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What is the account verification / authorization fee (3D Secure verification fee)? Why a 3DS check costs 0.03 or 0.8 USD

3DS checks cost 0.03 USD each; once your account verification rate reaches 15% or more, a failed check or pre-auth costs 0.8 USD. In-app it is the 3D Secure verification fee.

⚡ Quick summary (TL;DR)

  • It is not a purchase: this fee corresponds to a merchant-initiated cardholder verification or pre-authorization, not something you bought.

  • Two tiers: 0.03 USD per check; once the account verification rate reaches 15% or more, a failed check or pre-authorization is charged at 0.8 USD.

  • Two names, one fee: your transaction history says 3D Secure verification fee, while the rate table calls it the account verification / authorization fee.

  • You cannot switch 3DS on or off: whether a check happens is decided by the merchant and card-network risk rules.


📖 Overview

3DS (3-D Secure) is the cardholder verification step for online card payments, initiated by the merchant at checkout. Every check or pre-authorization consumes authorization capacity in the card network, so it is charged per attempt: 0.03 USD each under normal conditions, and 0.8 USD for a failed check or pre-authorization once the account verification rate runs too high.

The fee has two names in MPChat and they mean the same thing: the remark field in your transaction history shows 3D Secure verification fee, while the row in MPChat Card Limits and Fees is called the account verification / authorization fee.


💰 How this fee arises

  • You check out at a merchant, and the merchant runs a 3DS check or pre-authorization test on the transaction.

  • Each check costs 0.03 USD.

  • If your account verification rate has reached 15% or more, a failed check or pre-authorization is charged at 0.8 USD instead.

  • The charge appears as its own entry in your transaction history, labelled as the 3D Secure verification fee.

See MPChat Card Limits and Fees for the rate detail.


✅ How to reduce it

  • Avoid retrying the same payment repeatedly at one merchant; check the reason before trying again.

  • Make sure the card has enough balance before binding it or starting a subscription, so you do not trigger repeat checks.

  • If a transaction is declined, follow Card transaction declined: reasons and what to do instead of retrying in a loop.


❓ FAQ

Can I turn 3DS verification off myself?

No. 3DS is initiated by the merchant and there is no user-side switch. See Can I set up 3DS verification for my card?.

Why was I charged 0.03 USD this time and 0.8 USD last time?

0.03 USD is the base rate per check. Once the account verification rate reaches 15% or more, a failed check or pre-authorization is charged at 0.8 USD instead. Cutting down on repeated retries after a failure brings you back to the base rate.

Why was I not charged this before?

The fee only arises when a merchant actually runs a 3DS check or pre-authorization test. Plenty of ordinary purchases never trigger one, so no such entry appears.

The transaction did not go through — why is there still a verification fee?

Verification is an authorization step separate from the purchase result. Once the merchant ran the check, it has taken place whether or not the payment completed.


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💬 Still have questions? Contact official support

Reach us through in-app customer support in the MPChat App. Support will never ask for your password, verification code, or passkey.

This article is help-centre reference. Features and fees follow what the App shows and the current terms.

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