Speaking strictly for the US, which is the biggest market, here's what can be done:
Yes, you can use services like Experian to perform consumer information validation. It will return many codes that allow a scoring test to be derived which is then used to determine the credibility of a consumer.
There is also StarCheck, which for 50% of the checking accounts in the US can be used to verify the bank account number. An additional step, but one that does not aid in the impulse purchase is a microdeposit that is then used as a PIN (what paypal does).
The probelem is that consumer profiling and account verification have no direct correlation.
In any event, and no matter what methods you choose to validate with, an ACH debit is the most effective and cost efficient means of getting the money.
Obviously, thee is more details to all this, but to keep it short....
