Contact Templates

Ready-to-use templates for emails and calls. Your voice matters.

Direct Phone Contact

Sometimes a phone call is more powerful than an email. Here's how to reach them directly.

Mastercard

Most Impact
Menu for operator: 1 → 1 → 2 → 2 → 2 → 1
Outside US: 1-636-722-7111

What to Say:

  • Express concern about censoring legal gaming content
  • Mention impact on Steam and itch.io
  • Ask to speak to policy/compliance department

Visa

High Priority
US/Canada: 1-800-847-2911
Menu for operator: 1 → 1 → 2 or 1 → 1 → 3

Key Points:

  • Visa shouldn't decide what legal content adults can purchase
  • Gaming platforms being forced to remove content
  • Request escalation to management

Stripe

Tech-Focused

Emphasis:

  • Stripe supports innovation and creator freedom
  • Don't follow Visa/Mastercard's censorship
  • Many platforms rely on Stripe

PayPal

Wide Reach
Outside US: 1-402-935-2050
Customer Service: 1-877-569-1116

Message:

  • PayPal shouldn't enforce moral standards
  • Legal content being banned due to activist pressure
  • Affects thousands of game developers

Tips for Effective Phone Calls

🎯 Be Clear

State your concern immediately: "I'm calling about your company forcing gaming platforms to remove legal content."

😌 Stay Calm

Be polite but firm. The representative isn't the decision maker, but they log complaints.

📝 Get Details

Ask for a reference number. Request to speak to supervisors or the compliance department.

🔁 Follow Up

If promised a callback, get a timeline. Consider calling again if no response.

Platform Emails

Contact gaming platforms to show your support against payment processor pressure

Steam Support

Platform

To: gaben@valvesoftware.com

Subject: Support for Steam Against Payment Processor Censorship

Dear Steam Team,

I'm writing as a concerned customer regarding the recent pressure from payment processors to remove adult content from your platform.

As a long-time Steam user, I want you to know that I support your right to host legal content without interference from payment companies. The new clause in your publisher rules about "payment processor standards" is deeply concerning.

Please consider:
- Implementing alternative payment methods (cryptocurrency, direct bank transfers)
- Standing firm against censorship of legal content
- Being transparent about the pressure you're facing

Your platform has always championed developer freedom and consumer choice. Please don't let unelected payment companies dictate what games we can access.

I stand with Steam in resisting financial censorship.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

itch.io

Platform

To: support@itch.io

Subject: Standing with itch.io Against Collective Shout

Dear itch.io Team,

I saw Leaf Corcoran's statement about the "sudden and disruptive" changes forced by Collective Shout's campaign. I want you to know that your community supports you.

The fact that a small activist group can pressure payment processors into censoring your platform is outrageous. This affects not just adult content creators, but sets a dangerous precedent for all indie developers.

How I can help:
- I'm willing to use alternative payment methods
- I'll continue supporting creators on your platform
- I'll spread awareness about this censorship

Please don't give up. The indie game community needs platforms like itch.io that support creative freedom.

In solidarity,
[Your Name]

Payment Processor Emails

Tell payment companies to stop censoring legal content

Visa Executive Team

Payment Processor

To: askvisaexecutive@visa.com

Subject: Concerns About Visa Censoring Legal Gaming Content

Dear Visa Executive Team,

I am deeply concerned about Visa's role in forcing gaming platforms to remove legal adult content.

Your company provides payment processing services, not moral guidance. When Visa threatens to cut off platforms like Steam and itch.io unless they comply with content demands, you're overstepping your role as a financial service provider.

This sets a dangerous precedent:
- Today it's adult games
- Tomorrow it could be violent games
- Eventually, any content activists dislike

I am actively looking into alternative payment methods and encouraging others to do the same. Visa should not be the arbiter of what legal content adults can purchase.

Please reconsider this censorship campaign.

[Your Name]
[Your Location]

Mastercard Leadership

Payment Processor

To: investor.relations@mastercard.com

Subject: Mastercard's Censorship Threatens Digital Commerce

To Mastercard Leadership,

Your company's pressure on gaming platforms to remove legal content is an abuse of your market position.

Following demands from Collective Shout, Mastercard is forcing platforms to choose between accepting your payments or hosting legal content. This is financial coercion, not legitimate business practice.

As a consumer, I am:
- Documenting this censorship campaign
- Supporting alternative payment methods
- Encouraging merchants to reduce Mastercard dependency

Your shareholders should know that using market dominance for censorship will drive consumers and merchants to competitors.

Stop the censorship immediately.

[Your Name]

PayPal

Payment Processor

To: aup@paypal.com

Subject: PayPal Should Not Enforce Activist Demands

Dear PayPal Team,

I'm writing about PayPal's participation in the campaign to remove legal content from gaming platforms.

PayPal built its reputation on enabling internet commerce, not restricting it based on activist pressure. By threatening platforms that host adult games, you're betraying the principles that made PayPal successful.

This affects:
- Thousands of independent game developers
- Millions of adult consumers
- The future of digital commerce

I urge PayPal to:
- Reject Collective Shout's demands
- Support platforms' right to host legal content
- Focus on payment processing, not content policing

Your users deserve better than censorship.

[Your Name]

Media Contacts

Alert journalists about this censorship story

Gaming Media

Press

Subject: Payment Processors Forcing Mass Game Censorship - Story Tip

Hi [Journalist Name],

I wanted to bring your attention to a developing story about payment processor censorship in gaming.

Key points:
- Collective Shout sent letters to Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and others on July 11, 2025
- Steam updated their rules on July 16 to comply with "payment processor standards"
- itch.io confirmed on July 23 that changes are due to Collective Shout's campaign
- VICE censored journalist Ana Valens for covering this story

This affects thousands of games and developers. The campaign site StopCollectiveShout.com has documented evidence and a timeline.

This is a huge story about financial censorship that gamers need to know about.

Best,
[Your Name]

Email Tips

✍️ Personalize

Add your own experiences and concerns. Personal stories have more impact than form letters.

📧 Use Multiple Addresses

Send to multiple executives and departments. CC investor relations and media contacts.

📱 Follow Up

If you don't get a response, send follow-ups. Persistence shows this issue matters.

🔊 Go Public

Share your emails on social media. Public pressure amplifies private complaints.