Dear Sharon WSC Customers,

Please be made aware of an upcoming change in the processing of ALL credit/debit card payments made through the Sharon WSC Online and IVR(phone) payment portals. 

ZIP Code Validation for Web and IVR Payments

Tyler Technologies began updating the Chase payment process on January 14, 2026 to enhance ZIP code validation as an improvement to mitigate fraud. This change goes into effect for all credit and debit card transactions processed through existing Chase merchant accounts starting June 15, 2026.

When payers submit a card payment for processing, the ZIP code they enter must match the billing ZIP code on file with their card issuer. Payments with a mismatched ZIP code will be declined. This fraud prevention measure helps protect organizations and payers from unauthorized card use. As an enhanced security practice, it can also reduce the number of disputes related to fraudulent transactions.

What is affected?

All Chase credit and debit card transactions, including payments made with stored cards are affected. If a stored card uses an incorrect or outdated billing ZIP code, payments using that card will be declined. Payers will see an error message like:

AVS Fail: The billing address does not match the address on file for the credit card. Please check the ZIP code and try again.

Verify your payment information with your bank before trying again.  Confirm the ZIP code entered matches the ZIP code on the card issuer's billing address.  Please note that this is the address on file with the financial institution, not necessarily the address associated with the billing address or your mailing address.  

Common reasons for a billing ZIP code mismatch 

• The payer recently moved and has not updated their billing address with the card issuer.

• The card is associated with a work or secondary address.

• The bank has a different ZIP code format on file (5-digit vs. ZIP+4)

This change will affect ALL payments including accounts with pre-existing auto payments enabled.  We are encouraging all payers to verify this information before this change goes into effect to ensure a smooth and consistent experience.  

If you have any questions or need assistance, please let us know.

David Stout

General Manager

Sharon WSC