`Pay by Link` Acquirer Implementation Guide

This section describes how to use this guide and where to find further information.

Audience and Purpose

This guide is written for Visa Acceptance Solutions partners want to enable Pay by Link payment processing for their transacting merchants.

Conventions

This statement appears in this document:

An Important
statement contains information essential to successfully completing a task or learning a concept.

Customer Support

For support information about any service, visit the Support Center:

support.visaacceptance.com

Pilot Release

This document provides information about the pilot release of the Pay by Link acquirer implementation.

Recent Revisions to This Document

25.09.01

This revision contains only editorial changes and no technical updates.

25.08.01

Pilot release.

VISA Platform Connect: Specifications and Conditions for Resellers/Partners

The following are specifications and conditions that apply to a Reseller/Partner enabling its merchants through

Visa Acceptance platform

. Failure to meet any of the specifications and conditions below is subject to the liability provisions and indemnification obligations under Reseller/Partner’s contract with Visa/Cybersource.

Before boarding merchants for payment processing on a VPC acquirer’s connection, Reseller/Partner and the VPC acquirer must have a contract or other legal agreement that permits Reseller/Partner to enable its merchants to process payments with the acquirer through the dedicated VPC connection and/or traditional connection with such VPC acquirer.

Reseller/Partner is responsible for boarding and enabling its merchants in accordance with the terms of the contract or other legal agreement with the relevant VPC acquirer.

Reseller/Partner acknowledges and agrees that all considerations and fees associated with chargebacks, interchange downgrades, settlement issues, funding delays, and other processing related activities are strictly between Reseller and the relevant VPC acquirer.

Reseller/Partner acknowledges and agrees that the relevant VPC acquirer is responsible for payment processing issues, including but not limited to, transaction declines by network/issuer, decline rates, and interchange qualification, as may be agreed to or outlined in the contract or other legal agreement between Reseller/Partner and such VPC acquirer.

DISCLAIMER: NEITHER VISA NOR CYBERSOURCE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS BY THE

Visa Platform Connect

ACQUIRER IN PROCESSING TRANSACTIONS. NEITHER VISA NOR CYBERSOURCE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR RESELLER/PARTNER BOARDING MERCHANTS OR ENABLING MERCHANT PROCESSING IN VIOLATION OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE RELEVANT

Visa Platform Connect

ACQUIRER.

Introduction to Pay by Link Acquirer Implementation

Digital Acceptance Applications offer seamless and secure methods for online payment collection, catering to diverse merchant needs. These applications include:

Recurring Billing:
A simple and flexible way to manage subscription and recurring payments to drive revenue growth and minimize churn.

Invoicing:
Save time and get paid faster by allowing your customers to securely pay using their preferred payment method from any connected device.

Pay by Link:
An easy and fast way to sell products or receive donations using payment links, checkout buttons, or QR codes without any coding.

Virtual Terminal:
Secure payment terminal that uses your computer without requiring a card reader or other expensive hardware.

This comprehensive guide explains how you, as a partner or reseller, can integrate to Pay by Link and resell the Pay by Link solution to your merchants.

How to Sell `Pay by Link`

Pay by Link is a versatile payment solution that enables your merchants to accept online payments without the need for an e-commerce website. Merchants can easily sell goods and services or collect donations by generating secure payment links, QR codes, and checkout buttons to share with their customers.

This is ideal for small businesses, micro-merchants, and non-profits that want to accept donations or payments for fixed-price items.

Pay by Link provides APIs and webhook notifications that enable system integrators and enterprise merchants to create embedded payment solutions. By using Pay by Link as a hosted payment page, they can:

Offload PCI compliance.

Enable various payment methods, such as wallets and regional solutions.

Ensure robust security.

This enables businesses to focus on growing their operations instead of managing complex payment systems.

Benefits for Merchants

Ease of Use:
Merchants can quickly generate payment links and share them with customers by email, SMS, or social media, with no integration effort required

Increased Sales:
By offering customers to pay with their preferred payment methods and providing a seamless payment experience, merchants can attract more customers and increase sales.

Security:
Pay by Link ensures secure transactions, protecting both merchants and customers from fraud, with pre-integrated fraud and risk management tools.

