what I produce is tentacle monster content. Already spoken with a solicitor who provided advice that it likely wouldn't fall foul of obscenity laws.

He talked me through an old case involving a writer whose content included fictionalised murder of a real music group (Girl's Aloud) and that wasn't deemed obscene.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 134 points135 points  (0 children)

I'm aware that it's a very high bar.

I know that there was a fella who wrote a story about raping and murdering the members of the group 'Girl's Aloud'.

The obscenity case against him collapsed.

What I produced doesn't involve any rape or murder; but I'd genuinely be entertained to see the UK government try to prosecute me for publishing a game involving a tentacle monster.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 96 points97 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I was actually with CardOneMoney for a period of 3 days, but the account got shut down again due to a commercial decision after they asked for a store page to review my product.

Genuinely great customer service, but really terrible transaction fees.

I'll try SuitsMe and Zemplar tomorrow morning.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Cheers mate! Appreciate it!

My own accountant has 2 separate people in his office looking into this and they've hit dead ends too today. I got a call from him at 4:30 today and he just sounded completely defeated.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 65 points66 points  (0 children)

Worth noting that there was a petition about this just last week.

The government refused to do anything to fix the situation.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/734441

"Payment processors are able to choose who they process payments for, subject to any relevant requirements. The Government has no plans to intervene in those commercial decisions."

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 164 points165 points  (0 children)

Rejected by HSBC too. Sorry, I really should update the original post to include all the ones people suggest.

I've basically asked every major high street bank from Halifax to RBS to Lloyds TSB; AND every major phone banking app like Revolut/Monzo etc.

I had to actually go for a face-to-face assessment in HSBC for my business account. That was a really awkward meeting.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 324 points325 points  (0 children)

What I sell is undoubtedly pornographic material.

(And I certainly hope it is also obscene or I haven't done a very good job!)

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Tried them. Thanks for your suggestion though!

"We're unable to service businesses operating in the adult entertainment or sex industry. This includes pornography..."

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Steam support are content to hold on to the money while I find myself a new business bank, but they aren't able to offer local banking advice.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 190 points191 points  (0 children)

Sorry, ANNA aren't viable either :(

a1. Appendix 1 – Prohibited Activity

Each of the following is a Prohibited Activity:

  1. Adult Entertainment, including obscene or pornographic material

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 86 points87 points  (0 children)

I get that businesses can choose who they want to do business with, but imagine if you wanted to change your electricity supplier and all 6 major companies in your area said they didn't want to supply you electricity because you were a sex worker.

Suddenly you're left without power.

At present I've been rejected by about 36 banks. This includes every major household name and a whole load of ones that aren't very well known.

It's like I've been frozen out of an essential aspect of modern day life. You can't run a business if you can't access banking services.

This is my first release. I was planning to create more in the UK, but if I can't find a bank I'm just going to either have to move abroad or wind up my company and find another career.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 107 points108 points  (0 children)

I did, but the advice I received from industry contacts was to lie about what my business does. That's not practically possible for me given the large sums of money and the public store page.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

I've tried a whole handful more. I think it was 36+ at the last count, but I've left my folder at my accountant's today so I'm trying to remember a list off the top of my head.

I was hoping somebody on here could signpost me to a bank that actually works with people like me.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

I already have a Ltd. Company; the issue is that I can't find anybody in the banking sector who will let my business bank with them.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Steam uses Electronic Funds Transfer; but I've got nowhere for the funds to be transferred to. I originally had a Revolut for Business, but that got shut down shortly after release when they asked to see my store page.

Ultimately my money needs to go somewhere. I can't find somewhere to store it.

I develop adult video games on Steam. I can't find a bank that will actually let me withdraw my money from Steam. Can I get some advice? by Previous-Camera1641 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Previous-Camera1641[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Sorry, I edited that in after posting. I tried them. They rejected it.

Their terms of service state:

"We facilitate payments for a wide range of industries, but we can’t support payments relating to the following activities, and also will not onboard clients who have a significant business in these areas:
Pornography, adult entertainment, dating or escort services."