Non VBV Meaning: Everything You Need to Know
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Your personal data is a very valuable asset, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of people who would want to get access to it – and they do so when it’s the most vulnerable – when online shopping.
Although there have been some improvements in terms of online safety protocols, it is also your responsibility to ensure you’re as safe as you can be when online – and that includes not using non-VBV cards. While they might be more convenient, their security is lower compared to VBV cards. Why is that, and what exactly is the non VBV meaning? We’ll explore all that and more here.
What Is Non-VBV (Non-Verified by Visa)?
Non-VBV stands for non-verified by Visa and refers to payment methods (typically cards but not only) that don’t have the additional security protocol implemented for online Visa transactions.
This security protocol comes in many forms – for example, a user might be asked to provide an authorization code sent to their other device, or they might be asked a security question. Also known as 3D Secure, its purpose is to make sure that the owner of the card (or someone else they allowed to use it) is the one authorizing the transaction.
Keep in mind that VBV verification is not always triggered – there are, however, certain actions or factors that can activate it. Those include:
- Making a purchase from an unknown device
- Making a larger purchase that is outside of your typical spending habits
- Making a purchase from a high-risk merchant or one that has a history of fraudulent activity
- Making a purchase from a foreign location (for example, when traveling)
- Making a purchase from a merchant for the first time
Why Are Non-VBV Still in Use?
There are actually several reasons why, despite the fact that non-VBV payment methods are less secure than VBV, they are still very much in use by many people. However, the main reason is convenience. Since transactions done with a non-VBV payment method do not have an additional layer of security, they are much quicker than those with it.
Another reason why non-VBV payment methods might be compelling to some is the false sense of anonymity – since they don’t have to confirm their identity in other ways, it might make them feel anonymous. However, that’s not the case, as even with non-VBV cards, payment processors and merchants still have your data.
What Are Non-VBV BINS?
BIN stands for bank identification number and is used to determine which financial institution issued a debit or credit card. In the case of non-VBV BINs, those are simply BINs associated with non-VBV cards.
How to Identify a Non-VBV Card
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We’re going to be honest – there’s no foolproof method of identifying whether a card is a VBV or a non-VBV card unless you directly contact the bank about it.
This will usually work if you’re the owner of the card – however, if you’re trying to get information about another person’s card, the financial institution will most likely refuse to share this information with an unauthorized user, even if we’re talking about a merchant-customer transaction.
In some cases, BIN look-up tools might be helpful – however, they’re often not that reliable, as, for example, the data might be outdated. So, in most cases, if you want to make sure the information you have is correct, you will probably have to confirm it with the bank anyway.
Finally, if it’s your own card you’re trying to confirm whether it’s VBV or non-VBV, you can do so by recalling the transaction history – again, though, it’s not fully reliable, as the 3D Secure protocol is not always activated. So, you might get the impression that your card is non-VBV, only to be surprised by the additional security protocol during your next transaction.
Risks and Challenges of Using Non-VBV Cards
As mentioned before, non-VBV cards are not the most secure payment option out there – they have a number of disadvantages, both from the customer’s and merchant’s perspective.
| CUSTOMER DISADVANTAGES | |
| More susceptible to fraud | Non-VBV don’t have that extra level of security, meaning that if someone gets access to your card’s information, mainly card number and CVV, they will be able to use it as they please. |
| Less likely to get a positive dispute resolution | Once someone steals your card and makes a transaction with it, it might be more difficult for you to dispute it if your card is a non-VBV card, as proving you didn’t authorize the payment is more difficult. |
| Might come with higher interest rates | Depending on the financial institution you are getting your card from, non-VBV cards, especially non-VBV CC (credit cards), might come with higher interest rates and fees due to the risks associated with them. |
| MERCHANT DISADVANTAGES | |
| Higher chances of a chargeback | If you’re accepting non-VBV cards as a merchant, you should be aware of the fact that they might be used in fraudulent transactions, which can increase your chargeback rates. Merchants with high chargeback rates might be considered high risk by financial institutions and require a specific type of account. |
| Need for additional fraud prevention measures | To protect your business against possible fraudulent transactions, you might need to implement additional security measures, which brings additional costs. |
Benefits of Non-VBV Cards for Certain Users
Does it mean that non-VBV cards are inherently bad? Not really – there are situations in which using them is justified or simply more convenient for the user. Those scenarios include:
- Recurring payments – Using a non-VBV card might be useful when you have some subscriptions you don’t want to associate with your main card.
- Low-risk transactions – Non-VBV cards can be useful for small-value transactions as they make the checkout process quicker.
- International transactions – If you have to send money to someone abroad, using a non-VBV card can be useful to avoid additional verification steps.
Still, remember to keep your account safe by practicing safety precautions.
| If you’re going to be using a non-VBV card, one of the best practices is to only transfer money onto it once you need to pay from something or keep the minimum necessary amount – that way, even if your card does end up being used in a fraudulent transaction, your losses will be significantly smaller than if you were to have all of your life savings on it. |
Best Practices for Using Non-VBV Payment Methods
Best practices can be divided into those that should be followed by customers and those suited for merchants.
For Customers
- Monitor your transactions carefully – When you don’t pay attention to your spending, it’s very easy to overlook something unusual, especially if the transaction amount is low.
- Don’t store your card numbers on merchant sites – Regardless of whether a merchant is considered secure or not, it’s best to avoid storing card information on the account, as it makes it easier for the thieves to use your card in an unauthorized way.
- Be sure you’re using secure websites to make a purchase – Whenever you’re purchasing something, make sure that the website has “https” in front of it, as it uses TLS (SSL) to encrypt requests and responses.
- Keep your software updated – Not directly related to cards, but keeping your antivirus and anti-malware software minimizes the chances of your payment information being stolen.
For Merchants
- Use fraud scoring – By using fraud scoring tools, you can analyze the risk associated with each transaction and decide whether you want to accept it or not.
- Implement CVV check – CVV is the number on the back of the card, which allows for confirmation that the person trying to make the payment has it in physical possession.
- Monitor transactions – Just like the customers, as a merchant, you too should be monitoring transactions for any suspicious activity, such as a large number of transactions from the same customer, unusual purchase transactions or purchases made from high-risk IP addresses.
Another thing you should take into account is the payment processor you’re using – investing in a trustworthy solution for all of your payment needs can make a world of difference when it comes to protecting your business against fraud.
My Payment Savvy is one such solution. With our all-in-one business solution, you can have a payment program adapted specifically to your needs that implements efficient security measures, all to keep your business safe and sound. Our payment processing is PCI and NACHA-compliant, and the data is further protected with tokenization and encryption.
Keep your business secure and your customers happy with our comprehensive payment solution!
The Bottom Line
All in all, while non–VBV payment methods might not be the most secure way of paying out there, there are a few scenarios in which they can be useful – as long as you pay attention to your safety and do what you can to protect your data.
We’re the most vulnerable when online shopping and thieves know that, which is why keeping your payment information safe should be a top priority both for you and the merchant. And, if you can, consider switching to a VBV payment method – after all, additional protection wouldn’t hurt if it can save your hard-earned money from getting into the wrong hands.
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