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Before using Authorize.net, make sure you set your default AVS settings!

When a card issuing bank receives an authorization request for a charge, they will confirm that the card number is valid, and verify that there are available funds to cover the requested amount. If the funds are available, the card issuing bank will reserve the funds, and return an authorization code that allows you to claim the funds during settlement. Note: this authorization does not represent guaranteed payments as cardholders retain chargeback dispute rights. Please read, study and implement these best practices to protect your business:
http://www.vantagecard.com/resources/ecommerce-best-practices.html

You should use the Address Verification Service (AVS) to get the lowest card not present Interchange rates. When using AVS, the card issuing bank also compares the cardholder's billing address on file to the address submitted with the transaction. The bank then returns an AVS response code, along with the authorization code, that indicates whether or not the billing address matches the bank's records. As the merchant, you decide whether or not to accept the transaction based on the AVS response code.

You may choose to automate this process of automatically declining a transaction based on the AVS response. However, Authorize.net's decline in this instant means something different than a decline from the issuing bank when funds are not available to hold. If you choose to have the Authorize.net system auto decline transactions that return a certain AVS codes, any transaction that is returned by the card issuing bank with that AVS response will be marked as Declined and will not be settled. 

However, even if a transaction is declined due to an AVS Mismatch, the authorization code, along with the hold on the authorized funds, will remain on the customer's card until the card issuing bank removes the authorization. As a result, the held funds may be subtracted from the customer's available balance, and an online statement may show the authorization request, which might be mistaken for an actual charge. Most card issuing banks will remove authorizations within 3-7 days if they are not claimed for settlement.

It is recommended that you change your AVS profile settings before you begin to process transactions with Authorize.net. Vantage recommends that you manually look at the AVS response, the CVV2 response and all other information you have available on the customer and their order before making a decision on proceeding with fulfillment.

For a helpful video tutorial regarding AVS, please go to http://www.authorize.net/videos .
If you need help adjusting your AVS setting, contact Authorize.net at: 877-447-3938 and give them your Payment Gateway ID #.