I know I can do AVS check, zip code and cvv check with Authorize.net

And, I can see if the bank name and bank phone number given are valid via maxMind.

But is it allowed, or I should say legal, to actually call the bank, give the CC information and ask them if this CC is in fact under the name given during sign up and if the address and everything else matches with the one given by the person who signed up?

Will banks provide such manual verification service?

I know I can do AVS check, zip code and cvv check with Authorize.net

And, I can see if the bank name and bank phone number given are valid via maxMind.

But is it allowed, or I should say legal, to actually call the bank, give the CC information and ask them if this CC is in fact under the name given during sign up and if the address and everything else matches with the one given by the user?

Will banks do such thing?

You could try and see what they say. They can always say, "Buzz off!" :D

My guess it that they will ask for some sort of merchant number to confirm YOUR identity.

MC & VISA have systems to check this and yes u provide your merchant number

In fact, we have had companies use Business specific credit cards that will not go through without a verbal authorization. A bit of a pain

What merchant number? all I got was my gateway ID after signing up.

You Gateway ID to Auth.net (or whatever Gateway u r using) is separate from the Merchant account u r assigned for MasterCard/VISA

So who should I be contacting to get this information? AuthNet or my Merchant provider?

Either - if u contact your Merchant provider the first thing they are going to ask u for is your Merchant Number

Look at the approval emails, any snail mail, etc. They surely have provided it for u when u were approved

Good luck

Alright, I got my MC/VISA merchant account number from my merchant account provider.

I am assuming the number is same regardless I am verifying a Visa or Master Card.

So now, since I have this number, all I have to do is call up the bank using the customer service number given and verify my MC/VISA merchant account number and ask the bank if the details given are accurate or not? Is that it? or am I missing something here?

Alright, I got my MC/VISA merchant account number from my merchant account provider.

I am assuming the number is same regardless I am verifying a Visa or Master Card.

So now, since I have this number, all I have to do is call up the bank using the customer service number given and verify my MC/VISA merchant account number and ask the bank if the details given are accurate or not? Is that it? or am I missing something here?

I would believe that would be it.

Try it, AND PLEASE come back and let us know how it turns out. We don't need the specifics of the account or anything, but lets us know if that's all the information you needed, how the call went, etc. That way we can all learn from it.

Chimp

Call them and tell them you have a "Code 10".

Call them and tell them you have a "Code 10".
seriously? looking like something a cop or an FBI agent would say, lol.

I would believe that would be it.

Try it, AND PLEASE come back and let us know how it turns out. We don't need the specifics of the account or anything, but lets us know if that's all the information you needed, how the call went, etc. That way we can all learn from it.

Chimp
of course.

Call them and tell them you have a "Code 10".

Thats not very nice. You would not use this in a normal verification instance.

A Code 10 is what you call in to a bank when you believe a fraudulent transaction is occurring. Its not usually used via internet its more meant for brick and mortar locations to use so that way the are not calling in a transaction and saying yeah I think this person is a fraud.

Cody

seriously? looking like something a cop or an FBI agent would say, lol.

Thats not very nice. You would not use this in a normal verification instance.

A Code 10 is what you call in to a bank when you believe a fraudulent transaction is occurring. Its not usually used via internet its more meant for brick and mortar locations to use so that way the are not calling in a transaction and saying yeah I think this person is a fraud.

Cody

I'm perfectly well aware of what a Code 10 is, that's why I said it. If someone is calling to verify a card, there must be something suspicious about the transaction. Code 10 lets them know immediately that you've got a suspicious transaction.

I'm perfectly well aware of what a Code 10 is, that's why I said it. If someone is calling to verify a card, there must be something suspicious about the transaction. Code 10 lets them know immediately that you've got a suspicious transaction.

