Glossary
Capture Only
A capture only transaction is a specific type of credit card payment processing request used by merchants when the initial authorization of the transaction occurs outside the standard payment gateway system. This scenario often arises in situations where a merchant obtains authorization directly from the cardholder's issuing bank via alternative methods such as a telephone authorization.
In a capture only transaction, the merchant already has an authorization code provided by the issuing bank, which confirms that the transaction amount has been authorized and the funds are effectively reserved for capture. The merchant then submits this pre-existing authorization code to their payment gateway for processing, to formally capture the authorized funds and complete the transaction.
This method is distinct from a prior authorization capture, which typically involves an initial authorization done through the payment gateway itself, followed later by a separate capture request. The capture only approach is particularly useful in scenarios where immediate electronic authorization might not be possible or practical, such as in certain telephone sales or offline transactions, providing merchants the flexibility to secure authorization in advance and finalize the transaction subsequently.