Reference transaction

The Reference transaction provides flexibility for the One Time Sale credit card transaction, also know as instant payment. This transaction is available for tokenized cards as well, but is especially helpful for the One Time Sale transaction method because this method is considered tokenless. Tokenless means that the transaction is authorized and settled immediately, and the token is not stored in the ERP system.

Because the system only stores a token, and the One Time Sale transaction is tokenless, a way is needed for a customer sales representative to reference back to, or look up, a previous order and perform a return or a maintenance on that order. The Reference transaction provides that way.

A transaction identifier is used by the system for a tokenless order, and that identifier can be referenced for a return or maintenance. For example:

You can refund a One Time Sale transaction amount to the original credit card, such as a counter sale being returned for refund.
For an AUTH/FSAL transaction type, you can refund to the original credit card.
For an AUTH transaction type, you can maintain an order. For example, to add quantity or products, and charge the original credit card. With the AUTH, the card has not been charged yet and the sale is not final. You cannot add to a transaction type that is considered final by CenPOS, such as SALE or FSAL transaction type. You cannot use a Reference transaction with a RETN.
If you use a miscellaneous account for walk-in customers, you can use the One Time Sale transation, instead of creating a tokenized transaction on a miscellaneous account. Then, use the reference transaction for the original card. This enables you to avoid searching through the miscellaneous account for a specific card token.

When you use the typical procedure for processing a credit card return merchandise order, and access the Collect Payment view, any active Reference transactions that exist for that order number are displayed in the Process Payment section. You can then select the appropriate referenced transaction, specify the return amount, and complete and save the order.

Note: To perform a Reference transaction, you must be tendering that order. Or, in the case of an RM, have the order with the transaction in question tied to the order you are tendering. You cannot reverse more than the original transaction amount. An error message is displayed notifying you of this. For example, if the original $100 transaction was split between two credit cards ($50 to each), you cannot specify a return amount of $100 to one card. If a line item was $10, you cannot specify a return amount of $15 for that line.

The amount is credited to the customer's original credit card with the normal workflow.