Visa Purchase Protection

Layers of Security

Visa has developed multiple layers of fraud prevention and detection systems and programs. It's one more way that Visa's got your back.

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1. Zero Liability

Use your Visa card to make purchases anywhere and you're protected from unauthorized use of your card or account information. With the Visa Zero Liability policy1, your liability for unauthorized transactions2 is $0-you pay nothing.

1 Visa's Zero Liability Policy covers Canada-issued cards and does not apply to anonymous Visa Prepaid*, Visa Purchasing, Visa Corporate, Visa Commercial, or any transactions not processed by Visa. Visa Cardholders must notify their financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please refer to your issuer cardholder documentation.

*A Visa Prepaid Card will be considered anonymous if the cardholder's identity has not been validated by the issuing financial institution (for example, a Visa Prepaid Gift Card).

2 Financial institutions may exclude from the Zero Liability policy a transaction made by a person authorized to transact business on the account and/or a transaction made by a cardholder that exceeds the authority given by the account owner. 

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2. Visa Secure

When you shop online and see the Visa Secure badge on participating merchant sites, this means your online purchases are secured with Visa. Visa has developed a program that helps confirm your identity when you make an online purchase. This service helps make shopping online more secure by protecting against unauthorized use of your Visa card.

Whether you’re using a desktop, mobile or other digital device, you may be guided through an additional check to verify your identity. This helps your issuer know you’re really you, and it better protects you from fraud.

Learn more about Visa Secure

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3. Neural Networks

Neural Networks monitor Visa card transactions 24/7 looking for unusual purchasing situations, such as your card being used to make a purchase in both Munich and Moncton at the same time.

If anything suspicious like this is detected, you'll be contacted by the financial institution that issues your Visa card.

Add this to Visa's other layers of security and it's just one more way that Visa's got your back.

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4. EMV Chip Security

Visa cards in Canada use EMV chip technology to help secure payments.

Chip cards are nearly impossible to counterfeit, and are being used in more than 130 countries - making travelling with your Visa card even easier.

Chip technology is just one of Visa’s many layers of security – and one more way that Visa’s got your back.

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5. Address Verification

With the Address Verification Service, when you use your Visa card to make a purchase online, by mail, or by phone, the merchant may request the processing financial institution to verify your address.

Shutting one more door on credit card fraud. Add this to Visa's other layers of security and it's just one more way that Visa's got your back.

 

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6. Three Digit Code

The Three-Digit Code, or CVV2, is used by merchants who accept Visa cards to ensure that the purchaser is in possession of a genuine card.

So when you are making a phone or online order, it's like you're virtually there.

Add this to Visa's other layer of security and it's just one more way that Visa's got your back.

Zero Liability Policy

Use your Visa card to shop anywhere--whether it's on the Internet or in a store--and you are protected from unauthorized use of your VISA card. The Visa Zero Liability policy eliminates consumer liability for fraudulent transactions.

No consumer liability on fraudulent transactions

The Visa Zero Liability policy provides you with protection against fraud**.

Should someone steal your Visa card number, you pay nothing for their fraudulent activity. This policy applies to any item purchased with your Visa card or card number including purchases made through the Internet.

**Visa cardholders must establish that the transaction is not their responsibility as per all applicable agreements of the issuing financial institution. Does not apply to ABM transactions or PIN transactions not processed by Visa. Individual provisional credit amounts may be withheld, delayed, limited, or rescinded by an issuer based on factors such as gross negligence or fraud, delay in reporting unauthorized use, investigation and verification of claim, and account standing and history

If you notice fraudulent activity on your card, promptly contact your financial institution to report it.

It is important to continually monitor your monthly statement to identify any unauthorized transactions. Your cardholder agreement defines unauthorized transactions.

The Visa E-Promise

The Visa E-Promise program is designed specifically to add an extra layer of protection for Visa cardholders shopping online, by mail or by phone.

The Visa E-Promise program builds on existing Visa initiatives such as Verified by Visa and Zero Cardholder Liability, to provide Visa cardholders with protection.

Designed to help make the online environment more welcoming to consumers, the Visa E-Promise assures cardholders that if they have tried to (and have been unsuccessful) resolve a dispute with an online, phone order or mail order merchant, they can contact their Visa card issuer directly to initiate whatever action may be available to the issuer to resolve the credit card charge in question. 1

1 Applies where the cardholder has lawfully cancelled his agreement in accordance with the merchant's cancellation policy with an online, phone or mail-order merchant; or the item received is different from what was ordered and documentation exists to support the claim. Any refund may be subject to conditions, such as cardholder's return of goods.

Providing you with heightened peace of mind

The Visa E-Promise offers you a new avenue to settle disputes you may encounter while shopping online, by mail or by phone. 

Visa cardholders can request their issuer cancel or reverse a charge where the merchant has not refunded the cardholder when:

 

  • The cardholder has lawfully cancelled their agreement in accordance with the online, phone or mail order merchant's cancellation policy; or
  • The purchased item has not been received or the cardholder can prove that the item is different from what was ordered and has been returned to the merchant.

Once contacted by the Visa cardholder, and provided that the grounds for the request are legitimate, the Visa issuer will act on the cardholder request, investigate the dispute and provide a refund to the cardholder if the claims are validated.

By ensuring Visa cardholders know they have the right to initiate action to get their money back for purchases made online, by phone or by mail that have been lawfully cancelled, returned or not received, Visa cardholders can feel even more secure about their shopping experiences.