Help Desk - How Processing Works

A Step-by-Step Guide

The customer's card is swiped through the credit card terminal and the amount of purchase is entered. The terminal dials a toll-free number and connects to Bravo's processor for authorization. Once connected, the terminal sends the credit card information and amount of the purchase to the processor.

Bravo's processor passes that information onto the bank that issued the credit card. The issuing bank verifies the validity of the card, checks that the amount of purchase is available on the card, and sets aside that amount for the merchant.

The issuing bank sends back an approval number or a decline message to Bravo's processor.

That information is passed back to the credit card terminal, and if approved, prints a receipt for the customer to sign.

At the end of each day, the merchant is able to manually "settle" their terminal. This begins the final process of the transaction. In most cases, Bravo can automatically settle the transactions at a specified time each day. When the settlement process is initiated, the funds are transferred from the card issuing bank. Bravo then electronically deposits them into the merchant's checking account. It typically takes two business days from the time of the original transaction for the funds to reach the merchant's checking account.

The customer calls (or mails) in an order to the merchant and supplies their credit card information. The merchant enters that information into a credit card terminal or PC software.

The terminal or PC dials a toll-free number and connects to Bravo's processor for authorization. In some cases the PC software may be able to use the merchant's Internet connection to connect. Once connected, the terminal or PC sends the credit card information and amount of the purchase to the processor.

Bravo's processor passes that information on to the bank that issued the credit card. The issuing bank verifies the validity of the card, checks that the amount of purchase is available on the card, and sets aside that amount for the merchant.

The issuing bank sends an approval number or a decline message back to Bravo's processor.

That information is passed back to the credit card terminal or PC software, and if approved, gives the merchant the approval number and allows them to print a receipt for their records.

At the end of each day, the merchant is able to manually "settle" their terminal. This begins the final process of the transaction. In most cases, Bravo can automatically settle the transactions at a specified time each day. When the settlement process is initiated, the funds are transferred from the card issuing bank. Bravo then electronically deposits them into the merchant's checking account. It typically takes two business days from the time of the original transaction for the funds to reach the merchant's checking account.

The online customer visits the merchant's website and adds products to their shopping cart. When the customer checks out, they enter their billing information. If the merchant has a secure website, the information will be "passed" to directly to the payment gateway without the customer ever leaving the merchant's site. If the merchant does not have a secure website, the customer can be transferred to a secure payment gateway for payment processing.

Once the billing information reaches payment gateway it is transmitted to Bravo's processor.

Bravo's processor passes the information from the payment gateway to the bank that issued the credit card. The issuing bank verifies the validity of the card, checks that the amount of purchase is available on the card, and sets aside that amount for the merchant.

The issuing bank sends an approval number or a decline message back to Bravo's processor. That information is then passed back to the payment gateway.

The payment gateway passes the approval code back to the merchant's secure site. If the merchant does not have a secure site, the customer is given their approval information at the secure payment gateway. The merchant also has the option of having the payment gateway email the customer a payment receipt.

Final payment is secured after this point, and is deposited in the merchant's internet merchant account. It typically takes two business days from the time of the original transaction for the funds to reach the merchant's checking account.