Flexibility:
Merchants can create fixed-price links, QR codes, and checkout buttons, enabling them to reach their customers across various channels

No Need for an eCommerce Website:
Merchants can accept online payments without the need to set up and maintain an e-commerce website.

Benefits for Resellers

Additional Revenue Stream:
Resellers can offer Pay by Link as an additional service to their merchants, generating more revenue.

Enhanced Customer Relationships:
By providing a valuable payment solution, resellers can strengthen their relationships with merchants.

Competitive Advantage:
Offering Pay by Link can differentiate resellers from competitors, making them more attractive to potential clients.

Ease of Implementation:
The straightforward setup process enables resellers to quickly enable Pay by Link for their merchants.

Choosing `Pay by Link` or Invoicing

Pay by Link is best for quick and easy payments from multiple customers without detailed customer information. Invoicing is ideal for sending detailed itemized bills to specific customers regularly and tracking payments.

Invoicing versus `Pay by Link`
Feature	Invoicing	`Pay by Link`
Purpose	Send itemized bills to specific customers.	Generate payment links for multiple customers.
Customer Information	Requires known customer details.	Used to collect payments from multiple unknown customers using the same link.
Payment Link	Included in the system generated invoice email or can be embedded in the customer notifications.	Standalone link, QR code, or checkout button for merchants to distribute.
Discounts and Taxes	Supported at the line item and invoice level.	Not supported.
Usage	One-time payments (supports partial payments).	One-time or reusable links for donations or fixed-price items.
Expiry	Link expires after the invoice is fully paid.	Link can be used repeatedly until deactivated by the merchant.
Email Notifications	Emails to merchants and payers when a payment is successful with a link to the receipt. Automated email reminders.	Emails to merchants and payers when a payment is successful with a link to the receipt.
Webhooks	Webhooks triggered when an invoice is partially or fully paid.	Webhooks triggered when a payment is successful.

Similarities Between Invoicing and `Pay by Link`

Both Invoicing and Pay by Link support multiple currencies, mobile friendly payment pages, and all payment methods supported by Unified Checkout, such as debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Click to Pay, echeck in the US and CA, and more. This support enables merchants to customize the information that is collected during checkout.

Invoicing and Pay by Link are integrated with fraud and risk management tools and support 3DS payer authentication to ensure secure payments and help merchants reduce the risk of chargebacks.

Best Practices for `Pay by Link`

Do Use Pay by Link: For one-time sale or donation payments from multiple customers to ensure a seamless transaction experience.

To create one-time sales offers or test new sales channels.

For remote transactions where traditional payment methods may not be feasible, such as selling internationally or through social media.

To offer a quick and secure payment option for your customers.

Embedded in an email or SMS using the payment link or QR code.
Do Not Use Pay by Link: For recurring payments try Recurring Billing instead. Pay by Link is designed for single transactions.

For payments that require discounts and taxes to be displayed to the payer before the payment.

If there are security concerns that the payment link is being intercepted by unauthorized parties.

For transactions that need extensive customization and data capture that cannot be accommodated in the Pay by Link setup.

How to Enable `Pay by Link` as a Reseller Portfolio User

Pay by Link is an enablement only product, and when enabled for a merchant, it does not require any additional configuration.

To enable Pay by Link, you can use the API or the Business Center.

Prerequisites to Enable `Pay by Link`

Before you can enable Pay by Link, merchants must complete these prerequisites:

Merchant Account:
Active merchant account with Visa Acceptance or Cybersource.

Unified Checkout:
Unified Checkout enabled for streamlined payment processes.

Card Payments are enabled by default for Unified Checkout.

Digital Wallets and Alternate Payment Methods can be made available by enablement by the merchant or enabled on behalf of the merchant.

Fraud and Risk Security:
Enable fraud and risk management tools and 3DS Payer Authentication, which is required in some regions, for secure transactions.

Merchants must comply with regulations related to capturing customer consent to use payment information gathered using Pay by Link for merchant-initiated transactions.

Enabling `Pay by Link` for New Merchants in the `Business Center`

Add a new merchant:
Begin by adding the new merchant to the system. Ensure all required details are correctly provided.

