Restaurant Credential on File Transactions
Credential on file transactions occur when a cardholder gives express permission to the merchant to store their payment credentials for use on a future purchase.
The COF transaction category introduces 2 transaction types:
- Scheduled COF
- Unscheduled COF
These types of transactions also update card brand rules, including merchant disclosure requirements.
The stored credential transaction category covers all COF transactions, including:
- Cardholder-initiated stored credential transactions - no fixed schedule.
- Industry Specific (delayed, no-show, incremental).
note
While Credential on File integrations are not third party processor specific, if a merchant changes third party processor with already established Credentials on File, it is advised that the merchant re-establish those Credentials on File with the new third party processor.
Restaurant COF and Related Transaction Scenarios
Restaurant credential file transactions are indicated by Fields 0723, 0738, 0047 - position 5, and 0054.
Establishing a Credential on File
Scenario
Cardholder and Merchant agree to establish a Credential on File at a Restaurant and perform the initial sale or authorization transaction. The COF may be used for future transactions initiated by the cardholder or merchant for payment of meals or services.
Example
Cardholder purchases a meal at a restaurant and agrees to place their card on file with the merchant for future take out or delivery meals.
| Transaction Type | 0723 F=First Payment to Establish Credential on file | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale (02) | F | Not Present | Appropriate Value | As Entered | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
| Auth Only (01) | F | Not Present | Appropriate Value | As Entered | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
| Zero-dollar Auth Only (01) | F | Not Present | Appropriate Value | As Entered | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
Scenarios Using a Credential on File
Scenario
Merchant initiates a payment for a meal or service using the established COF based on a standing arrangement with the Cardholder.
Example
Merchant performs a transaction for a weekly food delivery to the cardholder.
| Transaction Type | 0723 S=Subsequent Payment | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale (02) | S | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Merchant | Unscheduled |
| Auth Only (01) | S | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Merchant | Unscheduled |
Scenario
Cardholder initiates a single purchase using the established COF
Example
Cardholder purchases a meal for delivery from the restaurant
| Transaction Type | 0723 U=Unscheduled Payment | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale (02) | U | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
| Auth Only (01) | U | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
Scenario
Cardholder or Merchant initiates a Return Transaction using the established COF.
Example
Cardholder cancels an item from the meal after purchase was made and an amount is to be refunded.
Merchant has overcharged for a previous meal purchased or service provided.
| Transaction Type | 0723 S=Subsequent Payment U=Unscheduled Payment | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return (09) | S | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Merchant | Unscheduled |
| Return (09) | U | Value from Original Transaction Response | A | 01 | Cardholder | Unscheduled |
Scenario
Merchant initiates an Incremental Authorization.
Example
Merchant requires an additional authorization amount for meal purchased or to add a tip, an incremental authorization is performed using the COF.
| Transaction Type | 0723 S=Subsequent Payment U=Unscheduled Payment | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incremental Auth (75) | S | Value from Original Transaction Response | 4 | 01 | Merchant | Unscheduled |
Prior Authorization
Scenario
Merchant initiates a Prior Authorization to complete a previous COF authorization only transaction
Example
Merchant needs to submit a prior authorization for a COF transaction as part of their End of Day process and initiate settlement.
| Transaction Type | Field 0723 F=First payment to Establish Credential on File S = Subsequent Payment Unscheduled Payment | Field 0738 | Field 0047 position 5 | Field 0054 | Initiated by | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prior Authorization (07) | Same as initial Authorization Only (01) | Value from Original Transaction Response | Same as initial Authorization Only (01) | 01 | Merchant | Same as initial Authorization Only (01) |
Scenario
Merchant initiates a Reversal or Void of a previous COF transaction
Examples
Merchant needs to cancel a previous transaction, a void or full reversal is performed.
Merchant has over charged on previous authorization transaction, a partial authorization is performed.
| Transaction Type | 0723 S=Subsequent Payment U=Unscheduled Payment | Field 0738 | 0047 Position 5 | 0054 | Initiated By | Reason COF Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Reversal (61), Partial Reversal (76) Void Sale (11), Void Return (17) | Same as original | Value from Original Transaction Response | Same as original | 01 | Same as original | Same as original |
POS Data Code - Field 0047 Position 5 – Cardholder Presence
• Cardholder Present Value:
- 0 = Cardholder present
• Cardholder Not Present Values:
- 1 = Cardholder not present (reason not specified)
- 2 = Cardholder not present, mail order
- 3 = Cardholder not present, telephone order
- 4 = Cardholder not present, Industry Practice
- 5 = Cardholder not present, e-Commerce
- A = Cardholder not present, Standing Authorization - Unscheduled
- 9 = Cardholder not present, Standing Authorization – Recurring or Installment
POS Entry Mode - Field 0054
Entry Mode of the Transaction:
- 01 = Manual/Key Entry
- 05 = EMV
- 07 = Contactless Chip Card
- 80 = EMV fall back to swipe
- 90 = Magnetic Stripe
- 91 = Contactless Mag Stripe
Compliance Data Value - Field 0738
• This field contains the compliance data required to process Credential on File transactions. The value is returned in the API response of the transaction that established the COF. This value must be retained by the merchant POS.
• The stored value must be provided on in the API request by the POS on all transactions using the COF.
When Establishing a COF
• API Request – Not Present
• API Response – Compliance Data Value - Merchant POS must retain for all transactions using a COF
When Using a COF
• API Request - Compliance Data Value retained from field 0738 of the Original Authorization Transaction Response when the COF was Established.
• API Response - Compliance Data Value – Possibly a different value from the request – merchant does not need to store this value
important
When attempting to establish a COF, if a value is not returned in field 0738, the response the COF was not established. In this case, the merchant must treat this and any future transactions for this card as non COF transactions, as such do not send 0723 and 0738 on those future transactions.