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 just tried it again and received same message, which I had cut and pasted directly from A’gon’s website when I posted this.  They have had my same phone number for most of the almost 25 years since I first signed up (Oct ‘99) and, no, I am not giving them a cc number just to keep on file, although I have paid them for things from time to time in the past such as listing fees.  I occasionally get enquiries from members who want to discuss certain gear I have owned or something I have posted.  I will miss those discussions if I am no longer allowed to send messages.

@mitch2 Said:

 I occasionally get enquiries from members who want to discuss certain gear I have owned or something I have posted.  I will miss those discussions if I am no longer allowed to send messages.

+1

I've got countless numbers of messages from Audiogon members over the years asking for help related to AC power and grounding questions.

There is a big difference, imo, using a CC to pay for a fee and having a small business have my CC number in their data files. How many times has Audiogon been hacked over the years?

Companies a lot bigger than Audiogon have been hacked and CC card numbers were among the data stolen.