Select boarding type:
Choose the appropriate boarding type based on the merchant's requirements.

Complete merchant information form:
Complete the merchant information form with all of the relevant details.

Enable Unified Checkout:
Activate Unified Checkout to streamline the payment process.

Activate Pay by Link:
Enable Pay by Link to allow the merchant to start generating payment links.

To add Pay by Link to a boarding package, work with your account manager.

Enabling `Pay by Link` for Existing Merchants in the `Business Center`

Search for an existing merchant:
Locate the merchant in the system using the search function.

View merchant’s profile:
Access the merchant's profile to review their current setup.

Enable Unified Checkout:
Activate Unified Checkout if it is not already enabled.

Activate Pay by Link:
Enable Pay by Link to allow the merchant to generate and share payment links.

Enabling `Pay by Link` for Merchants Using the Boarding API

Use the Boarding API to enable Unified Checkout and activate Pay by Link. For more information, see the Pay by Link section in the Merchant Boarding User Guide for the REST API
.

How to Integrate with `Pay by Link`

This section describes how you can integrate with Pay by Link as a partner using your portfolio account or supporting your merchants who are integrating to the API.

Creating and Sharing Payment Links

Merchants can create fixed-price or customer-set price links using Pay by Link APIs. These links can be sent via email, SMS, or any other communication channel. This flexibility allows merchants to reach their customers wherever they are and facilitate quick and easy payments.

See Create a Fixed-Price Link and Create a Customer-Set Link specifications in the Pay by Link Developer Guide for the REST API
.

Receive Payment Notifications from Webhook Subscriptions

Merchants can receive real-time updates on payment statuses by subscribing to webhook notifications. This ensures that merchants stay informed when payments are received and can provide timely responses to their customers. For more information about how to subscribe to webhooks notifications, see the Webhooks Implementation Guide for the REST API
.

Authenticate `Pay by Link` API Requests

Pay by Link APIs can be authenticated using REST API keys, meta keys, or OAuth.

OAuth: Use OAuth authentication when a connector, such as a plugin or add-in, needs to connect to the Pay by Link APIs. This displays a login screen and a screen that enables the user to grant permission to access Pay by Link APIs.
REST API keys: If you want your system to send Pay by Link API requests and still control your user interface, the REST API keys can be used. For more information about how to create a REST API key, see REST API Key with a P12 File in the Creating and Using Security Keys User Guide
.
Meta keys: If you are boarding merchants and need to send Pay by Link API requests on behalf of several merchants, then you can use a type of REST API meta
key that enables your portfolio account to send API requests for all transacting MIDs in the portfolio. For more information about how to create and manage meta keys, see the Meta Key Creation and Management section in the Creating and Using Security Keys User Guide
.

Best Practices for Using Payment Links in Different Channels

Adjust payment link formats based on the distribution channel, such as social media, email, and SMS, to significantly enhance your payment process and customer experience.

Here are some best practices for each channel:

Email: Clear Call-to-Action:
Use prominent buttons or links with clear instructions to guide your customers to the payment page
Personalization:
Tailor the email content to the recipient, including personalized messages and relevant payment details.
Security:
Ensure the email is sent from a recognizable and trusted address to avoid phishing concerns.
Text (SMS): Concise Messaging:
Keep the message short and to the point. Include only essential information and the payment link. Messages can contain a maximum of 160 characters. Shorten the payment link appropriately using tools like TinyURL to condense your message.
Single Link:
Use one link for each message to avoid confusion and improve click-through rates.
Verification:
Send the payment request from a verifiable business phone number to build trust.
Social Media: Engaging Content:
Integrate payment links in engaging posts or stories to capture attention.
Consistency:
Ensure the payment link matches the branding and tone of your social media profile.
Track Performance:
Use analytics to monitor the effectiveness of payment links and optimize accordingly.
Digital Marketing: Seamless Integration:
Embed payment links in digital ads, landing pages, and email campaigns for a seemless user experience.
Clear Call to Action:
Embed payment links in clear calls to action for accessibility.
Physical Advertisements: QR Codes:
Use QR codes on flyers, posters, and billboards to direct customers to the payment page.
Clear Instructions:
Provide clear instructions on how to use the QR code or payment link.
Visibility:
Ensure the payment link or QR code is prominently displayed and easy to scan.

