eCommerce Glossary
This e-commerce glossary features over 250 essential terms every online seller should know to succeed in digital commerce.
An account updater service is a program offered by credit card networks, such as Visa’s Account Updater and MasterCard’s Automatic Billing Updater, designed to automatically update customer card information for subscription-based services when card details change or become outdated.
How Does an Account Updater Service Work?
An account updater service works through the following steps:
- Monitoring Changes: The service keeps track of changes to credit card details, including new account numbers and updated expiration dates. These changes can occur due to various reasons such as card re-issuance after loss or security breaches, mergers, portfolio changes (e.g., switching from Visa to MasterCard), account closures, and product upgrades.
- Automatic Updates: The service automatically updates the merchant’s subscriber database with the new card information. This ensures that recurring transactions, such as subscription payments, continue without interruption.
- Methods of Update:
– Automated Nightly Updates: The service performs nightly checks on all cards processed in the past six months, automatically updating any changes.
– Decline Requests: Merchants can request updates for specific cards that have been declined, helping to resolve payment issues promptly.
– Scheduled Billing Checks: Merchants can also request updates for a batch of cards due for their next billing cycle, ensuring accurate information for upcoming charges.
By participating in an Account Updater Service, companies benefit from:
- Reduced Payment Failures: Automatic updates minimize the risk of declined transactions due to outdated card information.
- Improved Customer Retention: Ensuring seamless recurring payments enhances customer satisfaction and reduces churn.
- Operational Efficiency: Automating the update process saves time and reduces the administrative burden on businesses.
Overall, an account updater service helps maintain the accuracy of card information for subscription-based businesses, ensuring consistent and successful payment processing.