Prism Pay FAQ’s

• Where can I find the documentation?
• What is a credit card merchant account?
• Does your service automatically come with a Merchant Account?
• Do I need a credit card merchant account to process transactions?
• How do I get a Merchant Account?
• What's the difference between my merchant bank, an authorizing network, and Prism Pay?
• Why do I need Prism Pay if I have a merchant account?
• Can I use my existing merchant account and process my credit cards through
• Should I offer both Electronic Checks and Credit Card transactions as payment methods for my customers?
• Can I process with Prism Pay if I am not a U.S. business?
• Is Prism Pay a Bank?
• Where are my transaction funds deposited?
• Can I view a report of fees charged against my account by Prism Pay?
• How long does it take to receive funds after my transactions are submitted?
• Can I sign up with Prism Pay online?
• How will I know when the setup of my account is complete?
• How do I log into the Online Merchant Center?
• How long does it take to integrate the Prism Pay Online Commerce Suite into my website?
• What are Prism Pay Online Checks™?
• Which credit cards will I be able to accept?
• How do I process AMEX transactions?
• How do I process Discover transactions?
• Can I verify credit cards by telephone?
• What is the Recurring system?
• What do I need to do to cancel my account?
• My website will be down for a while. Do I still have to pay Prism Pay a monthly service fee?
• What length of time can a consumer "charge back" an ACH transaction after it has been submitted?
• How secure is my transaction information?
• Which Credit Card Processors is Prism Pay compatible with?
• What information is required to configure my authorizing network?
• When do batches get settled?
• How do I process a voice authorization?
• I don't have access any of the menus on the left-hand frame. It says I need to contact my administrator for access.
• What is AVS?
• Do you provide a shopping cart?
• How long does it take for a transaction to take place?

Where can I find the documentation?

Documentation for all of the Prism Pay Online Commerce Suite products is available at www.myprismpay.com/docs/

What is a credit card merchant account?

To accept credit cards on your web site you will need to obtain an Internet Merchant Account with an acquiring bank. This is an account designed to enable you to accept credit cards over the Internet. Not all banks currently support Internet merchant accounts. Contact your bank to determine if your existing account will allow you to process Internet-based transactions.  

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Does your service automatically come with a Merchant Account?

No. A merchant Account is set up separately through a Merchant Bank. Prism Pay has partnered with Merchant Banks that can provide internet capable Merchant Accounts.   Contact Prism Pay customer service for assistance in applying for a Merchant Account through a Prism Pay partner.

Do I need a credit card merchant account to process transactions?

A merchant account is not required to process electronic checks.   However, if you would like to process credit cards, an Internet capable merchant account is required.   Prism Pay is not a credit card merchant account provider.   However, we can help facilitate the process of obtaining account if you need one through one of our merchant bank partners

How do I get a Merchant Account?

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For a new merchant account, please contact us for information about our merchant banking partners. We have partnered with banks that specialize in setting up new merchant accounts with very competitive pricing.

If you have an existing merchant account or would like to use the bank of your choice, Prism Pay can integrate with most Internet ready merchant accounts that use one of our compatible authorizing networks.

What's the difference between my merchant bank, an authorizing network, and Prism Pay?

The merchant bank that issues you a Merchant Credit Card Account contracts with a processor to handle credit card processing for it. >  The Prism Pay payment gateway provides a "bridge" between the merchant's website (using a secure Internet connection from the merchant's website to Prism Pay) and the processor (using leased lines from Prism Pay to the processor).

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 Why do I need Prism Pay if I have a merchant account?

Prism Pay allows you to use your merchant account and process live, secure credit card transactions over the Internet.   Prism Pay becomes your 'card swiping machine' over the Internet allowing you to accept credit card orders 7 days a week, 24 hours a day without the need of human intervention and with an entire back office environment to run your business.

Can I use my existing merchant account and process my credit cards through Prism Pay.

Yes, if the bank your merchant account supports Internet transactions and uses an authorizing network that Prism Pay is integrated with.

Should I offer both Electronic Checks and Credit Card transactions as payment methods for my customers?

Offering your customers a choice in payment method greatly increases your market potential.   Studies show that for purchases over $25, almost half of all consumers prefer to pay by check with only 18 percent preferring credit cards.   Over 90 percent of consumers have checkbooks, and write over 30 billion checks every year.   On the commercial side, about 15 billion checks are written business-to-business with an additional 10 billion checks written business-to-an individual.

Can I process with Prism Pay if I am not a U.S. business?

You must have a US business address and a US bank account to process with Prism Pay.

Is Prism Pay a Bank?

No. Prism Pay is a transaction processing company. Through the Prism Pay Online Commerce Suite, an Internet merchant can process both Credit card and Electronic Check (ACH) transactions.

Where are my transaction funds deposited?

The funds from your ACH transactions are deposited into the checking account that Prism Pay has on file, from the voided check that was submitted with your contract.

The funds from you credit card transaction are deposited into the account that is associated with your merchant account bank.

