CSC / AVS
Card Security Code (CSC) / Address Verification System (AVS) are additional checks that can be carried out on a card / card holder at the time of obtaining an authorisation for a credit or debit card transaction. The result of these additional checks do not affect the outcome of the authorisation but do provide further information to you as a merchant so that you may decide not to proceed with the transaction - very much the same as if you decide a signature does not match on a traditional cardholder present transaction and decide not to progress on this basis. AVS and CSC checking are available with most of our solutions including WinTI, BatchPro, Paypage, ICP and Ocius.
CARD SECURITY CODE - WHAT IS IT ?
The Card Security Code is an additional number printed on the signature strip of credit and debit cards. It is a 3-digit number and in most cases is printed on the signature strip immediately after the last four digits of the card number. In the case of American Express cards the card security code is a 4-digit number printed on the face of the card. You may come across the following terms that also refer to the Card Security Code: : Card Verification Value (2), CVV, CV2 or CVV2, Card Validation Code (2), CVC, CVC2, Card Identification Number CID )
CARD SECURITY CODE - HOW DOES IT WORK ? - WHY DOES IT HELP ?
The Card Security Code ( CSC - also known as Card Verification Value, CVV, CV2 or CVV2) is an additional check designed to check that the person making the card transaction is in possession of the physical credit or debit card. When processing a card authorisation the CSC value can also be passed and a resulting match or no match returned together with the card authorisation result.
If using CSC values as part of your card authorisation process you may only store the CSC value for the amount of time required in order to process a transaction.
ADDRESS VERIFICATION SYSTEM - WHAT IS IT ?
The Address Verification System (AVS) is an additional service provided by the banks at the time of authorising a card transaction. The check is used in Customer Not Present card transactions as a way of helping to ensure that the person you are dealing with is the cardholder. The AVS system checks that the address details that you provide concerning the cardholder match those on the cardholders records at the bank.
ADDRESS VERFIFICATION SYSTEM - HOW DOES IT WORK ? - WHY DOES IT HELP ?
At the time of authorising a transaction you provide additional information consisting of the House Name or House Number and the Postcode of the cardholder. The result of the checks are passed back letting you know whether the house name/number has been matched, partially matched or not matched and likewise whether the postcode is matched, partially matched or not matched. You can then make the decision as to whether to accept the transaction based on this additional information.
