address verification system (AVS)

An Address Verification System(AVS) is a system used to verify credit card users.

AVS systems check the address on the credit card against the holder's billing address on file at the credit card center. Furthermore, the credit card validity and the card code, the Card Validation Code (CVC). If the information does not match, the AVS system indicates the error. The AVS system only compares the numerical values of the postal code, the house number or the CVC code.

The AVS service is supported by Visa, Mastercard and American Express in North American countries, and by the first two in the UK.