Visa & RIS... can someone explain this?
 

Anyone know exactly what RIS is?

I've been hearing about this and its slowing down business for several people I know. The thing is no one has really given them a straight answer as to what RIS is and how it is slowing down their business other than it's just another Visa rule.

Found some info, hope it helps :) :

One of Visa's several compliance programs for merchants; Highly Suspect Potential Fraud

The Risk Identification Service (RIS) is a service provided by Visa U.S.A, to identify merchants generating a disproportionately high percentage of suspect transactions. Suspect transactions are defined as transactions which took place on the day a credit card was reported lost or stolen and may be potential fraud activity. Visa distributes information pertaining to abnormal levels of suspect transactions to Paymentech Payment Services on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Upon identification of a merchant as highly suspect, the merchant may be required to adhere to special procedures, install fraud-reducing equipment, and may suffer fines.

its a excuse to charge more money

JAM is correct

If a merchant is doing a high amount of suspect transactions, they definately need fraud controls to be put in place on the gateway side of things.