Authorize now, capture what you deliver
Hold the funds when the customer orders, and take only what you actually shipped.
Your answers so far
Choose one
What to build
Create the transaction with the Authorization type when the customer orders. When you ship, send a Capture on the operations endpoint for the amount you delivered. A capture for less than the authorization releases the rest of the hold, so an out-of-stock line never reaches the customer's statement as a charge followed by a refund.
What this means for PCI
This is guidance rather than a compliance determination. Which questionnaire you are eligible for depends on your full environment, so confirm it with your QSA or your acquirer before you rely on it.
Worth knowing
- An authorization is captured once. Capturing less than you authorized releases the rest of the hold, and a second capture for the remainder is refused.
- A hold expires on its own if nothing captures it. The card networks and the issuer set how long it lasts, and it's days rather than weeks, so capture as soon as you deliver.
- To cancel an order you haven't shipped, cancel the authorization rather than capturing and refunding it.