A Detailed Guide Partial Authorization
A partial authorization occurs when a cardholder’s bank approves part of the transaction amount and declines the remaining amount. This can happen for a number of reasons, including insufficient funds or reaching a credit limit.
When a partial authorization happens, it’s important to take action immediately. If you don’t, you may end up losing out on the sale altogether.
Here’s what you need to do when a partial authorization occurs:
- Contact the cardholder ; The first thing you need to do is contact the cardholder. Let them know that only part of the transaction has been authorised and see if they’re able to provide an alternative form of payment for the remaining balance.
- Try to capture the full amount ; If the cardholder is unable to provide an alternative form of payment, try to capture the full amount of the transaction. This can be done by running the transaction through your point-of-sale system again or by calling your processor.
- Get a new form of payment ; If you’re unable to capture the full amount of the transaction, you’ll need to get a new form of payment from the cardholder. Be sure to get authorization for the full amount before proceeding with the sale.
- Void the transaction ; If you’re unable to get a new form of payment from the cardholder, you’ll need to void the transaction. This can be done through your point-of-sale system or by calling your processor.
- Issue a refund ; If you’ve already captured the partial amount of the transaction, you’ll need to issue a refund for the remaining balance.
Partial authorizations can be a pain, but they don’t have to be. By following the steps above, you can ensure that you’ll still be able to complete the sale while minimising any potential losses.
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