Authorisation

Secure online transaction processing with Internet Authentication combines the benefits of both authentication and authorisation.

Authentication is the process of checking that the cardholder is genuine. With Internet Authentication, a card issuer may prove this by requesting that their cardholder types in the password that correctly matches the details registered with the card issuer.

Authorisation is the process of making sure the cardholder has the funds to pay for the transaction and their card has not been blocked for any reason. Once the card issuer has authenticated your customer, the payment processor (e.g. ePDQ) then authorises the transaction in the normal way.

Thanks to Internet Authentication, you can rely on Visa or MasterCard transactions being from the genuine cardholder, and process them with complete peace of mind.

Click here to view the Internet Authentication Procedure Guide.

Click here to view the Merchant Best Practice Guide.

Authentication Process

Authentication takes place during the card payment process. Once a cardholder has made his/her purchase selections and provided a credit card, billing and delivery details, the authentication process is initiated. The authentication process takes place before the transaction is sent to the payment gateway (i.e. ePDQ) for authorisation.

From a cardholder perspective, shopping is conducted as usual. When the final [BUY] button is clicked, a page from the card issuing bank is presented that asks the cardholder for a password. The password supplied must match the password provided by the cardholder during the Enrolment process. Once the correct password is entered, the transaction continues on as before and the cardholder is presented with a "transaction completed page." (Typically, this will be a page that confirms that the purchase has been made and provides the cardholder with an order/tracking number from your website).