Credit Card Transaction types

Pre-Authorizations and Completions (Advices)

A Pre-Authorization transaction starts the purchase process by confirming that the Pre-authorization amount is available on the card and then placing a hold on that amount. This is useful if the final amount of the transaction is not known.  An Advice transaction completes or cancels a Pre-Authorization. Once the final amount of the Purchase transaction is known, an Advice transaction MUST be performed to complete the Purchase process and transfer those funds to your business account.

Note:  If you processed a Pre-Authorization transaction and no longer need to complete it (e.g. the cardholder chose another method of payment when the final amount was known) you can remove the Pre-Auth from the terminal memory by deleting or cancelling it to ensure that it is not completed accidentally.

Pre-Authorizations

Pre-Authorization transactions are commonly used in hotel, restaurant and car rental environments where the final amount of the sale is unknown when the card is first swiped. In these service-based environments, the Pre-Authorization transaction is often set as the default transaction started from the READY screen.

Note:  Pre-Authorizations can only be performed using chip functionality if the CHIP CARD PRE-AUTH parameter is set to YES on the terminal.

You can process a Pre-Authorization from the (Purchase default) READY screen.
           OR
You can process a Pre-Authorization from the (Pre-Auth default) READY screen.

Authorization and Capture

This is the most common type of credit card transaction. The amount is sent for authorization, and if approved, is automatically submitted for settlement.

Authorization Only

This transaction type is sent for authorization only. The transaction will not be sent for settlement until the credit card transaction type Prior Authorization and Capture (see definition below) is submitted, or the transaction is submitted for capture manually in the Merchant Interface.
If action for the Authorization Only transaction is not taken on the payment gateway within 30 days, the authorization expires and is no longer available for capture. A new Authorization Only transaction would then have to be submitted to obtain a new authorization code.
You can submit Authorization Only transactions if you want to verify the availability of funds on the customer’s credit card before finalizing the transaction. This transaction type can also be submitted in the event that you do not currently have an item in stock or you want to review orders before shipping goods.

Note: If you are using SIM,you can configure  the hosted payment form to submit either Authorization and Capture or Authorization Only transactions. Please communicate to your Web developer your preferences regarding which of these credit card transaction types should be used for your website.

Prior Authorization and Capture

This transaction type is used to complete an Authorization Only transaction that was successfully authorized through the payment gateway.

Note: An Authorization Only and a Prior Authorization and Capture together are considered one complete transaction. Once the Prior Authorization and Capture is submitted, the transaction will be sent for settlement.

The payment gateway accepts this transaction type and initiates settlement if the following conditions are met:

• The original Authorization Only transaction was submitted within the previous 30 days (Authorization Only transactions expire on the payment gateway after 30 days).
• The transaction is submitted with the valid Transaction ID of an original, successfully authorized, Authorization Only transaction.
• The original transaction is not already settled, expired or errored.
• The amount being requested for capture is less than or equal to the original authorized amount.

For this transaction type, the amount is only required in the event that a Prior Authorization and Capture is submitted for an amount that is less than the amount of the original Authorization Only transaction. If no amount is submitted, the payment gateway will initiate settlement for the amount of the original authorized transaction.

Capture Only

This transaction type is used to complete a previously authorized transaction that was not originally submitted through the payment gateway or that required voice authorization.
The payment gateway accepts Capture Only transactions if the following conditions are met:

·         The transaction is submitted with the valid authorization code issued to the merchant to complete the transaction.

·         The transaction is submitted with the customer’s full credit card number and expiration date.

Credit

This transaction type is used to refund a customer for a transaction that was originally processed and successfully settled through the payment gateway.
The payment gateway accepts Credits if the following conditions are met:

·         The transaction is submitted with the valid Transaction ID of an original, successfully settled transaction.

·         The amount being requested for refund is less than or equal to the original settled amount.

·         The sum amount of multiple Credit transactions submitted against the original transaction is less than or equal to the original settled amount.

·         At least the last four digits of the credit card number used for the original, successfully settled transaction are submitted. An expiration date is not required.

·         The transaction is submitted within 120 days of the settlement date of the original transaction.

Void

This transaction type is used to cancel an original transaction that not yet settled and prevents it from being sent for settlement. A Void can be submitted against any other transaction type.

Note: If you are not sure whether a transaction is settled, you can attempt to submit a Void first. If the Void errors, the original transaction is likely settled, in which case you can submit a Credit for the transaction.

The payment gateway accepts Voids if the following conditions are met:

·         The transaction is submitted with the valid Transaction ID of an original, successfully authorized transaction.

·         The original transaction is not already settled, expired or errored.

Sale

Bills the purchaser's credit card immediately. When PayPal receives authorization from the processor, we immediately schedule it for settlement.
If you select this option, perform these following steps:

1.      Specify a Credit Card Number that will be billed for the transaction.

2.      If you are using a pre-paid card number, enter the pre-paid card number in the Credit Card Number field.

2.      For Transaction Mode, select Live or Test transaction from the drop-down menu.

3.      Click Submit.

Voice Authorization

Approves off-line transactions processed by telephoning the cardholder's bank. Some transactions cannot be authorized over the Internet (for example, high monetary amounts). If the transaction is approved, the bank provided you with a Voice Authorization number (also called Authorization Code or AUTHCODE). Once a Voice Authorization transaction has been approved, it is treated like a Sale or a Delayed Capture transaction.
If you select this option, perform this following steps:

1.      Specify a Credit Card Number that will be billed for the transaction.

2.      For Transaction Mode, select Live or Test transaction from the drop-down menu.

3.      Enter the Voice Authorization Number for the transaction.

4.      Click Submit.

Force (Capture)

A Force transaction takes an existing authorization number obtained from an Auth Only transaction and forces the sale through so the merchant may receive those funds. Unused funds from an authorization are immediately freed for the customer to use.