Overview

Explore PCE’s authorization management toolkit, offering incremental auth, voids, and adjustments to match real-world billing needs.

In this guide you’ll learn

• How to increase held funds post-authorization
• When and how to void pending authorizations
• Steps to adjust authorization amounts before capture

Prerequisites & Limitations

• Active merchant account with card processing enabled
• PCI DSS Level 1 compliance for authorization operations
• Capture must occur within card-scheme validity windows (7–10 days)

Compliance / Regulation Mandates

• PCI DSS Level 1: All card data storage, processing, and transmission must meet PCI DSS requirements to protect cardholder data.
• PSD2 Strong Customer Authentication: EU transactions require SCA under PSD2 for customer-initiated e-commerce payments, ensuring two-factor authentication.
• AML & KYC: Implement risk-based Anti-Money Laundering controls, including CIP, CDD, and EDD to comply with global AML regulations.
• GDPR Data Protection: Personal and payment data storage must adhere to GDPR principles—data minimization, explicit consent, and security-by-design—when handling EU citizen data.

Feature Table

Key Details

Incremental Authorization

Increase the authorized amount on an existing transaction before it’s captured, ensuring coverage for additional costs.

Use cases

• Hotel stays (mini-bar charges)
• Car rentals (fuel fees)

Workflow

1. Initial Auth: Guest checks in; authorize $300 for a two-night stay.
2. Incremental Auth: Guest orders $50 dinner; request additional $50 authorization (total $350).
3. Another Incremental Auth: Guest incurs $25 breakfast; request additional $25 (total $375).
4. Capture: At checkout, capture final amount of $375.

Void Authorization

Cancel an existing authorization that hasn’t been captured to release held funds and avoid unnecessary fees.

Benefits

• Avoids refund-related transaction fees
• Prevents settled charges from appearing on customer statements

Workflow

1. Identify the original authorization ID.
2. Send a void request referencing that authorization.

API References

• Void Transaction
• Void Capture

Authorization Adjustments

Adjust an existing authorization amount—either up or down—before capture to correct or finalize charges.

Use cases

• Tipping or service fees
• Final price adjustments based on weight, quantity, or additional services

Workflow

1. Authorize initial amount.
2. For each change in amount, send an adjustment request (increase or decrease).
3. After the last adjustment, capture the final authorized amount.

API Reference: Adjust Transaction