Linden Lab Official:Local Payments Help
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Overview
Second Life has a new payment system for Residents outside the US. If your country of registration and IP address are outside the US, you will be directed into the new system automatically. The new system uses the Second Life Cashier that offers additional payment methods and currencies suitable for international Residents.
If you are outside the US, you will automatically use the new payment system for:
- Purchasing Linden dollars in the Viewer or on the web.
- Purchasing land and paying monthly land maintenance fees.
- Premium account monthly fees.
- US dollar top-up.
You cannot use the new local payment system for:
- Second Life Marketplace or XStreet (these use Linden dollars)
- USD land auctions
For more information, see Types of payments below and Local Payments FAQ.
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Note: Payment options for Residents in the US have not changed. |
Currencies and payment methods
You can use any of the following currencies with the new payment system:
- US Dollars (US$)
- British Pounds (£)
- Canadian Dollars (CAD)
- Danish Krone (DKK)
- Euros (€)
- Japanese Yen (¥)
- Swedish Krone (SEK)
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Note: In the first phase of local payment system, all amounts are initially shown in US dollars. When you complete your purchase via the Second Life Cashier, and select a payment method that allows it, you will be able to choose a different currency. The exchange rate and total local currency amount will be shown at that time. |
A wide variety of payment methods is available, including credit cards, debit cards, online bank transfers, eWallets, and others. For details, see Local Payments FAQ (What payment methods are available?).
Types of payments
The local payments system provides two types of payments:
- One-time payments
- Recurring payments
One-time payments
A one-time payment happens just once. Products that use one-time payments include:
- Buying Linden dollars on the website: Linden Exchange > Buy L$
- Buying Linden dollars in the Second Life Viewer (click the BUY L$ button). You must have payment information on file to purchase L$ in the Viewer, so your first purchase of Linden dollars must occur on the website.
- US dollar top-up: Linden Exchange > Manage > Increase Credit
Recurring payments
A recurring payment happens at a regular interval (usually monthly) until you cancel it. Products that use recurring payments include:
- Premium account monthly fees
- Land maintenance fees:
- Owning more than 512 m2 on the mainland incurs a monthly land use fee.
- Private regions require an initial one-time setup fee plus a monthly recurring charge. See Estate and Private Region Billing FAQ for details.
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Note: To purchase a parcel on the mainland, you must have a premium account and your account must be in good standing (not delinquent). You may also be required to have a clean disciplinary record. |
Buying Linden dollars in the Viewer
Buying Linden dollars in the Second Life Viewer requires a recurring payment method, even though it is a one-time purchase. This payment method may be different than your other recurring payment method (for premium membership and land fees), and when you select it, it becomes the default payment method for such future purchases.
See also:
Storing and associating payment methods
Whenever you make a purchase of a recurring product, you can store the payment method (such as a credit or debit card) for future use, if the payment method supports it. Simply check the Save the account details on file for quick checkout in the future. checkbox. The payment method will then be available for you to use for future purchases. You can store multiple payment methods in this way.
See also Local Payments FAQ (Storing payment methods).
Associating a payment method with a product
When you store a payment method for a recurring product (land or premium membership fees), it automatically becomes associated with that product. For future purchases, that payment method becomes the default for that product.
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Important: Associating a payment method with a recurring product type will cause all recurring payments from your account to be processed with that payment method. Exception: buying Linden dollars in the Viewer requires a recurring payment type (although it is a one-time purchase), which may be different than your recurring payment method used for other products. |
Associating a different stored payment method with a product
To change the payment method associated with a product, choose Account > Update Billing Info to display the Update Billing Info Billing Info page. The Products tab shows the payment method associated with each products, if any.
- Click Change to use a different stored payment method for a product.
- Click Choose payment method to associated a payment method with a product that does not have an associated payment method.
Viewing and changing payment associations
To view or change payment methods associated with products:
- Choose Account > Update Billing Info to view the Update Billing Info page.
- By default, the Products tab is displayed, showing payment methods associated with each product.
- If you want to change it, click Change next to the product type.
- A dialog box appears where you can select from all your stored payment methods.
- Select the stored method you want to use and click Continue.
Viewing your stored payment methods
To view your stored payment methods:
- Choose Account > Update Billing Info to view the Update Billing Info page.
- Click Payment Methods.
You will see all your stored payment methods and the products with which they are associated.
Changing information for a stored payment method
To change stored payment information:
- Make a purchase
- Choose to pay with a new payment method
- Enter the new information
- Choose to store that method for future use
- Delete the old payment method information
Understanding Transaction History
You can view your transaction history in two places:
- Displays your Linden Dollar (L$) transactions for the selected date range (up to 30 days). You can also download the data in XLS (Excel) and XML format.
Linden Exchange > Manage > Transaction History
- Displays:
- Your Linden dollar and US dollar account balances.
- Your remaining Lindex™ trading limits for the next 24 hours and 30 days.
- Your remaining account billing limits for the next 24 hours and 30 days.
- Your LindeX™ Exchange Transaction History, including both closed and open (unexecuted limit buy or sell) orders.
Understanding Account History
Choose Account > Account History in the navigation menu to access Account History. This page shows all your account transactions for the previous 45 days that involve real-world currency.
See also Local Payments FAQ (Using Account history).
LindeX
For purchases of Linden dollars on the LindeX, you will see two entries: one corresponding to the L$ buy, and one corresponding to the transaction payment. So, for example, this is correct:
| Time | Confirmation ID | Note | Amount | Ending Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/17/2010 08:41:22 | 102230685019 | Customer Payment | ($7.75) | $23.23 |
| 08/17/2010 08:41:22 | - | LindeX Currency Buy | $7.75 | $30.94 |
Because of timing issues these may appear in the opposite order. So, for example, this is also correct:
| Time | Confirmation ID | Note | Amount | Ending Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/17/2010 08:41:22 | - | LindeX Currency Buy | $7.75 | $30.94 |
| 08/17/2010 08:41:22 | 102230685019 | Customer Payment | ($7.75) | $23.23 |
USD top up
For US dollar top up transactions (also called buy account credit), you will see only one entry, for example:
| Time | Confirmation ID | Note | Amount | Ending Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/18/2010 03:15:36 | 102230957785 | Payment of 26.25 USD, iDeal | ($25.00) | $27.22 |
Land fees
When you purchase land, pay land maintenance fees, or premium membership fees, you will see three entries:
- One entry for the payment
- One entry for the purchase
- One entry for the VAT charge (if applicable).
| Time | Confirmation ID | Note | Amount | Ending Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/09/2010 09:42:18 | - | My New Land (Estate: My New Land) | $1,029.00 | $0.00 |
| 09/09/2010 09:42:18 | - | VAT charge for United Kingdom at 17.50% | $180.07 | ($1,029.00) |
| 09/09/2010 09:42:18 | 102234890171 | Payment of 814.49 GBP, Visa ending with 1038 | ($1,209.07) | ($1,209.07) |
Again, the entries can appear in any order, so the far right column can look different in each case.