Address Verification Service (AVS)

A service that reduces credit card fraud by verifying the cardholder’s address information when the physical card isn’t available to swipe through an MSR device (such as with telephone orders). AVS processing doesn’t affect whether the charge is approved. But, AVS does indicate whether or not the address provided by the customer matches the address on file with the credit card company so that the merchant can decide whether or not to process the charge. May impact credit card processing rates.