The complex procedural steps involved in credit card payment are designed to protect the interests of both the client and the issuing bank, which are as follows: product purchase, authorization, safe-keeping and tracking, and fund transfer.
The type of payment using a credit card has already been popular due to two major reasons such as convenience and safety both on the part of the customer and merchant. Cashless shopping is possible without having to worry about thefts. Apart from the previously mentioned reasons, another importance of accepting credit cards is observable when running an online business. This makes shopping feasible even when you are miles away from the actual store location. You are basically opening more doors for potential customers and not just limit to physically present patrons. However, you might be wondering how a simple card can turn into something profitable. Here is a brief explanation as to how transaction takes place, which are as follows:
Product purchase
Purchasing a product can be done either in actual stores or through online transaction. If the client is physically present during the purchase, the card can be swiped on a terminal device, which captures details such as name of cardholder, account number, date of purchase, and amount. However, if the transaction took place online, you just need the account numbers, so that these can be encoded manually.
Authorization
There is such entity called acquiring back, which refers to the middleman who facilitates the processing through authorization request. The issuing bank verifies the account number, card type, and the available funds of the cardholder. If there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of purchase, an authorization code will be sent back to the processor. Approval is not always feasible especially if issues like insufficient credit limit and history of unpaid monthly dues are present.
Safe-keeping and tracking
Every time a sale has been consummated, a slip is printed out to be signed by the cardholder. It is then transmitted to the acquirer when claiming for reimbursement, which is usually done at the end of the day.
Fund transfer
Once transaction is confirmed, funds will be deposited by the issuing bank to the acquirer. The acquirer then pays the merchant with an amount equivalent to the purchase minus the minimum processing fee set by the processor. The transfer of funds varies according to the promptness of the merchant in reconciling all signed sales’ slips. The duration of entire processing usually takes place between 2 – 3 days depending on the regulation of the bank. Whenever there is a chargeback, the issuing and the acquiring banks will have to settle the concern through refunds or in worst scenario, cancellation of transaction.
Credit card does not always mean advantage; therefore, using it properly and wisely is highly recommended.