MasterCard SecureCode Required by CO
 

I went to purchase a CO ticket earlier today with my MasterCard and the website asked me for my SecureCode, which (according to the screen) I would have set up when my card was issued. I didn't recall setting up that number, so I tried the three digit number on the back of the card. No dice and eventually I had to use my AMEX card.

Puzzled, I called my issuing bank, USAA, about this and was told that I did need to register and obtain a SecureCode, which I then did (so the message was wrong about already having a number). It seems that MasterCard started rolling out this program about 8-9 months ago and Visa is doing the same. It is up to the merchant about participation and it looks like CO is now doing so. So before you purchase a ticket on CO.com with your MasterCard, you might want to ensure that you have a SecureCode.

As you mentioned, CO started requiring this for Visa purchases as well. I've had so many problems (reported to CO with no response) with CO.com completing the purchase after I provide my (correct) Visa password.

It's quite a pain and I wouldn't be surprised if CO is losing some business over this (passengers that may only have a Visa). Fortunately, I also have an AMEX, so I usually end up having to use that for CO.com purchases.

I purchase tickets on co.com with my Visa all the time without having to use SecureCode.

Now that you mention that, I seem to remember seeing a Chase logo on the verification screen so it might be a requirement for them. I'm using a (non-CO) Chase Visa card.

Maybe it doesn't impact as many passengers as I thought... :)

My mom had the same issue with her USAA MC on Adorama.com. She was able to create a code online though. Maybe it is just USAA issued cards?

According to the USAA rep it was MasterCard that was instituting this with the merchants and USAA was not directly involved. But I would be interested to know otherwise.

Do you think CO has a big problem with stolen credit cards? I mean if you book travel on a stolen card- your going to have to show up at the airport with ID... I don't think there would be too many crooks willing to take that kind of risk...

Plus, the bank pays for fraud, not the merchant.

I think that this is MasterCard's doing. It also seems (from my experience at other sites) that you can't opt-out. I was forced to sign up just yesterday when making a foreign purchase with a USAA MasterCard. I don't think it's USAA forcing this, but it is an interesting coincidence.

Interesting..... I had this verification come up on CO.COm and I too recall it happening when using my USAA card. Good thing about USAA is things can be done in real time with them. I was out to dinner the other night at 7PM MT and found out from the server that my card was declined due to insufficient funds. I got on my PDA (on a saturday night) and transfered the funds online and asked the server to re-run the card. It worked just fine. USAA is a great bank and you dont have to be military to use it but some benefits are military only still.

Please see this site for more information about MasterCard SecureCode.

Chase is not on this list, nor is there any mention on the Chase website about SecureCode. Does that mean our CO branded cards don't have this feature? So Co.com won't ask us?

Visa has been doing this for some time now under the branding "Verified by VISA".

I have been using this service with CO.com and recently DL.com for all purchases with my Chase CO branded Signature Visa card. The service was flaky at first, but after dealing with CHASE directly in Wilmington, DE. (actually their Rt. 273 office in Newark, DE.) I was able to get it fixed.

Dan

The Verified by Visa screen used to pop up when making purchases on co.com with my Visa card. I never got it to work and would have to call the co.com technical support desk to have the tickets issued. Now, however, I have not seen the Verified by Visa screen in quite some time.

I just purchased a couple of days ago on co's web site and did get the verified by visa security thing. I had not problems as I know my login for that option but if you are not familiar with it that could be a part of the problem. Also, I was not logged into the co site as I rarely fly them so maybe that makes a difference. Also, I was using my UA chase card for payment.

I was not aware that so many merchants require it now. http://www.mastercard.com/us/persona...op_online.html

Probably because I use Amex most of the time. I am suprised that neither Mastercard, nor my Mastercard Banks never notified me about this change.