Test and Trust Authorization Mode



Overview

This page is intended to walk a user through a detailed explanation of the FasCard Test and Trust logic and how to configure the feature.





Table of Contents



Feature Logic

TEST AND TRUST LOGIC

The Test and Trust feature is an authorization mode that can be enabled as an alternative to pre-authorization. Pre-authorization is the most secure way to accept credit cards but also can come with customer service challenges as it can cause confusion when a customer sees a pre authorization on their account that does not match the vend price of the machine they are starting. Test an Trust was designed to eliminate this confusion by not executing any pre-authorization on a customers card, instead it performs a simple "Test" that verifies they have a legitimate account attached to their card.  This "Test" does not charge or pre-authorize any amount against the customers card, instead uses a ‘Card Verification’ feature available through our WorldNet gateway provider.  The "Trust" portion of the transaction is a configurable amount set by the merchant (store owner) that sets the maximum amount the location is willing to risk for a single transaction. This trust amount will be the dollar amount when reached by the customer where the system will attempt to collect funds from the card, its possible that the transaction may come back declined. In the event that a transaction does come back declined the system will attempt to re run the transaction by subtracting $3, it will continue to reduce the amount and retry until it reaches below $5. Any funds that are not recoverable are recorded in the transaction reports, labeled as ‘Unrecovered Funds’

Test and Trust works as outlined below:

  1. Retail customer swipes their credit/debit card.

  2. Test is performed against the card

  3. If successful, the card is validated the customer can then spend up to a designated "Trust" amount.

  4. Once the programed idle time has passed, the system captures the amount the customer has spent.

If at any time the FasCard system attempts to capture the amount a customer has spent, but fails (See below Failed Scenarios #2), the lost amount will show on the Credit Card Captures Report under the Reports tab in the FasCard Admin site.)

NOTE

FasCard will remember a card that fails to capture while in Test and Trust Mode - essentially one that cannot be trusted.  If the card is reswiped during that day then FasCard will revert to the original 'Pre-Auth & Hold' logic when authorizing the card.

Pros and Cons of using Test and Trust

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Customers do not see any pre-authorization charges on their card that does not match the vend price on the machine they are attempting to start

Store owner takes on additional risk that if a card is declined, that the services rendered may not be able to be collected in full or at all.

Eliminate phone calls to explain how pre-authorization works ‘Holds’

 

Where to Access the Test and Trust Authorization Mode

TEST AND TRUST MODE - SERVER MANAGEMENT

This feature is found in the Server Management Screen.

  1. To access this function, log into your FasCard admin site.

  2. Select the Setup tab to access the server management screen.

  3. Scroll down to the Credit Card section.

The Fields

TEST AND TRUST FIELDS

There are three fields that are utilized when the Test and Trust mode is selected. The fields are Authorization Mode, Auth/Hold Amount, and Trust Amount.  The fields are described below.

FIELD

DESCRIPTION

Authorization Mode

This allows an owner to choose which type of authorization mode to use for their entire system. 

Authorization/Hold Amount 

  • This field is primarily used when the Pre-Auth mode is selected.  However, it can be used while in Test-and-Trust mode if a customer's card is charged the test amount, $0.29 and fails.  When the customer's card is charged the $0.29 test amount and fails, the system reverts to the Pre-Auth mode for that specific card for the day.  Any subsequent swipes for that day must be pre-authorized before transactions can be accepted.  This Auth/Hold amount must be set to accommodate this instance.  The Auth/Hold amount must be greater than or equal to the highest priced machine.  It cannot be set to $0.

Trust Amount

This is the amount a customer can spend up to in a set of transactions.  This field is only displayed when the "Test and Trust" mode is selected and saved.  This field is not the same as the Max Daily Auth Amount.


How to Configure the Test and Trust and Auth/Hold Fields

AUTHORIZATION MODE

Choose the Test and Trust mode from the drop-down menu and click save so that the trust amount appears.



AUTH/HOLD AMOUNT

Set this amount to serve as a pre-authorization hold in the event a customer's card is declined while in Test and Trust mode.  When setting the Auth/Hold amount, it must be greater than or equal to the highest priced machine and cannot be set to $0.

 

Even though the Auth/Hold Amount field is primarily used when Pre-Auth mode is selected, it is activated in the Test and Trust mode when a customer's card is declined.  When a customer's card is charged the $0.29 test amount and is successful, but fails during the capture of the trust amount, the system reverts to the Pre-Auth mode for that specific card for the day.  Any subsequent swipes of that card for that day must be pre-authorized before transactions can be accepted. This Auth/Hold amount must always be set to accommodate this instance.  



Configurations and Customer Spending Scenarios



Other Resources

FasCard Credit Transaction Processing

Authorization Hold

Related pages