Account check
An account check (Account Number Verification) is performed to check the validity of a pan. It is done by submitting a transaction with only the mandatory parameters using the appropriate TransType and TransAmount 0. Possible ResponseCodes are 00, approved or 85, no reason to decline.
Attention
If an account check is used to store card data for future use by the merchant, it must be fully authenticated in accordance with SCA.
Additional Verification Services
In addition to verifying the card number, account check transactions can be enhanced with:
- Address Verification Service (AVS) - Verify the cardholder's billing address by including postal code and/or street address. Supported by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
- Name Validation - Verify the cardholder's name matches the account on file. Supported by Visa and Mastercard with different parameter requirements.
These services can be used individually or combined with the account check to provide additional verification of cardholder information before storing card data or processing future transactions.
Visa
Address Verification Service (AVS)
Visa supports Address Verification Service (AVS) for account check transactions. AVS can be used with zero-amount transactions to verify the cardholder's billing address.
To perform AVS:
- Set
TransAmountto 0 - Include AVSPostalCode (up to 9 characters)
- Include AVSStreetAddress (up to 40 characters)
The response will include AVSR with the verification result. See AVS response codes for details.
Name Validation (Cardholder Related Data)
Visa supports name validation for account check transactions using Cardholder Related Data (CRD) parameters. This service can only be used with zero-amount transactions.
To perform name validation:
- Set
TransAmountto 0 - Include CRDLastName (up to 35 characters) - required
- Optionally include CRDGivenName (up to 35 characters)
- Optionally include CRDMiddleName (up to 35 characters)
- Optionally include CRDAccountOwner (01 = Primary account owner, 02 = Secondary account owner) - defaults to 01 if not specified
The response will include CRDR with the validation results in TLV format. See CRDR response codes for details on match results.
Note
Name validation (CRD) can only be performed on zero-amount transactions. Attempting to use CRD parameters with non-zero amounts will result in error code TH.
Mastercard
Address Verification Service (AVS)
Mastercard supports Address Verification Service (AVS) for account check transactions. AVS can be used with zero-amount transactions to verify the cardholder's billing address.
To perform AVS:
- Set
TransAmountto 0 - Include AVSPostalCode (up to 9 characters)
- Include AVSStreetAddress (up to 40 characters)
The response will include AVSR with the verification result. See AVS response codes for details.
Name Validation Service
Mastercard supports Name Validation Service for account check transactions using Cardholder Related Data (CRD) parameters.
To perform name validation:
- Set
TransAmountto 0 - Include CRDNameValidationType (R = Receiver/Recipient, S = Sender)
- Include at least one of:
- CRDGivenName (up to 35 characters)
- CRDMiddleName (1 alpha character - middle initial only)
- CRDLastName (up to 35 characters)
The response will include CRDR with the validation results in TLV format. See CRDR Mastercard response codes for details on match results (A = Match, B = Partial Match, C = No Match, U = Unverified).
American Express
Address Verification Service (AVS)
American Express supports Address Verification Service (AVS) for account check transactions.
To perform AVS:
- Set
TransAmountto 0 - Include AVSPostalCode (up to 9 characters)
- Include AVSStreetAddress (up to 20 characters for Amex)
The response will include AVSR with the verification result. See Amex AVS response codes for details (Y = Both correct, N = Both incorrect).