How do I authenticate my credit card?

If you are an employer and you want to pay a service provider using your Visa, MasterCard or American Express, you need to authenticate your credit card with Elance.  Credit Card authentication helps reduce online fraud and increases the security of Elance transactions for yourself and everyone in the Elance community. Once your credit card has been authenticated, you will be able to use it to make all future payments in Elance.

If you prefer to pay your provider using PayPal, you will not need to authenticate your credit card.  Click here for more information on using PayPal at Elance.

Elance authentication process is only available for credit cards with billing addresses in supported countries.  Click here for the list of supported countries. If your credit card country is not supported, you have the option of using PayPal.

Credit card authentication involves the following actions:

Step A: Two small distinct amounts are charged on your credit card if you paid the Elance Activation Deposit during registration OR if you added a new credit card in MyElance > My Accounts > Account Details. (Please note that these are completely REFUNDED to you in 10 days. THIS IS NOT A FEE)

Step B: After looking up these amounts on your online or paper billing statement, you will then enter the two amounts on MyElance > My Accounts. > Account Details.  If they match up, you're authenticated! 

Step by step instructions to complete authentication:

To authenticate your credit card:

1. Login to the MyElance Main Menu.

If you are not logged in, enter your Elance username and password.

2. Click the 'My Account' > 'Account Details' link on the left panel.

3. If there is no credit card listed, click on the 'Enter New Credit Card' button and enter your credit card information and check the 'Authentication' checkbox. If you already have a credit card listed, click on the 'Authenticate' link to the right of your credit card number.

4. On the next page, you will see the approximate amounts as well as the date that the charges were made.   (These 2 charges never exceed US$10 total and are fully refunded in 10 days.)

5. Please review your credit card statement or contact your credit card issuer to retrieve the EXACT amounts.

IMPORTANT: The two amounts charged to your credit card may not show up immediately in your credit card account. Visa and MasterCard may take up 3 or 4 business days. American Express may take up to 5 business days. In some cases, the two charge amounts will both appear as $1.00.  In such cases, the amounts are not accurate. Please contact the credit card issuer to obtain the actual amounts.

6. Login to MyElance and go to your 'My Account' >  'Account Details' page. Click the Confirm Authentication link next to the credit card number. Enter the exact amounts from step 5 as verified by your credit card company or statement, regardless of your local currency.  If the amounts are correct, you will see a confirmation page stating that your card has been authenticated.

IMPORTANT: You have up to 180 days to complete the authentication process. If 180 days have passed and you still want to authenticate your credit card, you will need to start the process again.