Whenever you are taking payment by credit card in MyCase and the card isn’t present, there is some degree of risk. To safeguard against that risk, you could ask your clients to sign a document that gives you permission to charge their card on an ongoing basis. That document is called a credit card authorization form.
What is a credit card authorization form?
A credit card authorization form is a document, signed by the cardholder, that grants a merchant permission to charge their credit card for a period of time, as written in that document. The form is often used to give businesses the ongoing authority to charge the cardholder on a recurring basis.
What is included in a credit card authorization form?
A credit card authorization typically contains:
The cardholder’s credit card information (Card type, Name on card, Card number, Expiration date)
The merchant’s business information
Cardholder’s billing address
Language authorizing the merchant to charge the customer’s card on file
Name and signature of the cardholder
Date
*Below is an example of a credit card authorization form:
Am I legally obligated to use a credit card authorization form when using MyCase Payments?
Credit card authorization forms are a best practice for merchants. While it’s not legally required, It is highly recommended to ensure both you and your client are aware of how charges will be processed for future transactions.
Do credit card authorization forms help prevent chargeback abuse?
Chargebacks protect consumers from unauthorized transactions. They occur when a client disputes a charge from your business and asks the card issuer to reverse it A credit card authorization form is one way to protect yourself against chargebacks. If you have a signed document from the cardholder that gives you permission to charge their card for services rendered, your chances of winning your case with the card issuer are much more likely and less complicated.
If a client initiates a chargeback on a credit card transaction, the MyCase Payments team will immediately contact you to assist you in disputing that chargeback. You will also have clear records of any debited funds from your trust account in this circumstance. If we are successful in disputing the chargeback, the funds will be returned.
Why doesn’t this credit card authorization form have a space for CVV?
There is not a space for a CVV because it’s a violation of PCI standards to record a customer’s CVV. If you’d like to manually input a payment, you’ll need to request the CVV directly from the client each time you input the card.
How should I store signed forms and for how long?
PCI compliance standards require that all businesses that process credit card information “restrict physical access to cardholder data.” Be sure to keep cardholder data safe by storing completed forms in a secure room or filing cabinet, and restrict access only to employees who require it to fulfill their job duties.
Click below to access the Credit Card Authorization Form:
Word version
PDF version