Can I view a report of fees charged against my account by Prism Pay?

Your fee invoices are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   Simply login to Online Merchant Center and select the Invoices/Fee Report under the Accounting menu in the left-hand frame.

How long does it take to receive funds after my transactions are submitted?

The amount of time it takes to receive credit card funds depends on your credit card merchant bank. Typically the time is 48 hours, but you will need to ask them directly regarding when to expect your funds.

The amount of time it takes to receive ACH (Online Check) transactions into your checking account is 8 banking days. On the eighth banking day you should see a settlement notification in the Online Merchant Center menu titled Online Check Settlements.

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Can I sign up with Prism Pay online?

Yes. Contact Prism Pay or your reseller for more information.

https://www.myprismpay.com/mpsignup.taf?originator=merchantpartners

How will I know when the setup of my account is complete? >

Once your account has been completed, you will receive notification via email.

How do I log into the Online Merchant Center?

Go to https://www.myprismpay.com/admin/login.taf

Fill in the following fields: Acct Id, User Id, and Password.

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This information is sent via email during the setup process.

How long does it take to integrate the Prism Pay Online Commerce Suite into my website?

If you have a merchant account that is Internet ready, your Prism Pay account can be activated with one to three business days.   The actual time required to begin processing transactions from your web site depends on the integration method you select and the technical expertise of your staff.

What are Prism Pay Online Checks™?

Prism Pay Online Checks™ provide your customers with the convenience of making online purchases by debiting their personal checking accounts.   A customer simply fills in a form at your website with bank information printed at the bottom of his or her personal check.   The information is processed as an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the customer's account via the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) payment system.   This is the same system used by the Federal Government to distribute pension, insurance, retirement payments and to collect taxes.

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Which credit cards will I be able to accept?

Prism Pay Online Commerce Suite can process VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club and JCB.   Contact your Merchant Bank to determine which of these cards you are approved to process.

How do I process AMEX transactions?

In order to process American Express credit cards, you need to apply with American Express for an American Express Merchant account. Your Merchant Bank can assist you with this process.   Once the account is approved, you must provide the information to your Merchant Bank that processes your MasterCard and VISA transactions.   After this is confirmed, the final step is to login to Online Merchant Center, open the Acct Edit/Delete menu, and select the payment option AMEX.

How do I process Discover transactions?

In order to process Discover credit cards, you need to apply with Discover for a Discover Merchant account. Once the account is approved, you must provide the information to your Merchant Bank that processes your MasterCard and VISA transactions.   After this is confirmed, the final step is to login to Online Merchant Center, open the Acct Edit/Delete menu, and select the payment option Discover.

Can I verify credit cards by telephone?

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No, all transaction verifications are online.   We do not offer a telephone verification service.   However, we do provide you with the ability to bill a credit card you have verbally authorized through the Online Merchant Center Virtual Terminal.

What is the Recurring system?

The Recurring System in the Online Commerce Suite enables you to automatically rebill your customers' credit card or checking account on a scheduled basis (i.e. weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.).   Recurring billing can be configured via the Online Merchant Center Virtual Terminal, or one of the other integration methods.   Refer to the Online Documentation for information on how to submit recurring transactions.

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What do I need to do to cancel my account?

In order to cancel your account, Prism Pay requires that a 30-day written notice be submitted via fax or US mail. On the cancellation notice please verify the purpose of the account cancellation, along with the company name, 5 digit Account ID, signature of the primary contact on record, and an email address to which a confirmation can be sent.    Please do not assume your account is cancelled until you receive confirmation via email.

My website will be down for a while. Do I still have to pay Prism Pay a monthly service fee?

You have the choice to put your account on a temporary deactivation. During this time your account will be temporarily deactivated, you will not incur any fees. With the temporary deactivation you have 6 (six) months to reactivate the account for the fee of $50.00. If you choose to reactivate the account after 6 months, you would be required to pay whatever the current setup fee for new accounts is.

What length of time can a consumer "charge back" an ACH transaction after it has been submitted?

In the ACH industry a "charge back" is called a "Return." ACH rules allow a consumer 60 calendar days (includes weekends and Holidays) to contest a transaction.

The 60 days start the day after the money is withdrawn from the consumer's account. This could be up to 4 business-banking days after the original transaction.

After the 60 days, it may take up to 4 business banking days for the return to be received by Prism Pay. The merchant is informed of the return the same day Prism Pay receives it. If the bank has trouble identifying the return, it may be a couple of weeks before Prism Pay receives it and informs the merchant.

How secure is my transaction information?

The Online Merchant Center system protects consumer payment information while in transit over the Internet.   Security mechanisms use mathematical algorithms to encrypt data before it is sent and decrypt the data as it is received.   The Online Commerce Suite uses RSA or Triple DES for secured network transactions.   For more detailed information refer to the Online Commerce Suite Integration Guide documentation.

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Which Credit Card Processors is Prism Pay compatible with?

