Valid Visa credit card numbers follow a specific formula. The sixteen digits on a valid Visa card always begin with the number four.
The Rules
Credit card numbers are not arbitrarily created from random numbers. Instead, all valid Visa credit card numbers adhere to strict standards which are used as safeguards to ensure that it is not easy to create fake account numbers which are valid for use for purchases.
Here are some of the ways to tell if Visa numbers are valid:
- How many digits are in the card number? All Visa cards have sixteen digits in the account number. Any more or less number of digits, and the account number is invalid.
- Does the account number start with the number four? Visa cards all start with the number four, just like MasterCards always start with the number five. If a card with a Visa logo features a beginning number other than four, it's invalid.
These quick checks aren't foolproof, of course, because it's entirely possible to create invalid Visa numbers that are sixteen digits in length and begin with the number four. Computer programs exist to check the validity of Visa numbers, but this method is far too complicated to be accomplished by a quick glance.
How do these programs work? All Visa cards adhere to a system that runs numbers through a mathematical formula that checks the sixteen digits against the portion of the account number that is considered the "check digit." The check digit is the final number of the sixteen digits comprising of the Visa card number. An invalid Visa card number can quickly be discovered using this safeguard, but this is almost always accomplished using an automated computer program.
Activated Cards
When a cardholder receives a new Visa card in the mail, the card must be activated prior to use. The activation can usually be accomplished one of three ways, depending on the procedures prescribed by the issuer:
- Call a toll-free number to request activation.
- Visit a specific website to activate the card.
- Use the card at an ATM.
Until the card is activated, the numbers on the Visa card are not valid and the card cannot be used to make a purchase or receive a cash advance. Valid Visa credit card numbers have been issued by an authentic source and have been activated by the authorized cardholder.
Help with Valid Visa Credit Card Numbers
Cardholders who find themselves in the frustrating situation of having a Visa card declined for a purchase may be in a situation where the card numbers aren't valid, but oftentimes there is something else causing the authorization denial.
- The balance: Will this purchase exceed your available credit?
- The bill: Have you made your monthly minimum payment in a timely manner? Many credit card companies will refuse authorizations if the account is not up to date.
- Identity theft problems: Some credit card companies will deny access to the account if there is a fear of identity theft. For example, if you make a purchase that is out of the ordinary or is at a distant location, the authorization may be denied until a representative can get in contact with you.
- The status: Did you activate the card? If the card was never activated then it cannot be used for purchases. Have you reported your card as lost or stolen? If so, your current account number will probably be cancelled, making your current card invalid. A new card and account number will be mailed to you.
- The system: Sometimes a credit card is declined simply because the system authorizing the transaction isn't working. This is often a temporary problem and can be remedied quickly.
If none of the above items pertain to your situation, contact the issuer of the card. Most Visa cards have toll-free phone numbers on the back that will connect you directly with a representative who will be able to figure out why your Visa card isn't working. It is unlikely that the culprit is an invalid Visa card number, but it isn't impossible.
If you cannot find a phone number to contact a representative from the card issuer, search through the list on Visa's website to find the financial institution that issued your card.
Valid Visa Credit Card Numbers
