> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.switch.vaultera.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 3DS Step-up Retries

**3DS Step-up Retries** is a Vaultera Switch feature designed to improve the success rate of **non-3DS card payments**. If a non-3DS transaction fails with an error suggesting a 3D Secure (3DS) authentication could resolve the issue, Vaultera Switch **automatically retries the payment with 3DS authentication** on the **same payment processor**.

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## 🎯 Why Use 3DS Step-up Retry?

| Benefit                      | Description                                                          |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ✅ **Higher Success Rate**    | Recovers failed non-3DS payments by upgrading to 3DS authentication. |
| 🔐 **Fraud Protection**      | Reduces fraud by enforcing customer authentication.                  |
| 💸 **Chargeback Protection** | Helps shift liability by using 3DS verification.                     |

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## 🛠️ How It Works

1. A non-3DS payment attempt fails.
2. Vaultera Switch detects a retryable error (e.g., fraud or 3DS required).
3. Vaultera Switch **automatically retries the same transaction** with **3DS enabled** using the **same processor**.
4. The user is prompted to complete the 3DS challenge.
5. If successful, the payment proceeds; if not, it fails gracefully.

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## 🧾 Example Errors That Trigger Step-up Retry

* Card issuer requires 3DS
* Fraud-related soft declines
* "Authentication Required" error messages

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## 🧩 Supported Processors

Currently supported processors for 3DS Step-up Retries include:

* **Bluesnap**
* **Stripe**

> ✅ To request support for other processors, please submit a feature request to \[Vaultera [switch@vaultera.co](mailto:switch@vaultera.co)]\(mailto:Vaultera [switch@vaultera.co](mailto:switch@vaultera.co))

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## 🚀 How to Enable 3DS Step-up Retry

To activate this feature:

1. Email your request to **\[Vaultera [switch@vaultera.co](mailto:switch@vaultera.co)]\(mailto:Vaultera [switch@vaultera.co](mailto:switch@vaultera.co))**.
2. Include confirmation from your end that you want to enable **3DS Step-up Retry** for your business profile.

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## 🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

### 🔹 What is the user experience like?

* Initially, the customer enters their card details as usual.
* If the payment fails and 3DS Step-up is triggered, the customer will see a **3DS challenge screen** (e.g., OTP or biometric).
* After completing 3DS, the payment is retried and processed.

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### 🔹 What's the difference between Smart Retry and 3DS Step-up Retry?

| Smart Retry                                               | 3DS Step-up Retry                                                      |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Retries failed payments with an **alternative processor** | Retries **non-3DS failed payments** with **3DS on the same processor** |
| Handles **technical and business failures**               | Targets **authentication-related failures**                            |
| Broader coverage of failure cases                         | Specific to fraud/3DS-required failures                                |

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### 🔹 What if a failure qualifies for both Smart Retry and 3DS Step-up Retry?

Vaultera Switch will **prioritize 3DS Step-up Retry** because:

* It reduces chargeback risk.
* It enforces authentication for potentially risky transactions.
* It maintains consistency by using the same processor.