Recurring Billing Logic: How Subscriptions Bypass 3D Secure After the First Payment

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Why the second subscription payment is a golden window for legitimate transactions

Introduction: Trust Once Cultivated​

You pay for a Netflix subscription. The first payment requires 3D Secure (OTP), and you pass.
A month later, Netflix charges you automatically — no OTP, no confirmation, no questions asked.

This isn't a system error. It's a trust mechanism built into global payment standards.

And this second charge is the golden window for secure, low-risk transactions.

In this article, we'll explore how recurring payments work, why they're exempt from 3D Secure, and how to use this mechanism to your advantage.

Part 1: What is Recurring Billing?​

Technical definition​

Recurring billing is automatic, scheduled recurring debits from your card (monthly, weekly, etc.).

There are two types:

Type	Initiator	Requires 3DS?	Fraud Score
Customer-Initiated Transaction (CIT)	User (first payment)	Yes	High
Merchant-Initiated Transaction (MIT)	Merchant (recurring payments)	No	Short

Key insight:
MIT is an exception to the SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) rules, approved by PSD2 and Visa/Mastercard.

Part 2: Why is MIT exempt from 3D Secure?​

Regulatory framework​

Global payment systems (Visa, Mastercard) and regulators (ECB, FCA) allow 3DS exemption for MIT if the following conditions are met:

1. The first payment was made with 3DS (CIT),
2. The amount and frequency are fixed (or predictable),
3. The user has consented to automatic charges.

Example:

• Spotify Subscription: $10.99/month,
• First payment: 3DS + consent,
• All subsequent ones: MIT → without 3DS.

Part 3: Why is the second payment a golden window?​

Three reasons for low risk​

1. History of trust

• A successful first payment creates a baseline of trust,
• Fraud engines see: “This user has already been verified”.

2. Stability of parameters

• The amount, currency and recipient remain unchanged.
• This reduces the entropy of the transaction → the fraud score drops.

3. Absence of behavioral abnormalities

• MIT is initiated by the merchant server, not the user,
• There is no need to analyze cursor, input, session.

Field data (2026):

• CIT (first payment): fraud score = 85–95
• MIT (second+ payment): fraud score = 15–25

Part 4: How to Use MIT to Your Advantage​

Building Trust Strategy​

Step 1: Choose the right service

• Ideal platforms:
  • Netflix, Spotify, Adobe Creative Cloud,
  • Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus,
  • Cloudflare, AWS (if you need a tech profile).

Step 2: Successfully complete your first payment (CIT)

• Use a low amount (<$15),
• Make sure 3DS is successful,
• Save the card to your account.

Step 3: Wait for the automatic debit (MIT)

• After 30 days, the merchant will write off the payment as MIT,
• No 3DS, no manual confirmation,
• Success is guaranteed in 95% of cases.

Step 4: Scale

• After 2-3 successful MITs you can:
  • Increase the amount (change the tariff),
  • Use the same card on other services.

Example:

• Month 1: $10.99 (Spotify) → 3DS → success,
• Month 2: $10.99 (MIT) → without 3DS → success,
• Month 3: $19.99 (increasing rate) → MIT → success.

Part 5: Where does MIT work best?​

Top 5 Platforms for MIT​

Platform	Sum	Frequency	Good luck MIT
Spotify	$10.99	Monthly	98%
Netflix	$15.49	Monthly	97%
Adobe Creative Cloud	$20.99	Monthly	95%
Xbox Game Pass	$16.99	Monthly	96%
Cloudflare Pro	$20.00	Monthly	94%

Tip:
Avoid game subscriptions with variable prices (like Fortnite Crew) - they may require a 3DS when the price changes.

Part 6: Why Most Carders Fail​

Common Mistakes​

Error	Consequence
Attempting MIT without a successful CIT	Guaranteed decline — no history of trust
Changing IP/device between CIT and MIT	Consistency violation → fraud score increases
Using a high amount in the first payment	Increased risk of 3DS failure → no MIT

Field data (2026):
81% of MIT failures are due to failure to make a successful first payment.

Part 7: Practical Recommendations​

For maximum efficiency:​

1. Start with small amounts (<$15),
2. Use the same profile/IP for CIT and MIT,
3. Wait for the automatic debit - do not initiate it manually.
4. After 2-3 MITs you can increase the amount.

Avoid:​

• Variable Amount Subscriptions,
• Manual re-payment trigger (this is CIT, not MIT),
• Changing the card after the first payment.

Rule:
Trust is built once and used many times.

Conclusion: A second payment is not a repetition. It's a privilege.​

Recurring Billing Logic isn't just a convenience for users. It's a mechanism for building trust over time, approved by the payment systems themselves.

Final thought:
A true professional doesn't look for a way around the 3DS. He creates conditions where the 3DS is no longer needed.
Because in the world of fraud, time is your greatest ally.

Stay patient. Stay consistent.
And remember: in the world of payments, the second payment is gold.