Gear Basket

[corlay]

the failed CC transaction is definitely a product of "fraud protection" on the side of the CC company/bank.

I made a transaction today, and it balked at my first attempt,
and then I almost immediately received a message from my bank to confirm or deny a transaction attempt with Varuste.

Once I replied "confirm", I waited an hour, and then re-attempted the transaction, and it went through just fine.

[John Dee]

I tried using my CC and debit card on Varuste.com last night. Both failed. I called the CC company and they told me there was nothing I could do. I called the debit card support and they did a manual override for me. Last year was similar for me, the debit card has more customer support.

[Stephen]

I tried using my CC and debit card on Varuste.com last night. Both failed. I called the CC company and they told me there was nothing I could do. I called the debit card support and they did a manual override for me. Last year was similar for me, the debit card has more customer support.

Maybe a Debit card works better than a Credit card.
I do like the added protections of a Credit card, thought.

[wabene]

I tried using my CC and debit card on Varuste.com last night. Both failed. I called the CC company and they told me there was nothing I could do. I called the debit card support and they did a manual override for me. Last year was similar for me, the debit card has more customer support.

Maybe a Debit card works better than a Credit card.
I do like the added protections of a Credit card, thought.

That is what I was going to say. If there is fraud on a debt card and money is lost you may not get it back. Credit cards have always protected my interests well.

[freedom glider]

I tried using my CC and debit card on Varuste.com last night. Both failed. I called the CC company and they told me there was nothing I could do. I called the debit card support and they did a manual override for me. Last year was similar for me, the debit card has more customer support.

there is another current thread here about how to do this successfully.

[Woodserson]

I tried using my CC and debit card on Varuste.com last night. Both failed. I called the CC company and they told me there was nothing I could do. I called the debit card support and they did a manual override for me. Last year was similar for me, the debit card has more customer support.

there is another current thread here about how to do this successfully.

Many times

I've written about this somewhere. Calling them isn't going to do anything. You need to call the card company and tell them what you're trying to do. Varuste wants verification from the actual card company, not the corporate holder of the account. So my verification code didn't do a thing. I had to call BoA who then called VISA with my plan and then, with BoA on the phone I made the purchase and it went through. Varuste getting BoA verification was worthless, the site needed VISA verification.

You couldn't know this, it's a back channel behind the scenes thing going on and while my VISA card is held through BoA the BoA green lights are worthless to Varuste who wants VISA to say it's ok, which is why making a phone call and explaining what you're trying to do is the way to go about this. Calling Varuste probably won't fix it.

America is perpetually about ten years behind with credit card technology with the rest of the world and I suspect this is part of the issue. (Even though the companies are all the same)

[freedom glider]

see this other thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5089&p=52341&hilit= ... pal#p52341

some report success using paypal

[Stephen]

Not trying to contradict anything that’s already been posted…

I tend to think the “problem” (automated fraud protection algorithms, which I am all for) is with the Credit Card issuer (bank), not Visa, Mastercard, etc.

For example:
I have an REI Mastercard that was held by US Bank.
I made purchases at Varuste on that card without any problem.
REI recently changed that card from US Bank to Capital One Mastercard.
That card no longer works for Varuste, or Telemark Pyrenees (payment fails on fraud protection).
However, a Citi Visa card works just fine.

(Just to clarify, I’m in the US, the merchants are in Europe.)

I was even on the phone with Capital One to try and get this to work, with no luck — they even contacted Mastercard directly.

To summarize, a Mastercard worked with US Bank, but failed at Capital One.
Therefor, I think problem is with Bank, not Mastercard (in this case).
I think Capital One has something in their automated fraud protection that CSRs can’t see / don’t know about, so can’t override.

Disclaimer:
I will say I don’t know how credit card technology works in detail — if anyone here does, please chime in!
For example, I don’t know where fraud protection is implemented.
It could be at the merchant level, card issuer / bank level, or Mastercard / Visa level.
And, this could be different case by case.
I’m just reporting on my experience, and my guess at what’s going on…

[Stephen]

see this other thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5089&p=52341&hilit= ... pal#p52341

some report success using paypal

As I posted earlier, Varuste confirmed to me that PayPal is SOMETIMES a payment option.
If you see that, great, if you don’t see that option, it’s not available.
I, in the USA, have never seen that payment option.
May be location dependent.

[Woodserson]

I've never seen PayPal either as an option in the States with Varuste.

It's worth the PITA, great prices, friendly, good shipping, fun Finnish wintertime fun products I don't see anywhere else, good company.