Receive transaction info from Merchants without Merchant ID

[derby]

Hi All -

We're looking for guidance to find an API that provides instant transaction information notification when a registered card is swiped at a registered Merchant (both in-store and online). Info required: date/time/amount/merchant name/card type.

We've been told that this is not possible for all Merchant types - those with a Merchant ID and those without (those using a 3rd Party processor like Square, PayPal, Toast POS etc), we're hoping we were told wrong info since the # of Merchants using 3rd party processing is growing rapidly. 

Thanks in advance for the support ! 

Any help on this is much appreciated. Thanks! 

[API_Products · Accepted solution]

Hey @derby,

Visa Transaction Controls supports both in-store and contactless transaction types. This API also provides the information that you require (e.g. date/time, amount, merchant, card type).

Visa Transaction Controls supports a number of merchant control categories (see Customer Rules API MerchantControls child attributes.  Enabling a merchant card control will trigger a VTC response whenever a purchase is made at a merchant with a corresponding MCC. Furthermore, VTC has merchantControls, if provided, this includes the list of defined Merchant Controls that have been configured for the card (please refer to controlType). For more VTC information please see its API Reference - https://developer.visa.com/capabilities/vctc/reference#vctc__customer_rules__v1__manage_controls  

There are some URL links that have additional helpful MCC and MCT information that support your VTC use case. Please refer to the below community forum post, Visa Supplier Locator, and Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual for more information.

Community Forum Post - VTC - Definition of merchant control type: https://community.developer.visa.com/t5/Visa-Developer-Capabilities/VTC-Definition-of-merchant-contr...  

Visa Supplier Locator: https://www.visa.com/supplierlocator-app/app/#/home/supplier-locator

Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual: https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/download/merchants/visa-merchant-data-standards-manual.pdf

Regarding your question about Merchant types and third-party processing, I'll take a look and get back to you on that.

[derby]

Hi Diana - thanks for the help. 

It's the issue with 3rd party processors that is specifically the solution we are looking for.

As you identify, VTC supplies the info we need, though only for Merchants with a MerchantID. This is fine for large brands; our business model, however, requires that we work with any size Merchant, including small businesses and online sites, irrespective of their card processor. If they accept credit cards, we should be able to work with them. 

With solutions from Square, Toast, PayPal and dozens of other vendors supplying physical and online businesses with integrated POS and card processing, all under one 3rd party MerchantID, we're unable to move forward with the VTC alone as it excludes 3rd party processors. 

Thanks for taking this problem on, we look forward to your reply and direction. 

-derby

[derby]

Re: Receive transaction info from Merchants without Merchant ID
Hi Diana - quick note to see if you've made any progress on this question of how to receive real-time transaction data from payment facilitator sub-merchants ? We're stuck in our business development until we get this resolved. Hope to hear from you soon. best, -derby

[API_Products]

Hey @derby,

If you are a GMR than I can connect you to the product team that can provide you with further assistance. Please note, if you are the merchant then you have the transaction data. If you work with the merchant or the acquirer then you will have access to the transaction data. I recommend you to reach out to your issuer bank for such arrangement. They are the one doing the settlement of your transactions, therefore, they will be able to provide this data on a regular basis. Transaction data will only be available at the banks level. You can create features to get that data from banks or store it in your APP at your end.
 
If you are not the merchant, or if you are not working with the merchant or acquirer, then there is not any API which will give you transaction data on debit/credit cards because the issuer/acquirer maintain that data. 

[derby]

Thanks, Diana. What's a GMR?

[derby]

Hi Diana - still can't figure out what a GMR is. Please help. Thanks! -derby

[API_Products]

Hey @derby,

My apologies in the delayed response. GMR stands for Global Merchant Repository.

[API_Products · Accepted solution]

Hey @derby,

I have an update for you and my apologies for any confusion. This capability of setting a control at merchant level does not exist in Visa Transaction Controls (VTC); it has nothing to do with GMR. 

[derby]

Hi Diana - quick note to see if you've made any progress on this question of how to receive real-time transaction data from payment facilitator sub-merchants ? We're stuck in our business development until we get this resolved. Hope to hear from you soon. best, -derby