Our glossary was designed to help our visitors understand key terms as they browse through our website.
acquirer
See acquiring bank
acquiring bank
The bank providing you with your Merchant ID. You may have more than one Merchant ID, and may use more than one Acquiring Bank
ACS
The Access Control Server is used as part of the 3-D Secure Service. If the cardholder is registered for 3DS, they will be re-directed to the ACS to enable them to authenticate with their issuer. The ACS will typically be at the issuing bank
ADDACS
The Automated Direct Debit Amendment and Cancellation Service. This forms part of the DataCash Direct Debit Service. This automated system can be used to advise the merchants of amendments/cancellations of a DDI. It is used to email these advices to merchants and update the DPG record for the DDI as appropriate
address verification
See AVS
APACS
APACS, the Association for Payment Clearing Services, a trade association for institutions delivering payments services to end customers
AUDDIS
The Automated Direct Debit Instruction Service. The automated service used for electronic lodging of DDIs, as used by DataCash Direct Debit. See also AUDDIS Paperless
AUDDIS Paperless
The AUDDIS Paperless Scheme is an extension of the AUDDIS system. It allows DDIs to be set up without requiring a customer signature. Instructions made using the Paperless system can be taken via the internet, automated telephone systems, interactive television, call centre or face to face. This service requires a separate OIN
authorisation
When a card transaction is received by the DPG which does not contain an authorisation code, the transaction is sent to your acquiring bank for 'authorisation'. If the transaction is authorised, the acquiring bank returns an authorisation code for that transaction. Once the authorisation code has been issued, the funds for that transaction are reserved for you. A successfully authorised transaction will be automatically allocated to the appropriate open batchfile for your Acquiring Bank.
authorise
See authorisation
AVS
Also known as Address Verification Scheme, this check allows the numerics of the address and postcodes entered by your customer to be checked against the statement address held by the issuing bank. This is part of the AVSCV2 check
AVSCV2
A valuable fraud prevention technique which can be used to identify fraudulent transactions.
BACS
BACS is the company which manages the Direct Debit scheme and owns the automated clearing house which processes direct debits on behalf of the UK banks and building societies
BACS bureau
DataCash are an accredited BACS Bureau. This enables DataCash to submit payments to BACS on behalf of any merchant subscribed to our Direct Debit or Direct Credit Services
batchfile
In order to settle your successful transactions, they will be placed in a batchfile.
batching
When a successful transaction is recieved by the DPG, it is automatically allocated to the appropriate open batchfile for your Acquiring Bank.
business day
See working day
cancel transaction
Any transaction which has not yet been settled may be cancelled. This will prevent transfer of funds
card security code
The official name of the CV2 number. It may also be called the CIN, CVV2, CV2 or CVC2 number. See CV2
CHP merchant ID
A merchant ID enabling payments to be taken for Card Holder Present transactions
closed batchfile
When a batchfile is closed, successfully authorised transactions will not be allocated to it. Batchfiles may be automatically closed at midnight by the DPG, or by using the Variable End of Day Settlement service. Once a batchfile is closed, it will be submitted to the bank for settlement
completed two stage processing
A completed two stage transaction refers to a transaction where both stages of processing have taken place. The most common example of this is a 'pre' transaction which has been 'fulfilled'. For further information, see the glossary description for two stage processing
completed pre/fulfill transaction
This terms simply means a 'pre' transaction which has been 'fulfilled', and is therefore equivalent to an 'auth' transaction
continuous authority transaction
See recurring transaction
corporate card
See purchasing card
CV2
The three digit number appearing on the back of MasterCard, Visa, Switch and Solo cards, or the four digit number on the front of American Express cards. This can be checked as part of the AVSCV2 check
DDI
The Direct Debit Instruction. The authority signed by the customer allowing the originator to collect Direct Debit payments from the customer's account
directory server
The directory server(s) contains information about specific cards for the 3-D Secure Service. Visa and MasterCard maintain their own individual directory servers for their cards. These servers are used to determine whether cards are enrolled and the URL to be used for authentication
DPG
The DataCash Payment Gateway
e-Commerce merchant ID
A merchant ID enabling payments to be taken for e-Commerce transactions
environment
Each transaction is processed in a particular environment. For example: e-Commerce transactions are processed in an e-Commerce environment with an e-Commerce merchant ID. DataCash can process transactions in e-Commerce, MoTo, recurring and CHP environments
issuer
See issuing bank
issuing bank
The bank providing your customer with a card
liability shift
Liability shift is one of the main benefits of using the 3-D Secure check. For a normal e-Commerce transaction the merchant is liable for any chargebacks. The 3-D Secure check shifts the liabilty to the issuing bank in certain circumstances
LID
See line item detail
line item detail
Line Item Detail incorporates item by item descriptions of each component of the purchase, including full VAT details. This information can be submitted with purchasing card transactions. The company originating the transaction receives a monthly report of all captured information from their card issuer. This forms a consolidated VAT report containing all the information contained in a VAT receipt. For all transactions, irrespective of value, it eliminates the need for purchasers to collect and submit conventional VAT invoices for VAT reclamation. The data can also be used to sort, reconcile and report transactions
MasterCard SecureCode
The MasterCard brand of 3-D Secure
merchant ID
In order to take payments from a card, a merchant ID (MID) from an Acquiring Bank is required. The main types of merchant ID are: e-Commerce, MoTo and Recurring
MoTo merchant ID
A merchant ID enabling payments to be taken for Mail Order and Telephone Order transactions. This may also be called a CNP MID - Cardholder Not Present
MPI
The Merchant Server Plug-in is a piece of software which enables the 3-D Secure check to take place. Merchants may use DataCash's own MPI - which is installed within the DPG - or they may use a 3rd party MPI
OIN
The Originator's Identification Number. The unique identification number given to authorised users of the Direct Debit and Direct Credit Services by their sponsoring bank. This also serves as the BACS User Number. This is comparable to the merchant ID for the Credit and Debit Card Service
one stage processing
A transaction type where only one stage is required to complete the processing. For Credit and Debit Cards Processing, the most common examples of this are the 'auth' and 'refund' transaction types. Direct Debit Instructions can also be processed in the one stage 'setup' transaction. See two stage processing for a comparison on an alternative way of processing transactions
open batchfile
When a batchfile is open, successfully authorised transactions can be automatically allocated to it.
