Also called: Code 10
What Code 10 Authorization is
A Code 10 Authorization is a request made during a suspicious card-present sale to alert the card issuer’s authorization center. The request signals concern without openly telling the customer that you suspect fraud. It is a fraud-response procedure, not a charge or fee category.
You might use it when the card, the transaction, or the person presenting the card raises concerns. The process is intended to let the authorization center respond while you keep the interaction calm. Follow your processor’s approved instructions for placing the call.
A Code 10 call raises a fraud concern, but it does not prove who is holding the card.
How the request works
Use the Code 10 contact method supplied for your payment setup, such as the approved authorization phone number. Do not use a phone number supplied by the customer. Explain that you need to make an authorization call, then request Code 10 through the correct channel.
The authorization center handles the alert. Follow the instructions it gives you, and do not complete a transaction that is declined. A standard authorization approval only confirms that the account was approved at that moment. It does not establish that the person using the card is the genuine cardholder or eliminate later fraud claims.
What it does and does not protect
A Code 10 request gives you a way to raise a concern during an in-person sale, but it is not a guarantee against fraud or a substitute for checking the transaction. If a fraudulent sale is completed, you could still face a chargeback and lose the sale amount, depending on the circumstances and applicable rules.
Keep the interaction professional and follow your business’s safety procedures. Do not physically confront or detain someone over a suspicious payment. Train staff to recognize the procedure and know where to find the approved contact method before a questionable sale occurs.
What it means for your costs
The available guidance does not specify a Code 10 fee, a fee amount, or a special statement line. Do not assume a charge applies just because you made a request. If you see a fee that appears connected to a Code 10 call, compare its exact statement description with your pricing terms and ask for the fee basis in writing.
Do not confuse this procedure with Visa’s partial-authorization response code 10. In that separate context, code 10 means the issuer approved part of the purchase amount. That is a different use of the code, not a fraud alert.
What you can actually change
- Save the approved number. Keep your processor’s authorized Code 10 contact method where staff can find it. Do not rely on a number provided by a customer.
- Train your staff. Show employees how to make the request discreetly and how to follow instructions from the authorization center without escalating an unsafe interaction.
- Review unfamiliar fees. Code 10 guidance does not establish a standard fee. If a related charge appears, record the exact statement label and request a written explanation of its basis.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Code 10 Authorization mean the transaction is approved?
No. A Code 10 request alerts the authorization center to a concern. Follow the response and instructions you receive, and do not complete a declined transaction. Even a separate authorization approval does not prove that the person presenting the card is the genuine cardholder.
Is there a fee for a Code 10 Authorization?
The available guidance does not state a standard Code 10 fee or amount. If you see a charge you believe is related, note the exact statement description and request a written explanation of what triggered it and how it is calculated.
Does Code 10 always mean a fraud alert?
No. In the Code 10 Authorization procedure, it refers to an alert about a suspicious transaction. Visa also uses response code 10 to mean partial approval in its partial-authorization service. The meanings depend on the context.