I don't understand the process of authorizing payments (via authorize.net) when an order is not finalized for some reason.

Today, a customer tried to enter an order five times using two different credit cards. They kept "bouncing" for a zip code that doesn't match what is on file with her bank (even though the bank says they have her correct zip code). Meanwhile, I have 5 non-finalized orders, she has five different authorizations for the same amount showing up on those credit cards. In authorize.net, the status is "declined".

Why do authorizations go through in these circumstances? Is the authorization going through because of something the mc software does or is it function of authorize.net?

I thought there was a limit to the number of times you could try to place an order, but maybe I am wrong about that.

Would someone please explain the process to me?

Hi Julie!

I can't really answer your questions, but I've had similar (rare) situations where the same thing has happened to us in our store. We get a decline on the card, and yet when we call their bank, they show it as authorized.

We also have times when the AVS shows as no match, but the bank says the information is correct. That's actually very common for us. Sometimes it's because they've moved recently, but sometimes they claim they've been at the same address for years.

I, too, thought they could try only three times before getting "locked out." Your customer must have been very persistent.

Yeah, I've had customers try as many as seven times.

I'd really like to get to the bottom of this. Are there no s out there who can shed some light on this?

OK, well, I guess I'll just pester tech support about this. I have an EXTREMELY UPSET CUSTOMER and it sure would be nice to give her an answer.

did anybody get to the bottom of this? I always used to think the card showed a charge because it was "authorized" but the charges eventually were deleted at the banks account?

You will need to change the settings in the Authorize.net Fraud Suite. Your settings right now are set up to authorize the card during any event that may trigger a fraud alert. You have the option of changing the setting to only review the card and not authorize. To change the settings you need to go into the Fraud Suite. My suggestion is to call Authorize.net. What is happening has nothing to do with MC.

Very cool I never knew you could do that, I am going to try that.....