PAReq
The Payment Authentication Request relates to the 3-D Secure Service. If the card is enrolled for 3DS, the PAReq is generated by the DataCash MPI and returned to the merchant. It contains information from the verification response, including the website address to which the cardholder must go to authenticate themselves
PARes
The Payment Authentication Response relates to the 3-D Secure Service. Once the cardholder has completed the authentication process with their issuer, the cardholder will be re-directed back to the merchants website. The PARes is provided to the merchant as part of this re-direction process and needs to be sent to the DPG to complete the 3DS check
PCI
The Payment Card Industry. Any merchant, company or service provider which stores, processes or transmits card holder data is part of this industry
PCI DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. A set of regulations governing the security of consumer data protection across the Payment Card Industry.
policy
Relates to the AVSCV2 Service. The policy defines the minimum standard of checking that a transaction must meet in order to be accepted. The policy is chosen by the merchant to fit their business requirements
purchasing card
Purchasing Cards are issued to employees who make purchases on behalf of their company/organisation. The company guarantees the card and pays the administration costs. In return they have a paperless mechanism for tracking the purchase made by their employees. These Purchasing Cards are linked to special accounts that produce detailed statements containing full line item detail. These statements are acceptable by Customs and Excise for VAT reporting. They are also used for submission of expense reports. Both of these uses reduce the amounts of administration associated with business purchasing
recurring transaction
A particular type of transaction where the customer has authorised repeat debits to be taken from their credit card. To process these transactions, you will need a recurring transaction capable merchant ID. Some banks may refer to these transactions as continuous authority transactions
recurring transaction capable merchant ID
A particular type of which is capable of processing recurring transactions. Some issue merchant IDs with recurring and on of e-Commerce or MoTo capabilities, while others will issue merchant IDs dedicated to recurring transactions. Some acquiring banks issue merchant IDs dedicated to recurring transactions, while others issue merchant IDs with dual capability: e-Commerce and recurring or MoTo and recurring. May also be called a continuous authority,cont auth or ca MID
reserved funds
This term relates to the funds which are automatically reserved against a card account. When an authorisation is performed against a bank card and an authorisation code is returned, the funds are 'reserved' to prevent the card holder going over their credit limit. The reserved funds are only held for a short period of time, typically between 1 and 5 days, after which if the transaction has not been settled, the funds are returned to the cardholder account
settle
See settlement
settled
See settlement
settlement
A DataCash process which runs once at the start of each business day. The process collates all transactions in closed batchfiles into a set of settlement files which are thereafter sent to each Acquiring Bank. Additionally, the process also generated BACS files for Direct Credit and Direct Debit services
sponsor
The Direct Debit service is owned and operated by a number of financial institutions, known as sponsors. To join the Direct Debit Scheme, you should approach your Bank and ask them to sponsor your application
sponsoring bank
The Bank or Building Society acting as your sponsor and issuing your OIN
statement address
The address to which card statements are sent, as held on record by the issuing bank. This can be checked by performing an AVS check
two stage processing
A transaction type whereby two separate stages are required to completed the processing. For the Credit and Debit Card Service, the most typical example of this is the 'pre' transaction which performs the authorisation, and must be followed by a 'fulfill' transaction which tells the Payment Gateway to settle the transaction. Direct Debit DDIs can also be processed in the two stage 'presetup' transaction type, which needs to be completed using the 'confirm' transaction. See one stage processing for a comparison on an alternative way of processing transactions
uncompleted two stage processing
This refers to a transaction where the second stage of processing has not taken place. The most common example of this is a 'pre' transaction which has not yet been 'fulfilled'. For further information, see the glossary description for two stage processing
unsettled transaction
Any transaction which has not yet completed the settlement process
VEReq
The Verify Enrolment Request is part of the 3-D Secure check. When a card enrolment check is requested for a card, the DataCash MPI sends the VEReq to the directory server to determine whether the card is enrolled. The VEReq may be viewed in Reporting
VERes
The Verify Enrolment Response is part of the 3-D Secure check. It is generated by the directory server upon reciept of a verify enrolment request. It contains information which is used by the MPI to build the payment authentication request. The VERes may be viewed in Reporting
Verified by Visa
The Visa brand of 3-D Secure
working day
Any English bank working day. This may also be refered to as a business day. Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are non-business days. A list of Bank Holidays is available from the Department of Trade and Industry
3DS
See 3-D Secure
3-D Secure
3-D Secure enables the cardholder to authenticate themselves with their issuer before proceeding with an online transaction, assuring the Cardholder that he is dealing with a legitimate merchant and providing the merchant with proof of participation of the real Cardholder. As a result of this, the merchant may receive liability shift for the transaction
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