Internet Merchant Credit Card Account - Debit Cards
Can I process debit cards with my internet merchant credit card account?
Merchants ask me all the time if they’ll be able to process debit cards with their internet merchant credit card account - the answer is yes.
Most people associate a debit card transaction with entering a four digit PIN code at point of sale and presently that’s not possible to do when buying online. Because of the lack of a “internet pinpad” a lot of new merchants are not sure when they sign up for a internet merchant account if they’ll be able to take debit cards or not.
Taking into consideration the popularity of debit cards these days this is a very important issue.
There are 2 types of debit card transactions
1. Online debit transactions – not to be confused with using your debit card online, an online debit transaction occurs when the cardholder enters their 4 digit pin at point of sale. By entering the 4 digit pin the transaction is routed through the debit networks.
2. Offline debit transactions- A debit card transaction is considered “offline” when the card is processed like a normal credit card without the 4 digit pin being entered at point of sale. This is how debit cards are processed when the merchant is not face to face with the cardholder via the internet or phone.
For more information about internet merchant credit card accounts, please visit our internet merchant accounts page . You can also learn more at our authorizenet gateway page.
Michael L. Rupkalvis
The Transaction Group