Please note that although you will see this feature under the Merchant menu in Engage Settings, this feature will not be activated until August 1, 2026. If you do not want to utilize this feature, you can follow the steps below to disable it.
What is Secure Mode?
Secure mode is an additional fraud prevention feature that uses Address Verfication Service (AVS). AVS compares the billing address entered by the user with the address on file with the card issuer (Visa, MC, Discover, AMEX). If the address does not match, the transaction will not go through.
How do I enable Secure Mode?
There is nothing you need to do to enable secure mode. It is activated for all merchants by default.
Verification Cost
When a giver/payer adds or updates their payment method, there is a verification fee that is applied because our processor communicates with the user’s payment issuer (card or bank). There is also an additional $0.01 charge to verify the user’s address information. The verification fee depends on what transaction fee plan you are on, Standard or Flat ACH.
The verification fee is only charged when a giver/payer adds or updates their payment method but does not make a transaction at that time. When a giver/payer adds or updates their payment method at the same time they make an immediate transaction, only the $0.01 is charged as the processor is already talking with the user’s payment issuer.
The verification fee will be applied when adding a new payment method for a future or recurring gift since the transactions are not created at the same time the payment method is verified and stored.
Standard Rates
The verification fee for merchants with standard rates is $0.30 + $0.01.
Scenario #1
A giver adds or updates their payment method on August 1st. They have a scheduled gift for August 20th.
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On August 1st you will be charged $0.30 + $0.01 to contact the card issuer and to verify the card and address information.
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On August 20th you will be charge the standard transaction rate.
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$0.30 per transaction + 2.9% (Visa/MasterCard/Discover)
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$0.30 per transaction + 3.5% (American Express)
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Scenario #2
A guest makes a one-time gift today or pays an Event Registration Fee, providing card information at the time of the gift/payment.
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They will only be charged the tranditional transaction rate + $0.01.
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$0.30 per transaction + $0.01 + 2.9% (Visa/MasterCard/Discover)
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$0.30 per transaction + $0.01 + 3.5% (American Express)
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Flat ACH Rates
The verification fee for users that use our Flat ACH rate is $0.50 + $0.01.
Scenario #1
A giver adds or updates their payment method on August 1st. They have a scheduled gift for August 20th.
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On August 1st you will be charged $0.50 + $0.01 to contact the card issuer and to verify the card and address information.
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On August 20th you will be charge the Flat ACH transaction rate.
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$0.50 per transaction + 3.5% (Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express)
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Scenario #2
A guest makes a one-time gift today or pays an Event Registration Fee, providing card information at the time of the gift/payment.
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They will only be charged the Flat ACH transaction rate + $0.01.
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$0.50 per transaction + $0.01 + 3.5% (Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express)
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Verification Fee Reporting
TO DO
Verification fees will appear in Search Transactions and Transaction Custom Listing and Export.
They will appear in Deposit Processing.
Talk about where to set the expense account for these.
How do I Disable Secure Mode?
We strongly recommend you do NOT disable secure mode. Additional verification checks help prevent fraudulent charges that can incur additional fees.
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Secure Mode is automatically enabled. However, if you previously disabled this feature, from within CDM+ go to Program → CDM+ Engage → Settings.
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Click Merchant from the left sidebar and scroll to the bottom of the page to the Secure Mode section. Select Disable Secure Mode (not recommended) and Save your changes.