How can I avoid declines and chargebacks?

A valid authorization request must be obtained for every card transaction processed. Any invalid or incomplete authorization submitted may result in assessments, fines, declines, and/or chargebacks to you. An authorization approval only confirms the availability of a cardholder’s balance at the time of the transaction. It does not guarantee that the individual presenting the card is the legitimate cardholder. If the correct procedures are not followed during the transaction, you may be liable for a chargeback, and your account could be debited for the transaction amount.

An approval response does not guarantee:

• The person using the card is the rightful cardholder

• The card transaction is valid

• Payment of funds

• Payment will not be subject to a chargeback

An approval response only indicates that funds are available on the card at the time the authorization is requested. Even if the transaction is initially processed and funded, it may be charged back at a later date.

If you obtain address verification, you must review the AVS response separately from the authorization response and make your own decision about whether to accept the transaction. A transaction can be approved by the issuer even if AVS is unavailable, or reflects that the address provided does not match the billing address on file at the issuer. If the authorized cardholder disputes such a transaction, you will be responsible for the resulting chargeback.

You must not break one transaction into multiple transactions in an effort to obtain approval.

You must not retry declined transactions for certain decline codes as outlined here. Subsequent approvals on declined transactions may result in chargebacks, fines, and/or termination of the account.

You do not have to provide the decline reason to the cardholder and can refer them to their issuing bank.