Visa fraud prevention

[qlopp]

This is something I'm quite certain is an issue with Visa, not Rifftrax, but would like to post it here in case it helps in any way.

I tried to purchase Abraxas 20 minutes ago using the same Visa I've used for most if not all Rifftrax files since the eJunkie days.  After 3 attempts I used another card and it went through fine.  Within a minute or so there was an automated call on the land line from Visa Fraud Protection.  I called them back, waited on hold for 15 minutes, then sorted it out and all is OK (until this happens again).

The Visa employee wouldn't divulge much info but speculated this was due to a "random" check of purchases that appear to be test or check sums.  I'm not certain why $9.99 is so suspicious.

Is there any process towards or interest by Rifftrax to make their purchases become immune to this random CC temporary suspension process?  I ask this because you must have many $.99, $.1.99, etc purchases flying through ecommerce every day, and as a result of so many small sums I'd suspect this is something that happens frequently to potential customers.

One bad experience when I was on a road trip pre-cellphone era and got declined gasoline with no cash on hand, and I am probably more sensitive to these bogus stoppages than most.

[torgosPizza]

I'm not really sure what's going on - it seems mainly to affect cards from certain banks (especially smaller local banks) but it could be something Visa-related. Perhaps they are clamping down on smaller transactions? One issue we've run into lately is that some banks consider us a POS (point of sale) for some stupid reason; so when we process your card in CA, but you're from another state, that raises a flag and could affect your account.

We're looking into this as we speak, though, and hope to have a resolution soon. Thanks for the info about this, we'll see if perhaps there is something Visa or Authorize.net (our payment processor) can do.

[torgosPizza]

BTW we've switched some things up behind the scenes, hopefully a lot of the problems people were facing will go away. Without being too specific, we've setup RiffTrax-only accounts for our payment gateway and merchant accounts, which should mean less false "suspicious transaction" alerts. Some people were getting these because our old account may have been telling your bank that we were a retail store (brick and mortar) when obviously we're not.

The one thing that might still cause a flag is the order size, though, but that's a bank thing. If they don't like that you're buying a $0.99 short with your card, there isn't much we can do about that. :/

[qlopp]

Thanks very much for your reply.  I hoped you wouldn't consider it a nag, as I really feel this is something that affects your sales process as much or more than it annoys me.

I have new info to share.  I just found out after two declined purchase attempts that my Visa check card (different card than last time) got blocked for the same reason.  I only use it a few times a week, and the first event was at a Quik Trip with a flaky pump card reader, so I figured it was the reader at fault.  Today it got declined again at a regular store, so I called, and it turned out to be the same $9.99 transaction at fault.  This time the fraud verification guy was more forthcoming with thoughts on the reason.  He mentioned it could be that Visa is tagging Rifftrax transactions more than other retailers.  What you say about being classified as POS makes perfect sense.  I certainly hope you can work it out with Visa and other CC companies as necessary.  Good luck.

[qlopp]

I should specify:  The C is US Bank, while the debit card is First Community Credit Union.  FCCU is small potatoes; I'm pretty sure they are administering this card as there are no other affiliation mentioned on the card and the 1-800 number answered as FCCU.

If this is true, it would most likely be Visa corporate declining this, not just US Bank or other banks that carry a Visa card.