By following these best practices, you can enhance the efficiency and security of your payment processes across different channels.

Support Merchants for `Pay by Link`

This section describes the different methods you can use to support your merchants who use Pay by Link.

Use Merchant Switch to Assist Merchants

Merchant Switch is a powerful feature that enables partners to support their merchants more effectively.

By using Merchant Switch, partners can switch their view to any organization in their portfolio, gaining visibility and access to the merchant's configurations and settings.

This enables partners to assist merchants with operating their controls, troubleshooting concerns, and managing their use of Pay by Link.

To utilize Merchant Switch, follow these steps:

Log into EBC with a portfolio-level account:
Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the Merchant Switch feature.

Select Switch View
:
This option will be available at the top of the page.

Choose Organization:
Use the Quick
or Custom
search options to find the merchant you want to switch into.

Switch View:
When you find the merchant, click Switch View
to switch to their account. You can view and interact with the merchant's settings and configurations as if you were logged in as the merchant

Set Merchant User Roles and Permissions for `Pay by Link`

Pay by Link supports two permission levels to ensure secure and appropriate access:

Pay by Link View:
This read-only permission enables users to view payment links without making any changes. It is ideal for customer support staff who need to assist merchants without the risk of altering any settings.

Pay by Link Management:
This permission enables users to create and edit payment links. It is suitable for administrators and other users who need full control over the payment link creation and management process.

`Pay by Link` with Fraud and Risk Management

Pay by Link integrates seamlessly with Decision Manager and Fraud Management Essentials, to provide robust security and fraud prevention. By integrating these tools, merchants can ensure that their transactions are secure and that they are protected from fraud, while still providing a seamless payment experience for their customers.

`Pay by Link` with Transaction Management and Reporting

Pay by Link transactions are fully integrated with transaction management and reporting tools, providing merchants with comprehensive visibility and control over their payment activities.

Transaction Management:
Pay by Link payments are searchable using the transaction management module in the Business Center. Pay by Link transactions have the Merchant Reference Number set to the LinkID and the Client Application set to PaybyLink. Merchants can easily locate and review transactions using various filters, such as date range, transaction status, and payment method.

Reporting:
Detailed reports for Pay by Link payments can be generated using the reporting module in the Business Center. Merchants can create custom reports to track payment link performance, monitor transaction statuses, and analyze payment trends using the connection method to filter Pay by Link transactions. These reports can be scheduled for automatic generation and delivery, ensuring that merchants have up-to-date information at their fingertips.

By leveraging these transaction management and reporting capabilities, merchants can gain valuable insights into their payment activities, streamline their operations, and make informed business decisions.

Branding the `Pay by Link` Payment Page

Merchants can customize the Pay by Link payment page to reflect their brand identity. This includes adding logos and their brand color to create a cohesive and professional appearance.

To configure the payment page:

Log into the Business Center:
Access the Pay by Link settings.

Navigate to Branding:
Here, merchants can upload their logo and choose brand colors to match their brand guidelines.

Preview and Save Changes:
Merchants can preview the changes before saving to ensure the payment page accurately represents their brand.

By personalizing the payment page to match the merchant's brand, they can create trust with their customers to ensure faster payments.

Pay by Link Acquirer Implementation Guide

Audience and Purpose

Conventions

Customer Support

Pilot Release

Recent Revisions to This Document

25.09.01

25.08.01

VISA Platform Connect: Specifications and Conditions for Resellers/Partners

Introduction to Pay by Link Acquirer Implementation

How to Sell Pay by Link

Benefits for Merchants

Benefits for Resellers

Choosing Pay by Link or Invoicing

Similarities Between Invoicing and Pay by Link

Best Practices for Pay by Link

How to Enable Pay by Link as a Reseller Portfolio User

Prerequisites to Enable Pay by Link

Enabling Pay by Link for New Merchants in the Business Center

Enabling Pay by Link for Existing Merchants in the Business Center

Enabling Pay by Link for Merchants Using the Boarding API

How to Integrate with Pay by Link