Prism Pay processes through the following credit card authorizing networks:

• ACH Only/None
• Bank Adapter
• Cross Check
• CyBrCollect Payment
• Elavon N.A. (formerly NOVA)
• EPX
• First Data Nashville Host Capture
• First Data Nashville Terminal Capture
• First Data North
• First Data Omaha
• Global Payments East
• Oculus
• Paymentech ISO EMV
• Paymentech-Tampa
• Profituity
• Rapid Direct Connect
• Sage Payments File Based
• Sage Payments Live
• TSYS/Vital
• Vantiv Litle XML
• WorldPay Certification Platform
• WorldPay Core
• WorldPay ISO 8583
• WorldPay Lynk
• WorldPay TCMP

What information is required to configure my authorizing network?

 Mapp (Globalpayments Central):

*Merchant Account Number:   This may vary in the number of digits

*TID:   Will always contain a two-digit prefix, usually EA. 13 digits

*Name of the merchant account provider and phone number

Network1:

*EFT Secure M_Key:   12 digits

*EFT Secure M_ID:   12 digits

*Merchant ID:   16 digits

*Terminal ID or V Number:   8 digits

TSYS (Vital):

Merchant Name

Acquirer Bin:   6 digits

Phone Number:   The merchant's customer service phone number

Merchant Number:   12 digits

Terminal Number:   4 digits

Merchant Location:   Merchant's City

Merchant State:   Merchant's State

Merchant Category Code:   4 digits

Merchant Location Number:   5 digits

Agent Number:   6 digits

Chain Number:   6 digits

Store Number:   4 digits

Terminal ID Number/V Number:   8 digits

City Code:   Merchant's Zip Code

Name of the merchant account provider and phone number

Digital Courier:

VID:   6 digits

Password:   8 digits

Paymentech Tampa:

Client #:   4 digits

Mid:  12 digits

Tid:   3 digits

Merchant account provider (bank name) and phone number.

Nova:

*BIN:   6 digits

*Merchant ID:   16 digits

*Terminal ID:   16 digits

Echo:

Terminal ID:   10 digits

Name of the merchant account provider and its phone number.

FDR-7 (FirstData Omaha):

Merchant account number assigned by the issuing bank. >  The number varies between 14-16 digits.

FDC Nashville:

*Merchant ID:   16 digits

*Terminal ID:   16 digits

The product ID (PID) for the Online Commerce Suite is 822700. The VID is 227.

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What are the settlement times for the terminal capture (batch settlement) Authorizing Networks?

Open batches will be closed and settled daily at the following times. All times are Pacific time zone. Note: Open batches that exceed the transaction threshold will be closed and settled whenever they hit the threshold. To view the status of a particular batch, login to the Online Merchant Center and select the Settlement Report menu option.

FDC-Nashville: 3:00pm (transaction threshold of 200)

FDR-7: 3:00pm (transaction threshold of 499)

Nova: 12 Noon (transaction threshold of 200)

TSYS (Vital): 12 Noon (transaction threshold of 200)

Mapp, Echo, Network1, Digital Courier, and Paymentech Tampa are host capture, meaning that the authorizing network settles the transactions. For information regarding host capture settlement times, contact the authorizing network directly.

How do I process a voice authorization?

Login to the Online Merchant Center and scroll down to the Virtual Terminal in the left-hand frame.   Select the Process Online Charge screen.   Enter the transaction information and select the Voice Auth Capture radio button.   Enter the authorization code and submit the transaction.

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I don't have access any of the menus on the left-hand frame. It says I need to contact my administrator for access.

If you're using Internet Explorer, please do the following:

Select Tools

Click on Internet Options

Under Temporary Internet Files, select Delete Files.

Next box will prompt you to select, Delete all offline content, and select OK.

You will be taken back to the Internet Options box, select OK.

If you're using Netscape Navigator, please do the following:

Click on Edit

Select Preferences

Under Category files, select Advanced

Next select on Cache

Select Clear Memory Cache

After you have cleared the Memory Cache, select Clear Disk Cache

Now select OK.

After following these instructions you should be able to access all the Menus in Online Merchant Center.

What is AVS?

Address Verification System (AVS) matches the known address information on file at the cardholders issuing bank’s AVS database against the billing address information provided by the consumer/merchant.

If the information does not match, the transaction is declined. Transactions declined due to non-match of AVS are still pre-authorized (reserved/hold amount that will decrease the consumers limit) by the credit card network, but the sale amount will not be charged to the credit card holder's account and will not be deposited to your bank account.

Merchants have the option of selecting the level of match required for an approved transaction.    Refer to the FRISK™ section of the Online Documentation for more information regarding configuring AVS options.  

The service only applies to credit card transactions.

Do you provide a shopping cart?

Yes, a basic shopping cart is included in the Online Commerce Suite.   A full-featured shopping cart is also available for merchants that require more advanced shopping cart capabilities. >  Contact Customer Service for details.

 How long does it take for a transaction to take place?

Transactions submitted to the Online Commerce Suite payment gateway engine are processed in real time, and take approximately 1-3 seconds to return a response.

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