Two step verification - can't be set up because cannot "Verify Your Payment Information"

I am trying to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for Apple ID. Logged in to my account OK. But when I try and complete the steps to enable 2FA, the first step simply doesnt work. It asks me to enter the security number for my payment method - in this case my credit card. I do this and then there is a pause of 30 seconds, and the dialog says LOADING then pops up again and once more asks for the code. This is an endless loop. I tried over and over.

I checked my card info on my appleID account and it is all correct including the the security code, but the Apple 2FA process doesnt accept it. It even shows a little icon of my card with the correct last 4 digits but wont take the code.

This is like banging your head against a brick wall/ Will someone at Apple fix this please.

the page at fault is https://appleid.apple.com/account/manage/section/security

browser Chrome Version 112.0.5615.137 (Official Build) (x86_64)

MacOS 11.7.2