Getting the PlayStation Network (PSN) to accept your billing address [Bad Design] : Divide By Zero

It took me a day and 20 attempts but finally I got it to work. First, you're not alone… tons of people have this issue.

Why is this happening? PSN uses the Address Verification System (AVS) for your bank. If your bank doesn't provide this, it very well might not work at all. I use Wells Fargo, and they do have it.

For myself, I have an address like this:

1234 Street Name St
Apt 123
City, STATE 12345-1234

My statement looks like:

1234 STREET NAME ST
APT 123
CITY, STATE 12345-1234

However, PSN only accepted it in this format exactly:

1234 STREET NAME ST APT 123
CITY, STATE 12345

A few things to note:

Not shown here but I included my middle initial in the card name field (not sure if this affected it).
All uppercase. This is how it appears on my credit statement.
No 9 digit zip. I left off the last4 digits even though they are on my statement.
One line. It says in the FAQ you should keep apartment numbers on the same line, so I did.

The big things are: exactly as it appears on your statement (minus perhaps the zip), all uppercase, and one line address.

The fact that I have to do this is atrocious and is either the fault of PSN for not formatting my request properly to AVS or AVS itself and its terrible request processing.

Now I can finally get FF7.

Comments

Explanation was Good,I waiting for the new pictures add in this blog in future.

Posted by: Web design Singapore
On March 5, 2011 1:24 AM

Ugh yes, it's very annoying, isn't it? If you get one little thing wrong they won't accept the address.

Posted by: Meili's Runescape Blog
On March 11, 2011 6:15 PM

THANK YOU! I had no clue what was going on. This drove me insane. AVS always does something weird when I give it my apartment number.

Posted by: Walking Dead
On March 17, 2011 7:08 PM

Isn't it great the way we all can share the little successes in our lives in order to help others via message boards and blogs. Thanks for the help on this one.

Posted by: custom web design
On March 18, 2011 8:23 AM

Using PayPal shopping carts can be nearly as frustrating.

Posted by: Kalamazoo Web Design
On March 21, 2011 4:53 PM

thats good tips & i should try to...

Posted by: tips&trick
On March 30, 2011 10:41 AM

that's it a good tips and i will try that @ home

Posted by: tips&trick
On March 30, 2011 10:43 AM

OMG! So it's all in a format LOL, tnx for a great tip!

Posted by: Sag
On March 30, 2011 4:19 PM

I've had a similar problem. Nothing like making things more complicated when they should be simple.

Posted by: playstation move reviews
On April 8, 2011 2:03 PM

I think this is a PSN issue, they should seriously address it

On a side note, FF7 is clearly the BEST FF to date still!

Posted by: Web Design Melbourne
On April 11, 2011 1:19 AM

Sounds like a nightmare! I was thinking about joining PSN. I hope I don't have the same problem.

Posted by: Outfit Universe
On April 12, 2011 8:37 AM

Wow you really had a little bit of trouble... After the first attempt didn't you tried to find something useful on Google? I mean find a psp billing address?

Posted by: Cash CookBook
On April 18, 2011 6:51 AM

Thanks for the explanation.
a friend and I have been having that problem.

Now it's time to play!!!!

Posted by: Liz
On April 26, 2011 1:35 PM

Dont enter your details on the PSN, after the hacking, you dont want to give your information away, lets hope they fix the security problem.

Posted by: my IP cam
On May 5, 2011 11:42 AM

PNS, well that's is surely Pain iN the asS. I have to do it more than 30x just get mine correct! Wheeee..

Posted by: Business Loans
On May 5, 2011 12:35 PM

i never quite understood the last 4 digits of a 9 digit zip code. i know all officila addressed include the full 9 but residential addresses aren't required to have them

Posted by: wine cooler
On May 9, 2011 3:51 PM

I'm with you. Who memorizes all 9 digits and uses them? Nobody I know!

Posted by: Saun Ulric
On May 14, 2011 3:36 PM

Thanks for the notes. Those are really helping.

Posted by: Company Name Ideas
On May 16, 2011 2:03 AM

Thanks for the info, so many people are asking, now how do we get around the security issues?

Posted by: Network IP CCTV
On May 16, 2011 5:11 AM

Thank you it was interesting about PNS.

Posted by: Brother hl2270dw
On May 16, 2011 7:44 AM

I feel your pain - heaps of sites wont let you submit forms without including a state! - Great if you live in Australia or the USA but a pain when you live in just about any most other countries in the world

Posted by: Michael
On May 20, 2011 2:34 AM

I don't know about PSN. I
personally think its a waste of time

Posted by: Charlie
On May 20, 2011 3:36 AM

PlayStation network is staggered lately, not the best idea to give any personal info to them. Perhaps you should have quit it at your 19th attempt ;)

Posted by: Dayton Ohio News
On May 22, 2011 4:18 PM

wow, thats so easy! Thanks you, now I'm in PSN!

Posted by: Eric
On May 23, 2011 9:50 AM

Thanks for the help, but after all the trouble that the PS network has had recently I'm reluctant to give them any of my info.

