How do I verify my VCC for YouTube Ads payments?

Verifying your Virtual Credit Card (VCC) for YouTube Ads (Google Ads) payments involves making sure that Google recognizes it as a legitimate, billable payment method. Here's a step-by-step guide to verify your VCC successfully and avoid errors like "payment method declined" or "suspicious activity detected."

✅ Step-by-Step: Verify Your VCC on Google Ads
Log in to Google Ads

Go to ads.google.com and sign into your account.

Go to Billing > Payment Methods

Click the gear icon (⚙️) or the "Billing" tab → select Payment methods.

Add Your VCC

Click "Add payment method".

Fill in:

Card number

Expiration date

CVV

Billing address (must match the VCC's registered country/address)

Save the card.

Verification Charge

Google may place a temporary authorization hold (usually around $1 or local currency equivalent) to verify the card.

This is not a real charge — it disappears after a few days.

Your VCC must allow this temporary charge or it will be rejected.

Set as Primary

Once added, click "Set as primary" to use it for payments.

📌 Important Tips to Ensure VCC Verification Works
✅ Do This   🚫 Avoid This
Use a reputable VCC provider (Wise, Revolut, Payoneer)   Using free or random online VCCs
Ensure the billing address matches the VCC   Mismatched country/region
Enable international & recurring payments   VCCs that block those get declined
Use a verified Google Ads account (with real business or individual info)   Using a brand-new account with no history
🔍 What to Do If VCC Fails Verification
"Card Declined": Contact your VCC provider to confirm that international charges are allowed.

"Suspicious Activity": Try verifying from your home IP address, not via VPN or proxies.

"Your payment method can't be used": Often due to country mismatch — confirm the VCC's billing country and currency match your Ads account.

✅ Bonus Tip
You can preload your account (manual payments) instead of letting Google charge automatically. This sometimes helps when VCCs fail recurring charge attempts.

To switch:

Go to Billing > Settings

Change to Manual Payments (if available in your country)