CVV — Frequently Asked Questions — Legacy

What is CVV?

CVV stands for Card Verification Value. It is the 3- or 4-digit security code printed on a credit card. CVV is used to verify that the person making the payment physically possesses the card, which helps reduce fraud for online or card-not-present transactions.

Does Sertifi store CVV?

No. Sertifi does not store CVV at any point. PCI compliance rules prohibit storing CVV after a transaction is processed. CVV is only used for the initial verification and is never retained.

Why might a transaction fail if CVV is not provided?

Some card issuers require CVV for certain transaction types. If CVV is not provided (for example, for tokenized or recurring payments), the card issuer may decline the transaction. This is a decision made by the card issuer, not by Sertifi.

Who controls whether CVV is required?

In most cases, your PMS (Property Management System) or POS (Point of Sale) provider controls whether CVV is required — not the payment gateway. If you need to remove a CVV requirement:

• Non-Marriott properties: Contact your PMS or POS provider to request removal.
• Marriott properties: Submit a ServiceNow ticket through Marriott's internal support portal requesting removal of the CVV requirement for the relevant transaction type.