Payment method required to send messages???


I just received the following notice when trying to respond to a message a member sent to me.  The message was about audio gear and had nothing to do with buying or selling.  Is this a new requirement?  

You must have a verified phone number and payment method to send messages.

mitch2

I am not giving Audiogon a credit card number. No way no how! They already have my PayPal email address. That's my payment and purchase method. They also have my verified phone number. But yet when I checked I got the same message as you when I did a quick check to see if could message a member.