Authorize.Net CIM: Explaining Validation Types

Validating card details is an important step in securing your checkout. From version 5.0 of our extension, we offer two validation methods that are handled by Authorize.Net as they removed the "none" option that existed in the past:

• Test Mode: Validate fields and expiration date
• Live Mode: Run $0.01 test transaction first (*extra transaction fee)

Test Mode

The test mode will query Authorize.Net but will not submit a transaction. If you have email receipts enabled you will see these come in with the following information:

************* TEST MODE *************

...

========= ORDER INFORMATION =========
Invoice : none
Description : Test transaction for ValidateCustomerPaymentProfile.
Amount : 1.00 (USD)
Payment Method: Visa xxxxXXXX
Transaction Type: Authorization Only

As this does not create an actual transaction, there are no fees involved and the customer will not see any charge nor will you see it in your Authorize.Net dashboard.

NOTE: At this time for the Hosted form, especially for Payment Options and 'save info' forms, this will run at least once regardless of your validation mode settings. This may mean you see it run twice if set to test mode, or alongside live mode if that is set.

Live Mode

The live mode will create an actual test transaction with Authorize.Net, the amount will vary based on the card type or MSP. This amount will be voided and will offer more sufficient validation of the card being submitted, at the cost of paying for an additional transaction per order. If you have email receipts enabled you will see a similar message as the one shown above but it will not include the "TEST MODE" line at the start of the email.

Suggestions

If you are seeing the test mode requests, this means you have email receipts enabled. We would recommend turning email receipts off as they are redundant in the scope of Magento and will not be seen anywhere else.