Processing Payment Cards

The processing of payment cards may comprise of two or more steps:

1. Optional step of pre-authorization:  EBMS allows the user to authorize a payment card before the transaction is completed. This authorization step will verify that the credit card is valid and that funds are available. This step will hold the amount of funds specified on the sales order. The length of time that these funds are held varies and is based on the policy of the merchant account. The amount of the transaction can be changed until the next step is completed.

2. Completing the transaction:  The payment card debit transaction is completed during this step. The amount of the transaction cannot be changed after the completion step. This step happens automatically when the EBMS sales invoice is processed. The user has the option to complete this step before the invoice is processed.

3. Settlement of funds:  The "end of day" batch settlement of the transactions is done either by terminal settle or host settle:

1. Host Settle - The settlement process is initiated by the merchant account and is often scheduled during the night.

2. Terminal Settle - This method requires the user or the Payware software to initiate the settlement. The settlement should be scheduled or manually processed after each days sales.

4. Reconciliation of Deposits:  The credit card cash account within EBMS must be reconciled to reflect the settlement of funds within the merchant account. Review the Reconciliation of Deposit section for more details.

Pre-authorize or Verify Card

EBMS give the user the options to either verify or pre-authorize a payment card.  

The only difference between these 2 options is that the Verify Card option pre-authorizes for ONLY $0.50 regardless of the payment amount. The customer will see a pending $0.50 transaction that will clear in 3-5 business days. The purpose of the Verify Card is to make sure the payment card is valid and store the card on the invoice (or customer account for stored cards). The user must manually enter a payment or run the stored card for the invoice amount when processing the payment.  EBMS does not send a payment completion command during the invoice process like the Pre-Authorize option. The Verify Card option does allow the user to process a payment using another payment method or card.  

One limitation of the Pre-Authorize option is that once you process a pre-authorize process and the payment card settlement has completed, the pre-authorize process can not be reversed or voided.  The result is that if the client returns and wants to pay using a different card or payment method, EBMS will not be able to void the pre-authorise even when another payment is processed.  

Summary: Use the Pre-Authorize option to verify the funds are available for the full payment amount and the same card is used to make the final payment (ideally within 3 days).  Use the Verify Card to verify the card and capture the card info within the invoice or customer account but need the flexibility to change cards or payment methods.   Use the recommended Verify Card option in many scenarios because of the flexibility.

A payment card amount can be pre-authorized by completing the following steps:

1. Open a sales order - Review the Sales Orders > Entering a Sales Order section for more details.

2. Click on the credit card payment option and enter the credit card information. Review the Invoices > Payment Methods and Terms section for more details on entering payment card information.

3. Select File > Save and Apply Down Payment from the sales order menu as shown below:
   

4. Select one of the three options:

1. Select Charge credit card now to complete the credit card transaction.

2. Select Pre-authorize payment to only authorize the card.

3. Select Store credit card for future payments of this invoice to securely store the credit card information within the sales order for future processing. This step does not pre-authorize the card.
   

5. Click the OK and Print button to complete the process and generate a payment receipt. Click the OK \ No Print to process without printing a receipt.

The pre-authorizations can be viewed within the sales order by selecting View > Pre-Authorize CC Payments from the sales order menu.

Completing the Transaction

Select the Credit/Debit Card payment method when processing the sales order to complete the credit card transaction. The payment card transaction is completed automatically if the card was pre-authorized. Review the Invoices > Payment Methods and Terms section for more details on entering payment card information.

View the pre-authorized transactions to manually complete the transaction before the invoice is processed. Select View > Pre-Authorize CC Payments to view the following dialog:

Click on the Complete button to complete the payment card transactions. Click on the Void button to void the pre-authorization.  

Select View - Processed Payments from the sales order menu to view or void completed payment card transactions as shown below:

Click the Transactions button to view the general ledger transaction detail.

Click the Void button to void the selected transaction. The transaction can only be voided before credit card settlement. Create a credit transaction if the original transaction can not be voided.