The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in
New Orleans, LA
February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center

Business Corner

Credit card processing tips to protect your business: CODE 10

“Code 10” - Your First Line of Defense
Whether you sell goods and services in a face-to-face environment, or via mail, phone or Internet, you can employ a “Code 10” authorization to verify additional information on a suspicious transaction. You may be prompted by your processing terminal to call for voice authorization of the charges (CALL AUTH), or you may simply not feel right about the transaction. In either case, you can use “Code 10” to gain additional information before you release your merchandise.

How to use “Code 10”
Call the voice authorization phone number provided by your Merchant Services provider. This number can typically be found on the sticker on your terminal or by calling your Merchant Services provider and asking to be transferred to the Voice Authorization department.

Choose the prompt for “Code 10”. You will be transferred to voice authorization representative and will be asked a series of questions about the transaction.

NOTE: Never call a phone number for the card issuing bank provided by a customer, or let the customer call the card issuing bank for you to obtain an authorization code. Do not accept an authorization code given to you by a customer. Any authorization code obtained from any source other than your Authorization Center cannot be verified.

If an authorization request is declined, request another form of payment other than a credit card. Do not split a declined transaction into smaller increments to obtain an authorization.

An authorization code does not guarantee that a transaction will not be disputed later. An authorization code simply identifies that the amount of credit requested for that particular transaction is available on the card at the time of the sale. An authorization code does not protect you in the event of a chargeback regarding unauthorized transactions or disputes involving the quality or delivery of goods and services.

It is highly recommended to use Code 10 before charges have been placed on the credit card and before the product has been shipped. Doing so will allow you to avoid being billed for processing fees and loss of shipping costs on the transaction in question. Please note that you may still request a “Code 10” if the product has been shipped, but your chances to recover the product will be reduced.

This information is brought to you by Elavon (formerly First Horizon Merchant Services). Feel free to call Kimberly Layton with any questions or for more information on the credit card processing program at 1-866-638-8614.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, March 2009