Visa Chargeback Reason Code 71: Authorization
Table of Contents
- What is Visa chargeback reason code 71?
- What causes code 71 chargebacks?
- What's the time limit to respond to code 71 chargebacks?
- How can merchants fight code 71 chargebacks?
- How can merchants prevent code 71 chargebacks?
- About Visa chargeback reason codes
Merchants who receive a chargeback for a transaction placed with a Visa card may encounter reason code 71, which indicates an improperly authorized transaction that the cardholder does not believe they should be responsible for paying. The actual underlying cause of this chargeback may be true fraud, friendly fraud, or merchant error. Merchants who believe they have received an invalid chargeback under reason code 71 may be able to represent the transaction and reverse the chargeback with the right compelling evidence.
What is Visa chargeback reason code 71?
Visa chargeback reason code 71 falls under the “Authorization” category. The shorthand description is “Declined Authorization.” This code indicates that the merchant sent an authorization approval request for a transaction, received a “Decline” or “Pick Up Card” response, and submitted the transaction anyway.
It can also occur when a merchant sends an authorization request for a magnetic stripe or EMV chip transaction on a counterfeit card, receives a Decline or Pick Up Card response, subsequently receives authorization through any means other than Voice Authorization, and submits the transaction.
The transaction authorization process is one of the merchant’s best safeguards against chargebacks.
Sometimes, an authorization request may return a Decline response because of fixable problems—the merchant keyed something in wrong, the card was dirty and could not be read properly, or a network error occurred—and in these cases, you may be able to try the card again and receive an Approved response. Cardholders will often ask you to try a card again when it gets declined, but merchants must understand the risks involved in doing so.
What causes code 71 chargebacks?
When this chargeback occurs, it can usually be blamed on merchant error. When a merchant forces a transaction to go through after receiving any kind of decline response, they are circumventing the protocols designed to protect them and their customers.
If the cardholder later disputes the transaction, it may be because of true fraud or friendly fraud, but the bottom line is that the merchant’s disregard for the authorization response is why the chargeback is happening.
What's the time limit to respond to code 71 chargebacks?
The acquirer or merchant has 30 days to respond to a chargeback filed under reason code 71.
How can merchants fight code 71 chargebacks?
Merchants can only successfully fight authorization-related chargebacks in rare circumstances where the issuer or card network has made some error in assigning the chargeback in the first place. For the most part, merchants are liable for chargebacks for transactions that were not properly authorized.
How can merchants prevent code 71 chargebacks?
To avoid Authorization-related chargebacks, always obtain proper authorization approval prior to submitting a transaction. While some Decline responses may allow a second attempt, you should always proceed with caution and use your best judgment when allowing multiple authorization attempts.
Any response other than Approved is a warning sign that you may be on the hook for a future chargeback if you allow the transaction to continue on that payment card.
The following best practices can help you avoid this kind of chargeback:
- Always obtain authorization approval before processing any transaction.
- If a “decline” or ambiguous code is sent in response to an authorization request, ask the cardholder to furnish an alternate method of payment.
- Pay close attention to authorization response codes that instruct you to pick up or hold the card and follow the guidelines specified by your acquirer or payment processor.
- Never “force” a transaction to go through without authorization, or after receiving a non-approval response.
- Train your staff on proper transaction handling procedures.
About Visa chargeback reason codes
Reason codes are alphanumeric codes that provide the justification for granting a chargeback. Pursuant to the Fair Credit Billing Act of 1974, cardholders have the right to dispute unauthorized or erroneous charges, and issuing banks must reverse a disputed transaction if the cardholder’s claim is valid.
When a cardholder contacts their issuing bank to dispute a transaction and receive a chargeback, the dispute is assigned a reason code that most closely matches the substance of the cardholder’s claims. The reason code provides the merchant and other stakeholders in the dispute with a concise explanation for why a chargeback has been granted.
Each card network—Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover—defines and maintains their own unique set of reason codes, which are applied to disputes by the banks that issue credit and debit cards under their brands.
Visa specifies 46 reason codes under the categories of Fraud, Authorization, Point-of-Interaction Error, Consumer Disputes, and Processing Errors. Visa uses a numeric scheme for its chargeback reason codes.
Understanding chargeback reason codes is one of the most essential parts of effective chargeback management. Identifying the chargeback reason code and the evidence required to fight it is the first step in chargeback representment, and analyzing your chargeback reason codes can provide you with insights into what types of disputes are causing you the most trouble. With this information, you can determine the root causes of your chargebacks and take action to prevent them from reoccurring.
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