Posted by: Harry Potter Lego
On June 3, 2011 5:01 AM

Damm PS network, with your pesky address format thing, you are the bane of my life, but I still love you...LOL

Posted by: sell a phone
On June 12, 2011 12:08 PM

DAMN YOU SONY! Fix PSN! I'm being deprived from MvC3.
IPcam site

Posted by: IP camera man
On June 13, 2011 9:54 AM

You would think Sony would be able to figure something as simple as this out.

Posted by: How To Start a Website
On July 8, 2011 3:43 AM

You'd never see this problem with Apple, they make it so easy for you to give them money anytime, anywhere.

Posted by: Hotel Supplies
On July 8, 2011 3:45 AM

Thanks a lot for the explanation, I had been trying to figure this out for days. Now I can finally get to playing!

Posted by: Vermont Web Design
On July 8, 2011 3:46 AM

Good and Excellent information, thank you so much. I'm comes here after googling the search engine.

Posted by: the jump manual
On July 18, 2011 10:12 AM

ops this post saved me... Even I too faced this address problem and I googled for the solution and I got his post.
Thanks

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On July 23, 2011 6:15 AM

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Posted by: the jump manual
On July 27, 2011 9:54 AM

Be careful with PSN, they were recently hacked and a lot of user information was compromised.

Posted by: Bigfoot Sightings
On July 27, 2011 11:19 AM

I think it will be a while before the PlayStation Network regains the confidence of subscribers. Hopefully they have resolved the hacking issue.

Posted by: PS3 Bundle Deals
On July 28, 2011 1:55 AM

Thanks for the info. Many subscribers will have been a bit burnt by the hackers, so guess there's some customer bridge building to do for them huh!

Posted by: Discount LNBF
On July 28, 2011 11:50 PM

Now that's a great post! But SONY should start investing more money on their infracture!

Posted by: κατασκευη ιστοσελιδων
On July 31, 2011 6:02 PM

Pretty silly they give people a hard time of such a small difference in format.

Have fun playing FF7, the best in the series but I got a feeling that you already know that.

Posted by: Gaming desktops
On August 1, 2011 5:39 AM

Our personal info isn't safe,either we never play online mode or ignore the problem.This is a difficult choice.

Posted by: PS sucker
On August 5, 2011 9:52 PM

The PSN is just going more and more downhill. Sony used to rule the game, but they've just been dropping the ball the past few years. It's just a matter of time before Microsoft becomes the sole heavy-hitter in the gaming industry.

Posted by: harry potter shirts
On August 12, 2011 2:19 PM

Nice one-liner you delivered to Chuck when he mentioned Richard Simmons. Even though he’s an exercise freak, he’s the real wimp. Nice going, man.

Posted by: the jump manual
On August 31, 2011 9:33 AM

I've had a similar problem. Nothing like making things more complicated when they should be simple. Thanks for the article.

Posted by: Melbourne Florist
On October 24, 2011 7:03 AM

I appreciate this info, but I've tried entering my billing address as you said 23 times so far to no avail. It worked before the big PSN hack and before I moved, but now it won't work. HELP! I WANT THE CATWOMAN DLC!

Posted by: Joshua
On November 1, 2011 10:50 PM

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Posted by: alsyad
On December 12, 2011 1:08 PM

gracias por deleitarnos con post tan amenos.
ungran beso.

isabella

Posted by: tesis
On December 17, 2011 4:36 PM

Posted by: psn card number free
On January 17, 2012 8:29 AM

Posted by: facebook tricks
On February 11, 2012 10:56 PM

I've had a similar problem. However, things were more complicated when they told that they could not find my records, but still wanted payment.

Posted by: mobile cash
On February 15, 2012 4:42 PM

amazing tips but my phone not support :D SE C510
Nice ;) and enjoy it friend...

Posted by: azzhar javaphone
On February 22, 2012 4:39 PM

That's why i only use PSN cards :D It's much easier.

Posted by: Kevin
On February 24, 2012 8:56 AM

Thanks for the tips - I was having problems too but your post helped sort it for me :)

Posted by: Mike
On March 8, 2012 7:03 AM

You'd think the makers could have figured this out...

Posted by: Copper bullion
On March 15, 2012 12:18 AM

Siento su dolor - un montón de sitios no te dejará enviar formularios sin incluir un estado! - Grandes, si usted vive en Australia o los EE.UU., pero el dolor de una cuando se vive en casi cualquier mayoría de los países en el mundo, gracias

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Posted by: Sell WoW Account
On March 21, 2012 8:27 AM

hey sir thanks for the tips... really helpful!

Posted by: Wayne Hoaten
On March 27, 2012 6:11 AM

Thank you mate, you have saved me a LOT of time!

Posted by: Resin Flooring
On March 28, 2012 3:59 AM

uhm, I'm asking permission if i can put that address in my account because philippines is not listed. But I promise I won't buy any games.

Posted by: joma
On May 8, 2012 1:46 AM

haha it's just a format, by the way thanks :D

Posted by: joma
On May 8, 2012 1:47 AM

PSN address should be seriously addressed.

Posted by: Web Design Melbourne
On June 13, 2012 11:15 PM