What is Stripe 3D Secure (3DS) authentication
๐What is 3D Secure?
3D Secure (3DS) is an extra layer of security for online credit/debit card payments. It's designed to prevent fraud by requiring customers to complete a verification step with their bank (e.g., entering a one-time passcode or approving the payment via their banking app).
Stripe uses 3D Secure 2, the latest version, which is faster and mobile-friendly.
๐ Learn more directly from Stripe:
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งHow it Impacts Parents (the Payers)
If a parent pays tuition or fees using a credit or debit card through a Onespot/Stripe-powered invoice:
- ๐งพSome transactions may require verification before completing the payment (depending on their bank and the region).
- ๐The parent might be redirected briefly to their bankโs page or app to approve the payment.
- ๐ฑThis could look like:
- A one-time passcode via text/email
- A Face ID or fingerprint request in their bank app
- Clicking "approve" in their online banking
๐กIf the parent doesn't complete the 3DS step, the payment will fail. Theyโll need to retry and finish verification for it to go through.
๐Why Itโs Important (Especially in the EU)
3D Secure is required by law in many places โ especially Europe (under PSD2) and some parts of Asia. So if you're working with international schools (like in Spain), many card payments will be 3DS-required by default.
๐งฉStripe + 3DS = Automatic
- It detects if the card or region requires it.
- It prompts the parent accordingly.
- No extra setup is needed on your side.
๐Summary for Parents
"Some card payments may require a quick extra verification step for security. Stripe handles this automatically and will prompt you if needed. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete your payment securely."