can someone explain scrubbing to me - GoFuckYourself.com

BlackCrayon · 08-11-2003, 11:02 AM

this is one term i've never fully understood. are perfectly good cards rejected because of scrubbing? high risk cards? what makes a card high risk? when someone says they are scrubbing harder, it seems hard to believe that a higher number of bad cards are trying to be used. so i just wonder, what are the determining factors that gets a card rejected through scrubbing?

galleryseek · 08-11-2003, 11:07 AM

if you scrub a card too hard your bound to damage it in some way or another, making it unreadable by the processors, hence a high rate of a rejection when you scrub a perfectly good card.

BlackCrayon · 08-11-2003, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by galleryseek
if you scrub a card too hard your bound to damage it in some way or another, making it unreadable by the processors, hence a high rate of a rejection when you scrub a perfectly good card.

i don't get it, it sounds like you are talking about literal scrubbing on a physical card. if a card is perfectly good, why is it being 'scrubbed' (please someone explain that term) at all?

SykkBoy · 08-11-2003, 11:11 AM

Each processor has their own formula, but generally they'll base it on a number of factors.

Maybe that credit card number is in their database of people who have charged back recently and/or often. They might also take into consideration georgraphy.

Certain countries are more known for fraud, so cards from those countries are more likely to be declined, even if the card is valid.

I'm sure KK or one of the processor reps could shed a little more light on it.

Brad Mitchell · 08-11-2003, 11:11 AM

When processors scrub they do several things...

First, they check cardholder and card number information against their internal databases. This might even include their IP address although that isn't too likely. If someone has a history of chargebacks with a processor, they're likely to get declined even if the funds are available. Remember, most purchasers have had several transactions already since we are in large part selling to the same group of consumers over and over again.

Other information that gets checked... They will check the address, zip code, first/last name all against the information that the issuing bank has on file. You'd be surprised how many people can't fill in a form right.. and how many people try to put in bogus information intentionally.

Then there are other things they do... if someone's IP would suggest they are physically located in Italy but they're using a card registered in Detroit, Michigan then they should decline the IP address. Chances are, that would be a stolen credit card.

All of the data submitted on the purchase pages gets scored, at a minimum, and the processor uses their own logic to decide which transactions to let through. The goal is always to allow as many legitimate transactions as possible. Everyone likes to give the processors shit.. but the reality, not nearly all charges are good charges, as evidenced by all of the processors that are now out of business.

My recommendation? CCBill all the way! (followed by Epoch)

Cheers,

Brad

ZoiNk · 08-11-2003, 11:14 AM

In addition to Sintalk's good response. The higher the scrubbing, the most countries that will be automatically rejected. Processors have 35+ (35 is an old number, it is much higher now, but processors aren't willing to state publically which countries they automatically reject, I would suspect it to be around 100 now) that they automaticaaly deny tranactions from. An example is Romania. Even if you have a valid credit card there, most if not all processors will deny your transaction because chargebacks from that country overall are too high.
ZoiNk

08-11-2003, 11:02 AM	#1
BlackCrayon Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ottawa Posts: 19,631	can someone explain scrubbing to me this is one term i've never fully understood. are perfectly good cards rejected because of scrubbing? high risk cards? what makes a card high risk? when someone says they are scrubbing harder, it seems hard to believe that a higher number of bad cards are trying to be used. so i just wonder, what are the determining factors that gets a card rejected through scrubbing? __________________ you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

08-11-2003, 11:11 AM	#4
SykkBoy Jesus loves bacon Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Sin City, Motherfucker Posts: 19,969	Each processor has their own formula, but generally they'll base it on a number of factors. Maybe that credit card number is in their database of people who have charged back recently and/or often. They might also take into consideration georgraphy. Certain countries are more known for fraud, so cards from those countries are more likely to be declined, even if the card is valid. I'm sure KK or one of the processor reps could shed a little more light on it. __________________ Support my new movie “The Second Coming”

08-11-2003, 11:11 AM	#5
Brad Mitchell Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southfield, MI Posts: 9,812	When processors scrub they do several things... First, they check cardholder and card number information against their internal databases. This might even include their IP address although that isn't too likely. If someone has a history of chargebacks with a processor, they're likely to get declined even if the funds are available. Remember, most purchasers have had several transactions already since we are in large part selling to the same group of consumers over and over again. Other information that gets checked... They will check the address, zip code, first/last name all against the information that the issuing bank has on file. You'd be surprised how many people can't fill in a form right.. and how many people try to put in bogus information intentionally. Then there are other things they do... if someone's IP would suggest they are physically located in Italy but they're using a card registered in Detroit, Michigan then they should decline the IP address. Chances are, that would be a stolen credit card. All of the data submitted on the purchase pages gets scored, at a minimum, and the processor uses their own logic to decide which transactions to let through. The goal is always to allow as many legitimate transactions as possible. Everyone likes to give the processors shit.. but the reality, not nearly all charges are good charges, as evidenced by all of the processors that are now out of business. My recommendation? CCBill all the way! (followed by Epoch) Cheers, Brad __________________ President at MojoHost \| brad at mojohost dot com \| Skype MojoHostBrad 71 industry awards for hosting and professional excellence since 1999

08-11-2003, 11:14 AM	#6
ZoiNk Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 2,370	In addition to Sintalk's good response. The higher the scrubbing, the most countries that will be automatically rejected. Processors have 35+ (35 is an old number, it is much higher now, but processors aren't willing to state publically which countries they automatically reject, I would suspect it to be around 100 now) that they automaticaaly deny tranactions from. An example is Romania. Even if you have a valid credit card there, most if not all processors will deny your transaction because chargebacks from that country overall are too high. ZoiNk __________________ "People can have the Model T in any color - so long as it's black." - Henry Ford

08-11-2003, 11:07 AM	#2
galleryseek Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 8,234	if you scrub a card too hard your bound to damage it in some way or another, making it unreadable by the processors, hence a high rate of a rejection when you scrub a perfectly good card.