Originally Posted by
emcampbe
Sorry, in all the years I had a Visa through RBC Centura (at the time) then changed to RBC Bank USA, I have never had a problem using it online. The first few numbers do identify the issuer.
The only issue I have seen with certain online merchants (in North America, anyway) is if they will only take a billing address in the country where the site is located. For example, Drugstore.com will only let you use a card with a US-based billing address - there's no option to put in another one. So if you have a US-based card, but a Canadian billing address, it won't be accepted. Also, some airlines only let you book using a card with a billing address on the country's site you are using. i.e. booking a United ticket on their website through their US website will only let you use a card with a US-based billing address. If you select "Canada" as the billing address when making a purchase, you get re-directed to the Canadian site, and have to pay whatever the fare is in that locality (which at times can be cheaper or more expensive).
I am temporarily living in India now - which is a completely different situation - and many, if not most, websites here will not accept any foreign card - only Indian-issued debit/credit cards.
AAVS usage (the software that determines address) is entirely optional and is merchant specific as to whether or not it is required.
Some contracts do require the use of it though in order to get a lower interchange rate and some merchants will require it in order to minimise chargebacks (though I personally believe that IP tracking and customer information are good deterrents for fraud as it is.)