Well the OP seemed to want to use this as a normal verification method. Also in some B&M locations if you call the bank and tell them you have a code 10 they will alert the authorities to the transaction. While this probably wouldn't happen unless there was just cause to do so, I just didn't want him to have the 5-0 knocking on his door because he was just verifying a customers info. =p

Cody

Well the OP seemed to want to use this as a normal verification method. Also in some B&M locations if you call the bank and tell them you have a code 10 they will alert the authorities to the transaction. While this probably wouldn't happen unless there was just cause to do so, I just didn't want him to have the 5-0 knocking on his door because he was just verifying a customers info. =p

Cody

Wanna know a safer verification method? Make the customer sign a form and send a copy of the card and their ID. Then you've not only verified the customer but protected yourself if they do a chargeback.

Wanna know a safer verification method? Make the customer sign a form and send a copy of the card and their ID. Then you've not only verified the customer but protected yourself if they do a chargeback.

Agreed. An authorization form is your best friend. It's great for high risk purchases. (Dedicated, VPS, or other high cost items) I wouldn't suggest this for smaller ticket items as it would probably drive customers away. While it is for both your and their security, some people might feel inconvenienced by this.

Cody

Well the OP seemed to want to use this as a normal verification method. Also in some B&M locations if you call the bank and tell them you have a code 10 they will alert the authorities to the transaction. While this probably wouldn't happen unless there was just cause to do so, I just didn't want him to have the 5-0 knocking on his door because he was just verifying a customers info. =p

Cody
You are spot on there mate. I just want to do a general verification, regardless if I think its a fraud transaction or not.

I did think about Auth Forms but its more of a hassle that anything I've seen.

I just want a safe way to confirm the information. If code 10 will make the bank contact authorities and stuff then I dont want to do that.

But can I call the bank, give them my merchant account number and say I want to verify this information?

You are spot on there mate. I just want to do a general verification, regardless if I think its a fraud transaction or not.

I did think about Auth Forms but its more of a hassle that anything I've seen.

I just want a safe way to confirm the information. If code 10 will make the bank contact authorities and stuff then I dont want to do that.

But can I call the bank, give them my merchant account number and say I want to verify this information?


Well thats only in a few cases that they would call the athorities, but thats what a code 10 is for. If you are just calling for an authorization, they usually give you a 1-800 number to call for such things and then they ask you for your merchant number, the cc number, the exp date, the persons name, address, etc. I can see if I can find the Authorization line number from work for Visa, MC, Disc, and Amex but you will need your merchant number to process the transactions.

Cody

here u go

MasterCard/Visa Phone Authorization 800-228-1122

here u go

MasterCard/Visa Phone Authorization 800-228-1122
So if I call that number, I can verify both VISA and MC cards?

I just want to be clear that I dont want to Authorize or process any transaction, I just want to verify if the information is legitimate. Because if I authorize a transaction and then authorize it AGAIN on my billing system, that cant be good.

that is for live authorizations but they can provide u guidance as to what u want and how to acquire it

My ecommerce operation in based in Brazil, so I'm not sure if it applies to you.

Anyhow I have never been able to extract any information from a bank regarding a credit card, no matter how suspicious the order was. And I have tried several times and have always asked nicely.

They just keep saying they can't disclose any information about their customers, period. I insisted I would give them the name and all they had to do was confirm it was correct or not, that's was good enough for me. Nonetheless the answer was a big No.

Tried calling different phone numbers etc, nothing worked.

It could be a different story if you knew someone from the issuing bank, but I didn't.

It could also be different in the US, but I think credit cards work more ou less the same across different countries.

But I'm still interested in finding out what kind of result you'll get, hopefully you get luckier. Please don't forget to update this thread. ;)

One thing you can do though, is to charge the credit card and wait a little. If the order is big and suspicious enough from the bank's standpoint they will call the card holder themselves and ask about the order mentioning the amount and your company name.

If the order wasn't legitimate they'll block the card instantly. And if you try another authorization for the same card you'll get an error saying something like "hold the card" or "card reported stolen". That's almost 100% sure the order was fraudulent. By the way I had one of these today, not cool.