2009

Table Of Contents

Virtual Terminal User’s Guide 43

Virtual TerminalResponse Codes and Messages

Address Verification System Responses

If an AVS error occurs when processing an order, it might be due to out-of-date information in

the customer’s credit card company’s database. This can happen if the customer has changed

their billing address recently, because some credit card companies can take up to six months to

update a billing address in their database.

By default, PayPal rejects a transaction if the AVS response is C, E, N, or I. PayPal does not

reject the transaction if the customer is international or if the AVS system is unavailable.

TABLE 7.6 AVS Response Codes for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American

Express

AVS Code Meaning Matched Details

A Address Address only (no ZIP)

B International “A” Address only (no ZIP)

C International “N” None

NOTE: The transaction is declined.

D International “X” Address and Postal Code

E Not allowed for MOTO (Internet/Phone)

transactions

Not applicable

NOTE: The transaction is declined.

F UK-specific “X” Address and Postal Code

G Global Unavailable Not applicable

I International Unavailable Not applicable

N No None

NOTE: The transaction is declined.

P Postal (International “Z”) Postal Code only (no Address)

R Retry Not applicable

S Service not Supported Not applicable

U Unavailable Not applicable

W Whole ZIP Nine-digit ZIP code (no Address)

X Exact match Address and nine-digit ZIP code

Y Yes Address and five-digit ZIP

Z ZIP Five-digit ZIP code (no Address)

All others Error Not applicable