Verified by Visa - no longer asks for password

dunroving

For about the past 6 months, the Verified by Visa security check no longer asks me for my password when making a purchase.

I called Visa and the person on the other end said likely the vendors I was buying from are set up that they recognise me as an existing customer so automatically bypass the security check.

However, (a) the VV dialog box definitely does open, then just clicks almost immediately to the "Thank you for your purchase" page, and (b) it is happening with new vendors and companies I have never used.

It just feels to me like I no longer have the VV security check. Anyone else experienced this?

[Deleted User]

It quickly fell out of favour with retailers.

StopIt

That system, along with the MasterCard version hasn't asked me for a password for ages.


I imagine if things change enough at their end, it'll ask you but I don't think it should be relied on as a security measure above keeping passwords secure with the retailers you purchase from.

PeacefulWaters

Lloyds, Halifax and BoS scrapped the need for this very irritating interruption to purchase.

Maybe others have followed.

[Deleted User]

I'd have been a lot more in favour of it if the pop up window hadn't looked like something a 12 year old hacker had knocked up in his bedroom.

dunroving

Thanks, All.

FYI, this was a Barclaycard so I guess they joined the ranks of the disgruntled. To be honest, it never bothered me as it only took an additional 10 seconds and I could remember the password. And I don't make many online purchases. ;-)

eco_warrior

It may be more common but this has been the case since day 1 with Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure. Couldn't even tell you when I last had to key a password (or parts of it)


If it comes up but just goes through then the merchant is still paying for the service from Visa. Its actually more beneficial to the merchant than the bank as any fraud that goes via this method cannot be claimed back via chargeback, so the bank suffers the loss.

TheShape

My Tesco debit card asks me for my Verified by Visa password every time I use it although that isn't very often and only on one or two sites. 95% of the time, I have forgotten the password and have to reset it.

Fingerbobs

I also found it very annoying, and like another poster had nearly always forgotten my password when asked for it had had to reset it each time. I, for one, am very pleased it just flashes up and doesn't ask for the password any more.

agrinnall

Nationwide dropped it years ago. And although my Santander Mastercard is asked for the password by some retailers a purchase on Virgin Trains today went through without needing it.

AirlieBird

It no longer asks for a password because most UK card issuers have moved to using it on a risk based approach. The card issuer will assess the transaction by looking at a number of factors about it and about you. For example, depending on the card issuer, it may consider among other things whether you typically purchase in this currency; does it match your typical purchase history; is the device usually the one you make purchases from; where is the location of the device making the purchase; is the merchant one where there is a higher number of fraudulent transactions; is the purchase typical with this merchant.

Only in a small proportion of transactions, where it identifies as high risk, will it seek the user to provide more information.


Card issuers have moved to this approach because the user authentication model resulted in a large number of abandoned transactions.