About Credit Card Processing and Approval Link 3

Processing credit cards is easy and flexible. This feature gives you:

Level 3 line item detail
Bill-complete flow and credit card authorization flow merge
Control of approval numbers and dollars
Greater prepay transaction flexibility.

To process credit cards electronically at Level 1 or Level 2, you need:

Automated authorization and capture software, such as VeriSign’s™ Payflo Pro®. Payflo Pro lets you receive authorizations, store transactions, settle transactions with your clearing house, report on your transaction dollars by type of card and communicate electronically using Internet TCP/IP.
Approval Link 3.0 is the interface between your system and VeriSign.

To process payments with Level 3 line item detail, you need Approval Link +, Approval Link 3.0 and VeriSign’s Payflo Pro. (Approval Link + is only available with version 7.6 or greater software.)

Together, Approval Link +, Approval Link 3.0 and VeriSign’s Payflow Pro cut costs for processing credit card transactions. Approval Link 3.0 and VeriSign’s Payflow Pro let you:

Be compatible with all major credit card services including MasterCard, Visa, and American Express/Optima. All other cards use level 2.
Accept procurement, corporate, major and private label credit cards.
Accept multiple merchant IDs.
Approve Level 1 and Level 2 transactions.
Change prepay orders.
Make fast, reliable TCP/IP connections from your server to your clearinghouse.
Use approved point-of-sale equipment.
Authorize credit card orders placed through Dealer Station.
Delay capture of funds. When a credit card is authorized for an order that is not invoiced, the total dollar amount of the order is temporarily reserved on the credit card and a reference number is assigned. With Approval Link 2.0, billing the order ties up the money until it expires, because the invoice is sent in a separate transaction. Approval Link 3.0, however, marries the authorization and invoice by sending that reference number with the invoice transaction.

Hardware and Software Requirements

For the latest in hardware and software requirements, please see our web site.

To process credit cards, you must:

Request authorization. Contact ECi Sales to request authorization for Approval Link 3.0 and Approval Link +. Before authorizing the new programs, Approval Link 1.0 and Approval Link 2.0 must be unauthorized, if they are installed.

Note: To use the Customer Reference ID feature you must be authorized. See Using the Customer Reference ID Feature.

Contact VeriSign. To contact VeriSign, go to www.verisign.com/verisign-inc/verisign-contact-information/index.htm.
Install the latest Version 8 software included with your update.
Configure the Utility Extension program. See Configuring the Utility Extension Program for Approval Link 3.
Enable workstations in the (+VJ) Multiple Text Based Ids screen. See Enabling Workstations for Approval Link 3.
Set up a terminal ID for the Client. See Setting Up the DDMS Client for Approval Link 3.
Set up general ledger numbers for your credit card accounts, if needed. (This is strictly an optional step.) See Setting Up G/L Master Numbers for Credit Cards.
Set parameters for Level 3 credit card processing. See Setting Up and Using Level 3 Processing.
Set up your system to use credit cards. See Setting Up Credit Cards.