The Texas.gov Payment Services has enabled “Fail on CVV” and “Fail on Zip Mismatch” functionality for online payment transactions for additional security. This change helps ensure the validity of payments on your application(s) by verifying that the user completing the transaction is in possession of the physical credit/debit card or has permission from the owner of the card to use that card for this expressed purpose. Bad actors will frequently use stolen credit cards to perform fraudulent transactions and requiring zip code and CVV can help to prevent such fraud.
FAQs for payments on Texas.gov applications.
What can I do to ensure that my transaction is successful?
You should be aware that Texas.gov utilizes security enhancement to protect credit card holders. It is essential to provide up-to-date information for name, billing address, ZIP code, and card verification number (CVV), as well as ensure that the card has sufficient funds to successfully complete the transaction.
Why was my payment declined?
There are several reasons your payment might fail. Please make sure you’re entering the correct payment information including your card number, the 3- or 4-digit security code (sometimes called a CVV number), the billing address, and the billing Zip code for the card you’re using.
If your payment continues to get declined, please contact your bank or credit card issuer for assistance.
Why is my card getting charged even though the payment was declined?
Credit card payments have two steps: 1) Authorization and 2) Capture.
- The Authorization step applies the initial charge your credit card and reduces the available balance by the transaction amount.
- The Capture step checks the credit card information with the issuing bank. If the capture step is declined or fails, your bank voids the transaction and removes the hold applied to the balance.
You may see indications of these activities on your statement. Please contact your bank or credit card issuer if you have more questions.
I’m paying with a corporate card and need to enter a billing Zip code. What should I do?
If you’re using a corporate card to pay for your transaction, please make sure to enter the correct billing address and billing Zip code for that card. Contact your company for this information if necessary.
I’m paying with a gift card and need to enter a billing Zip code. What should I do?
Many gift cards need to be registered before they can be used for online transactions. Please follow the activation instructions on the card, and then make sure to use the same Zip code when you provide your payment information.
My credit card was issued by a foreign bank, so I don’t have a U.S. Zip code. What should I enter for billing Zip code?
If your card was issued by a foreign bank, please contact the bank for more guidance and information on what to enter in the Zip code field. You might try one of these options:
- Speak with the issuing bank and select a postal code for use.
- Speak with the bank about changing how they respond to/validate transactions which originate in the US.
- Lastly, you may try a card tied to a different account.
I live in another country that doesn’t use Zip code. What should I enter for billing Zip code?
If your billing address is in a foreign country, please contact the bank that issued your card for more guidance and information on what to enter in the Zip code field.
My bank does not support AVS
If you are having difficulty finding the correct information for their transactions, it is important to reach out to the issuing bank for the best guidance. The issuing bank will likely be able to provide a code in place of a zip code or other information that may be necessary.