Authorize.Net FAQ

Authorize.net is a payment gateway that you obtain from your payment processor. Below we will discuss the differences between a payment gateway and a payment processor and what they are used for.

Definitions

How does the process work with PartyCenterSoftware.com

1. PartyCenterSoftware sends the payment information to the Payment Gateway
2. The Payment Gateway will authorize the transaction and send us the response
3. PartyCenterSoftware will then continue with the order
4. At the end of the day the Payment Gateway will batch the information into your Payment Processor

Note: We support for both card present and card not present.

Visual Flow

• My transactions are coming back declined? Most of my customer's cards come through but when they try to take the deposit online it comes back denied?
  • 9 times out of 10 this is due to the AVS Settings. The AVS settings are Address Verification Settings. They say how much of the address you want to verify. By default they are high. Zip Code, Street, and State must match. Doesn't sound like much but some people forget to put their billing address in and use their personal or home address. 2 options:
    • A. Add a text set that is large to the OBM that informs the users to check the address (we do this but 2 is always better than 1).
    • B. turn down the AVS settings by going to http://authorize.net and logging in. Go to the Account Tab and there is an AVS section.
  • Always offer to run the card over the phone for the customer if they call! You can take over the order on the management side from the Order Search screen.

• I need to change my API and TransKey or I don't have one.
  • Go to authorize.net and login. From here go to the Account tab. There is a section that says Obtain API and Transaction Key. Go into this section and answer the security questions. Then copy down the API and Transaction Key verbatim, any extra spaces will cause issues! Now go to your PCS and login. From ADMIN->Facility Info->Payment Acceptance->Edit. Click on the name of the account and update the 2 keys. Save Changes.

• How do I setup my Authorize.net ?
  • Follow the steps above until you get to the Payment Acceptance page. Here you will Edit then Add Account. Make sure to check the areas that the account will be set for as well as the type of account that it is.

• My Cards Stopped processing and there is no error?
  • Been busy? This means that the account is locked out for fraud prevention! Make sure that if you are using a POS system that you have a Card Present or Brick and Mortar account setup in PCS and that it is set for Orders and POS. Your E-Commerce account should be for OBM only!

There are now 2 account types that can be utilized in the system

Our original version of the software supported an e-commerce account only. This will process credit cards from both the online booking and the POS system using a card key in method. The was done through the Authorize.net SIM integration method.

We have moved to the AIM (Advanced Integration Method). This supports an additional account type. This account type is a Brick and Mortar account that allows us to process track data off of the magnetic strip of the credit card. Not only is this more secure but will also save you time, as it is not required for you to enter in the CVV or expiration date. If you heavily use the POS we HIGHLY recommend that you obtain this account type after you have been upgraded to the newest version of the software.

This means that you will be utilizing 2 accounts now in the software- the e-commerce account for online booking (this is required as this is a card not present transaction) and a Brick and Mortar account for all card present or POS transactions. Both of these accounts must be through Authorize.net, your payment processor can help you set this up.

Now, how do I use this new account type?

You will need to get the API and Transaction Keys for this account just like your e-commerce account. See the Authorize.net FAQ for instructions on this. After you have this information contact us and we can help you setup the new account in the software.

First, you will have to have a credit card mag strip reader. You can get these for $50 from http://posworld.com or any company that you like. The reader has to be a standard magstrip reader and not an HID reader. If you have questions on the contact leave us a post and we can get you a list of makes and models that are compliant (90% are there is a line of MagTek readers that are HID that are NOT compatible).

Ok, so now you have a credit card reader and your new account. Go to the Admin Screen -> Facility Info -> Preferences. Here you will hit Edit information at the bottom of the page. Now there is an option "Process Credit Cards By Swiping." Check this box and Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

This will default your payment screen to the card swipe form. Now when you take a credit card payment from the POS or the Order Information screen, and select credit card your will now see a form that has only the first and last name. Swipe the card and hit tender. -It has now submitted the transaction and you are done!

I don't want a new account can, I use the old one?

Yes! There are no changes that need to be made. Make sure that when you do a transaction that you do not hit the "Do swiped transaction" button. Do your order as you always would and then hit credit card for the payment type. Now key in the card or swipe the card making sure that you have a field for the credit card number visible. Now enter in the CVV and Tender. Done!

I use a Stand Alone Credit card machine with it's own receipt printer and modem?

Great! We have an option for you as well. You will notice if you use Authorize.net for online booking that when you go to make a payment anywhere in the system there is a Charge and Record option or a Record option. Use the Record option. This will allow you to only record that you took the payment through the stand alone machine or pin pad and will not charge the card in our system.
*Anytime you enter only 4 numbers into the credit card field you are only recording the payment in the system!