Answers • How‑To • Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about Selective Pay: pricing programs, card & ACH acceptance, Virtual Terminal and Payment Links, POS options, PCI, chargebacks, L2/L3, funding, and more.
Getting Started
How do I start with Selective Pay?
Send recent merchant statements to sales@selectivepay.com or use our contact form. We analyze your fees, card mix, and workflows, then present options for POS, Virtual Terminal, Payment Links, and ACH. Underwriting typically requests basic KYC, bank info for deposits, and proof of business.
How long does onboarding take?
Simple card‑present setups can go live in 1–3 business days after approval. Gateways, Virtual Terminal, invoicing, ACH, and L2/L3 mapping usually take 3–10 business days depending on integrations and hardware shipping.
Can you match or beat my current rates?
Often yes. We focus on effective rate—the all‑in cost after optimizations (dual pricing/surcharge where permitted, ACH for large tickets, L2/L3 for B2B). We’ll provide a written estimate using your statement data.
Pricing programs (dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge)
What’s the difference between dual pricing and a surcharge?
Dual pricing / cash discount shows a cash price and a card price; the customer chooses. A credit‑only surcharge adds a separate fee to credit card sales only and automatically excludes debit/prepaid. Both require clear disclosures and receipt wording; availability depends on state/network rules.
Is surcharging legal where I operate?
Many U.S. states allow it with conditions; a few restrict it. We configure caps, debit exclusion, and signage per network and state rules. If surcharging doesn’t fit, dual pricing usually will.
Do you provide signage and receipt language?
Yes—on‑screen prompts, customer‑display language, and printable door/counter signs. Receipts clearly show cash vs. card price or an itemized surcharge when applicable.
Can I offer ACH as a cash‑equivalent?
Yes. Many merchants present ACH alongside cards as a low‑cost option—great for invoices, deposits, and high‑ticket sales.
Cards, ACH & Virtual Terminal / Payment Links
What is the Selective Pay Gateway?
Our hosted platform for Virtual Terminal, Payment Links, customer vault, recurring billing, tokenization, and reporting. It connects your in‑person devices with your online flows so all sales roll into unified reports.
Do you support Tap to Pay and contactless?
Yes—EMV chip, NFC wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay), and optional PIN for debit depending on device.
How does ACH/EFT acceptance work?
Collect routing/account numbers via Virtual Terminal or Payment Link with micro‑deposit or instant‑verification options. Funds post to your bank after clearing; ACH returns are handled with notifications and re‑presentment rules where allowed.
Can I store cards on file securely?
Yes—tokens in the customer vault keep PAN off your systems. Use for recurring payments, deposits, or quick reorders. Card Updater can refresh expired cards automatically.
Do Payment Links support custom fields?
Yes—invoice #, PO, job codes, and optional Level‑2/Level‑3 fields for B2B. We can require certain fields when card type is commercial.
Can I take international cards or multiple currencies?
We accept most international cards in USD. Multi‑currency settlement depends on processor configuration; ask us about your specific markets.
B2B & Interchange Optimization (L2/L3)
Which transactions qualify for Level‑2/Level‑3?
Commercial, corporate, purchasing, and fleet cards. Consumer credit and debit generally don’t receive L2/L3 benefits.
What data elements do you capture?
Level‑2: tax amount/indicator, invoice/PO, customer code. Level‑3: line items (SKU, qty, unit, unit price), discounts, tax, freight/duty, commodity code, ship‑to, postal codes—mapped from your VT, Payment Links, or ERP.
How much can I save?
Savings vary with card mix and ticket size. Many B2B merchants see 20–60 bps lower effective cost on eligible commercial transactions after clean L2/L3 data is enabled. We’ll model your statements to estimate a realistic range.
POS, smart terminals & hardware
Which POS systems do you resell?
Talech POS, Clover, OnePOS (restaurants), and Poynt (small retail). We size hardware and configure taxes, tips, and transparent pricing displays to match your program.
Do you support handhelds and customer displays?
Yes—handhelds for tableside/line‑busting and dual‑screen countertop devices with clear customer prompts for tips and disclosures.
What about offline mode?
Some devices support store‑and‑forward/queuing with risk thresholds (max amount, count, no new customers). We’ll enable it when appropriate.
Funding, settlements & reporting
When will I receive deposits?
Standard funding is 1–2 business days after batch close. Next‑day funding is available for many MCCs when batches close before the network cutoff; ACH posts after clearing.
Can I choose batch close times?
Yes—auto or manual. We’ll align close times with your business hours and reporting needs.
Do you integrate with accounting systems?
CSV exports and scheduled reports are standard. We can map fields for import into QuickBooks, Sage, or your ERP, and expose webhooks/APIs for deeper integrations.
How are fees shown on my statements?
We’ll explain interchange, assessments, and processor/gateway fees so you can track true effective rate. With dual pricing or surcharging, disclosures appear on screen and receipts.
Security & PCI compliance
What’s required for PCI?
Most merchants complete a PCI SAQ annually and maintain basic controls (unique logins/MFA, secure networks, updated devices). Using our gateway and EMV devices keeps card data off your systems and reduces scope.
Do you support P2PE?
Where supported, validated P2PE can further reduce scope. We’ll advise when it’s a good fit for your environment and hardware.
How is card data secured?
Tokenization and encryption from device to gateway; customer vault for cards‑on‑file; role‑based access and MFA in the merchant portal.
Chargebacks & disputes
How will I be notified of a chargeback?
We email alerts and post them in the portal with response deadlines. You’ll see the reason code, dispute amount, and what evidence is needed.
What evidence should I submit?
Signed receipts or delivery proof, itemized invoices, correspondence, refund/void logs, and usage logs for digital goods. For services, include contracts and work orders. Submit by the listed deadline.
Can L2/L3 data help with disputes?
Yes. Itemized detail (POs, SKUs, tax/freight) supports legitimacy and can discourage friendly fraud in some categories.
Account, contracts & support
Do you require long‑term contracts?
We prefer simple, transparent agreements. If equipment is subsidized, a term may apply; otherwise month‑to‑month is common. We’ll disclose any early‑termination fees up front.
What’s your support model?
Merchant support via phone and email during business hours with emergency escalation paths. We also provide self‑service guides and training videos for your team.
Multi‑location or separate MIDs?
We support multi‑location reporting and separate MIDs where needed (by brand, region, or business unit) with consolidated dashboards.
How do I switch to Selective Pay?
We can run your new setup in parallel for a short period, schedule cutover after staff training, and assist with device install and data import.