Originally Posted by
star_world
I doubt this is it - this is standard practice in many countries. In the UK I have frequently been asked for an authorization code which has involved getting me on the phone with my credit card company and going through some additional security questions. Following this the card company authorizes the transaction.
You have to do this when you go over the shop floor limit - often they have a different limit for internet transactions. I've had this before, but from a US retailer when buying with my UK credit card.
Other times with US retailers they can't even process a non-US credit card.