Why use Automatic Bill payment with Visa cards?

Benefits for your business

• Timely payments help your cash-flow management
• Funds are readily available because Visa card payments are credited to your account and the funds are available almost immediately.
• Lower handling costs by automating the billing process
• Reduced collection expenses for overdue amounts
• The Visa Expiry Date Solution eliminates declined transactions due to expired Visa cards, so there is no need to update Visa card expiry dates that are kept on file.
• Automatic Bill Payment is easy and saves your customers' time

Why use Automatic Bill payment with Visa cards?

Benefits for your customers

• Relax knowing that their bills will be paid in full and on time
• No missed payments, so no late payment fees
• Save money and hassle of writing cheques and postage
• Flexible payment options allow payments to be weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually.

To take advantage of the many benefits of Automatic Bill Payment with Visa cards, contact your Acquirer/ Payment Processor.

Accepting Visa cards for recurring bill payments can help you improve your cash flow and enhance customer service. Use our best practices to automatic bill payments with Visa cards to help ensure for a smooth set up and hassle-free processing.

Best Practices for Automatic Bill Payments with Visa Cards

By following these guidelines you’ll help ensure the smooth set up, processing and cancellations of recurring payments.

Setting up

• Allow the use of Visa cards for recurring billing cycles, not just one-time payments
• Inform your customers about the Automatic Bill Payment with Visa cards option
• Obtain valid authorization approval for all recurring Visa card transactions
• Keep all relevant Visa card payment details to complete the transaction – cardholder name and account number – on file
• Ensure your financial institution or processor is aware that your company accepts Automatic Bill Payments with Visa cards

Processing transactions

• Verify that on-file information and Visa account numbers are correct
• Ensure that all recurring transactions are being flagged with the 'recurring payment indicator' in authorization messages, which is critical in ensuring the Expiry Date Solution is activated
• Put proper controls in place to protect account and transaction information as per the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
• To minimize chargebacks and transaction processing costs, submit transaction payment information to your financial institution or processor in a timely manner

For customer cancellations

• Provide customers with a toll-free number and use online procedures for cancellation
• Process cancellation or non-renewal requests in a timely manner
• Notify customers of account closures
• If a cancellation request is received too late to prevent a recurring charge from being posted, process a credit and notify the cardholder

Need more information?

To learn more, contact your Acquirer / Payment Processor.

• Becoming a Visa Merchant
• Accepting Visa Cards Online
• Merchant Glossary