Frequently Asked Questions

• Who We Are
• Privacy and Security
• Establishing and Managing Accounts
• Equipment and Software
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• Payment Processing Information
• Orbital Gateway
• Orbital Virtual Terminal
• Reporting

What is Chase Paymentech's role in processing transactions?
Chase Paymentech is a payment processor. We enable your business to authorize and transmit transactions by credit card, debit cards, fleet cards, private label cards, electronic gift cards and corporate cards, etc. We also settle the funds through the card Associations (e.g. MasterCard® and Visa®) and deposit funds to your checking account. In addition, we handle adjustments, chargeback processing, merchant billing and account activity reporting.

Can I see transaction information now, without having to wait for my statement?
Our web-based reporting tools like Paymentech Online and Resource Online -- can provide you with up-to-date daily transaction information.

What is check verification? Do I need it?
Check verification is a service that provides merchants with varying degrees of insurance against bad check losses by verifying the authenticity of each check and/or its presenter. Checks are verified through a national database gathered from retailers who upload bad check information. While check verification service is not required, this service does help keep your business losses to a minimum.

What are interchange fees?
Interchange fees are transaction-related costs that Chase Paymentech pays to the issuer of the card as compensation. These fees are established by MasterCard and Visa and are based upon how a transaction takes place and in what type of industry.

As a merchant, what types of credit cards can I accept?
Chase Paymentech allows your merchant's terminal to support MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Diners Club/Carte Blanche and JCB cards. Although we can support all credit card types, we only have the ability to process settlement (payment to merchants) for MasterCard, Visa, DC/CB and JCB. When processing occurs, each transaction must be authorized, the data must be captured and settlement/payment made back to the merchant.

What are debit cards?
Debit cards at the point of sale are an alternative payment method. When goods or services are purchased with an ATM Debit Card, the funds are removed from the customer's checking account. In addition to the standard ATM cards, many banks also issue the Visa Check Card and/or MasterCard's Master Money Card - both of which can be used in either an online or offline debit arena.

What is the difference between online debit and offline debit?
The difference between these two debit choices is whether a PIN (personal identification number) is used at the point of sale. When a PIN is used the transaction becomes "online" and funds are immediately withdrawn from the cardholder's available funds. When an offline debit transaction occurs, funds are not withdrawn until the transaction processes - usually 2-4 days after the sale. Debit card transactions are the fastest growing point-of-sale payment method today. The acceptance of this payment method continues to remain popular because customers and merchants both appreciate the convenience and ease of using debit cards to purchase merchandise and services.

What are commercial cards?
Commercial cards - corporate, business, purchasing - are issued to businesses as an alternative way of financing expenses such as supplies, T&E, etc. (often replacing purchase orders). These cards also provide users with specific reporting advantages. By using a commercial card, cardholders get itemized records of all their purchases, which simplifies reimbursement procedures and helps track expenses. This specialized reporting is possible because specific data is captured at the point of sale. MasterCard and Visa each provide issuers with the ability to issue commercial card products.

What is a private label card?
A private label card is a credit card issued under the name of a particular merchant organization. Merchants offer it as an incentive for cardholders to spend money at their businesses. Cardholders receive benefits (special discounts, deferred payment schedules, frequency points, etc.) for using the private label card instead of Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Private label cards carry the insignia of the merchant issuing the card.

What is a stored value program?
A stored value program allows you to offer your customers a proprietary card pre-loaded with value for future purchases. Although there are many different applications for stored value cards (Gift Card, Merchandise Return, Pre-pay), they all share some common components:

• Magnetic Stripe Cards - The merchant gives a consumer an electronic stored value card in exchange for some kind of pre-payment. Typically, the card includes a magnetic stripe, the merchant's name or logo and an account number.
• Transaction Processing - The merchant can process stored value transactions from the point of sale. These transactions are delivered to Chase Paymentech's authorization system for processing in real-time, which is where account balances are maintained for all cards.
• Merchant Reporting - You will receive reporting that provides information about the transactions processed during a period of time and the outstanding balances of your customers.

Learn more about Chase Paymentech's turn-key stored value program, and how it can help you grow your business.

What is Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)?
EBT is the automation of cash or cash-like benefits through electronic authorization, data capture and settlement processes. This is accomplished with the use of plastic magnetic-striped cards at the point-of-sale terminal. The end result is the elimination of coupon benefits distribution. The electronic process results in increased security, thereby reducing fraud and benefit misuse.

The US Government has mandated that all federal financial support services and entitlements be distributed through direct electronic deposit by the year 2002.

What is Electronic Check Processing (ECP)?
ECP is a transaction via ACH (Automated Clearing House) or facsimile draft sent by a merchant to directly debit or credit a customer's checking or savings account. ECP processing is often used for recurring payments, such as monthly membership fees and are available in the United States and Canada.