Dianedancer

I've been trying to order tickets on line for a concert in Moscow and they only take "3D Secure Credit Cards". I've tried my CCs (chip and pin) but they have not been accepted. I called Citibank and they didn't know what it was even though they have them on their European site. They then gave me phone numbers for Master Card International and Master Card Elite.

Anyone run into this problem?

(I put this question on the Lounge as well.)

Tulips

It means that there is an additional step to authorise the payment. Either a password or a gadget that you use to authorise the payment.

Do they take Paypal perhaps?

Christina

sure, I've heard of it, it goes by the name Verified by Visa or Mastercard Securecode. I've seen it pop up on some online websites I've used (all European, I think) and I think my card went through anyway. I didn't officially sign up for this with my bank, so it isn't clear to me if it's just something your bank automatically does (sometimes) or not. I've also heard of people who specifically called up their bank/card to get enrolled in the program.

It is appalling that the people you spoke to at Citibank doesn't even know what it is.

It appears you can register on here yourself, not sure, worth a try
http://www.mastercard.us/securecode.html

bilboburgler

just a secondary level of security. Easy to set up, used a lot in Europe but also needed in cyber-crime central Moscow

Dianedancer

Christina - How's this for weirdness? I went to that Master Card site and put in my financial institution in the U.S. and it didn't recognize it! Citibank!

Dianedancer

Aha! Citibank and Chase don't participate. Neither does American Express. Yikes.

janisj

Yes they do -- Visa's version is called Verified by Visa . . . Amex version is called SafeKey and MC = SecureCard

Dianedancer

I just looked at MC and their SecureCard . They don't have the banks I noted above as participating.

Sarastro

Secure code is backup authentication offered by Mastercard, 3D or Verified by Visa is the same thing offered by Visa.

For Verified by Visa;

https://verified.visa.com/aam/activa...andingPage.aam

Christina

yeah, I noticed that as I was thinking of doing it with my MC, so I checked the list. Kind of weird given how many US banks are on that list (including mine, Capital One). Of course, Amex has their own cards, they don't use Visa or MC.

Guess it's too late for now, but kind of makes you want to get another one for this issue if you want to buy things online much. I've been annoyed at Cap One lately due to some customer service issues, but at least they have cards that are free and have no foreign exchange transaction charge, so it's a thought that you might want to get one. I have a Mastercard with them, but I think they mainly give out Visas now.

Dianedancer

Called Capitol One as we have a card with them and they didn't know what we were talking about. Will have to call Visa or Master Card directly to see what this is all about.

Dianedancer

OK. Just signed up with Verified by Visa . Got a page that said I was successful in signing up. So I went to the Moscow tickets page and tried to buy the tickets, but it didn't work. Perhaps I need to give it more time or perhaps this isn't what they want.

Christina

who knows, I saw Capital One on that list of banks who use it so it's odd they don't know anything about it, but it seems to be par for the course at these banks. Maybe it's really something that goes through the brand (MC or Visa) and that's why they don't know much about it. Still, this is a major thing the bank itself should know about as it affects their cards.

Diane, did you sign up your Visa that was Cap One by calling Visa directly?

I am not sure but I think when you buy something through that system, a popup comes on screen from the Verified by Visa system and asks you a password or something? Or does the password come from the bank, not sure. I'd given it at least a day or so to get into the system, sure, might as well try once more.

bvlenci

I loathe Verified by Visa. I've had endless problems with it.

The last time I needed Verified by Visa, they told me my password was wrong, although I had changed it recently to something I could recall using an algorithm I devised, and had used it successfully just a few days before. I tried to change my password, and, after asking me for all sort of information they shouldn't need, including my Italian taxpayer code, and my place of birth, it kept telling me I had entered the captcha wrong. I can see that I might do that once, but not half a dozen times in succession. I gave up and made my purchase elsewhere.

Maybe the Italian version is more complicated than the US version.

Sarastro

One of the advantages of chip & PIN cards is that they seriously reduce fake or forged credit card theft. Particularly in Europe, thieves have shifted their activities to on line theft. Securecard and Verified by Visa are efforts to curb on line theft and have always worked very well with the cards I have registered with the programs.

It is possible to register any Visa card with the Verfied by Visa website listed above. I have both a US Visa and a French bank Visa listed using the same website.

Card issuing banks may or may not have personnel who are familiar with these programs. Card registration is completed by contacting Visa or MC directly and not necessarily through the card issuing bank.

Tulips

It can be a nuisance, but makes internet transactions a lot safer. My Belgian card requires authorisation through a little gadget that gives out an authorisation code. Very easy, but you need to have that with you. You cannot make a purchase without it. At least the Verified by Visa only requires a password.

Dianedancer

I signed up for Verified by Visa online for my CapitolOne card and was "told" it was successful. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be enough for the Moscow website I am trying to get tickets through. Guess it's not a "real" 3D Secure card. Not sure what we will do as we really want to go to this event. If we wait until we get there to purchase the tickets may be gone.