Feature Focus Guide:
Address Verification
System
Table of Contents
About Address Verification System......................................................................................... 3
Configuring Address Verification System................................................................................ 4
Configuring a Tender to Prompt for the Zip Code................................................................ 4
Provide the Ability to Bypass the Zip Code Prompt ............................................................. 5
Refresh Data........................................................................................................................ 6
Using Address Verification System......................................................................................... 7
Feature History ...................................................................................................................... 8
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Address Verification System
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About Address Verification System
Address Verification System at a Glance
Core Product
Separate License Required?
Other References
Aloha Quick Service and Aloha Table Service
Yes
Aloha Quick Service Reference Guide; Aloha Table Service
Reference Guide
To increase fraud protection, several credit card companies offer reductions in credit card fees to merchants, if they submit the cardholder’s Zip Code with the transaction for verification. This verification is
referred to as an Address Verification System (AVS). The Aloha system can capture and include the cardholder’s Zip Code in the files sent to certain processors.
The following table summarizes processors accepting the AVS code, as of the date of publication:
Processors Accepting the AVS Code with Aloha
BA Merchant Services
Paymentech (Chase Paymentech)
RBS Lynk
Visanet (TSys)
Contact your processor for specific information about AVS code acceptance and related requirements,
before configuring Aloha to request the AVS code.
Address Verification System
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Configuring Address Verification System
This section discusses the configuration of the Aloha POS system to support AVS. If you are an experienced user, refer to Procedures at a Glance for abbreviated steps. If you prefer more detail, continue reading this document. To configure a basic break rule, perform the following procedures.
Procedures at a Glance
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regarding the task. Click Previous View
to return to this location and proceed to the next step.
1. Access Maintenance > Payments > Tenders to configure which tenders prompt for the cardholder’s Zip Code. See page 4.
2. Access Maintenance > Labor > Access Levels > Financial 2 tab and select ‘Override Security
Verification’ to allow an employee access to override the entry of the cardholder’s Zip Code. See
page 5.
3. Access Utilities > Refresh Data to update the information on the FOH terminals, or wait for the
End-of-Day (EOD) process to accomplish the data refresh for you. See page 6.
Configuring a Tender to Prompt for the Zip Code
Using settings in the Tenders function, you must define each credit card tender for which you want to
prompt for the Zip Code. You can enforce the entry of the Zip Code for all transactions, or only those in
which you enter the card number manually. You can also specify the prompt text to appear on the screen,
and the minimum number of digits you can enter for the Zip Code.
Be aware that although you configure a tender to prompt for the cardholder’s Zip Code, the processor may disregard the entry. You must use a processor for which the Aloha system supports
AVS. Refer to “Processors Accepting the AVS Code with Aloha” on page 3
To configure a tender to prompt for the Zip Code:
1. Select Maintenance > Payments > Tenders > Tender tab.
2. From the ‘Number’ drop-down list, select a credit card tender for which to prompt for the Zip
Code.
3. Select the Identification tab.
4. Select Require Identification.
5. Complete the options on the Identification tab, as appropriate.
Address Verification System
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6. Select the Security Verifications tab. The appearance of this tab is the same for Quick Service
and Table Service.
Figure 1 Tenders - Security Verifications Tab
7. Select Enter Address Verification Code to enable the options in the Address Verification group
box.
8. Select All Cards to require the entry of the Zip Code for all transactions applied with this tender,
whether you enter the card number manually or electronically. Clear this option if you want to
prompt only for the Zip Code for manually entered cards.
9. From the ‘# of Characters’ drop-down list, select the minimum required number of characters,
or digits you can enter for the Zip Code. For example, if Zip Codes in your region contain five digits, select 5.
10. Select Numeric Only to require numeric entries only for the Zip Code. Clear this option if you
want to accept alphanumeric entries.
11. Type up to 20 characters of text to appear as the prompt, such as ‘Billing Zip Code.’
12. Click Save.
13. Repeat this procedure for each credit card tender for which you want to require the entry of the
Zip Code.
14. Exit the Tenders function.
Provide the Ability to Bypass the Zip Code Prompt
If you need to bypass the entry of the Zip Code, you can use access levels to configure the system to allow
certain employees, such as a manager, to bypass the prompt. When you do not enter the Zip Code in the
FOH, the manager approval screen appears, requiring an employee with access to enter their password
before continuing. If you do not configure the system to allow an employee to bypass the prompt, an error
message appears stating you must enter the verification.
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To provide the ability to bypass the Zip Code prompt:
1. Select Maintenance > Labor > Access Levels > Financial tab. The appearance of this tab is the
same for Quick Service and Table Service.
Figure 2 Access Levels - Financial 2 Tab
2. From the ‘Level’ drop-down list, select an access level, such as Manager.
3. Select Override Security Verification.
The ‘Override Security Verification’ option also overrides the security code and start date entries
configured in Maintenance > Payments > Tenders > Security Verification.
4. Click Save.
5. Repeat this procedure for each access level that can override the entry of the Zip Code.
6. Exit the Access Levels function.
Refresh Data
Once you complete these steps, you can select Utilities/Refresh to run a system refresh, or allow the FOH
to update after each EOD (End-of-Day). The changes you make in the BOH become available for use on
the FOH terminals. Be aware that a refresh brings down the FOH terminals momentarily and relaunches
the program. Never perform a refresh during peak hours of operation.
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Using Address Verification System
When you require Zip Code verification, the Security Verification screen appears when you enter the transaction amount on the credit card screen, and only on the initial request to the processor. Tip adjustments do
not require the entry of the Zip Code.
The AVS code does not impact if the transaction is approved or declined; however, Paymentech and RBS
Lynk return a response code that prints on the credit card voucher. If the response indicates the Zip Code
does not match the information associated with the cardholder, the processor charges the merchant a downgrade fee for the transaction.
To receive a list of response codes, contact Paymentech or RBS Lynk.
To use the Zip Code prompt:
1. With the check displayed in the guest check window, select a credit card tender configured to
require the Zip Code.
2. Enter the sales amount, tip amount, and expiration date, as required, and touch OK. The Security Verification screen appears.
Figure 3 Security Verification Screen
3. With the information provided by the guest, enter the Zip Code of the cardholder, using the
numeric keypad, and touch OK.
If you do not enter the Zip Code, the Manager Approval screen appears. A manager, or an
employee with access, must enter their employee number and touch OK to bypass the entry of the
Zip Code and continue with the procedure.
4. Close the check as normal.
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For Paymentech or RBS Lynk, a response code is returned and printed on the voucher.
Figure 4 AVS Response Code Example
If the code indicates the Zip Code does not match, you can perform any of the following:
•
•
Void the transaction and ask for another form of payment.
Accept the transaction and accept the higher transaction fee from the processor.
Feature History
Supported Versions
Description
Aloha EDC v5.3.21
Aloha Quick Service v5.3.21
Aloha Table Service v5.3.21
Aloha EDC v6.4.1
Aloha Quick Service v6.5.1
Aloha Table Service v6.5.1
Introduced support for AVS with the Aloha POS system.
Address Verification System
Added Paymentech, RBS, and BAMS as supported processors for AVS.
Also implemented support for returning the AVS response code for Paymentech and RBS Lynk processors.
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