Introduction to Payment Service Providers

Dave Carr
Dave Carr
  • Updated

In this article, we’ll explain what a Payment Service Provider is, the different payment channels available in Spektrix with each Payment Service Provider. You’ll also find links to other helpful resources.

 

What is a Payment Service Provider?

A Payment Service Provider is a third party company that lets you accept card payments securely through your website and Spektrix system. 

A Payment Service Provider can provide features such as:

  • A Payment Gateway. A secure Payment Gateway connects vendors’ websites to their payment processing system.
  • A Payment Processing system. This verifies transaction details andchecks the card issuer or bank for available funds. The system also authorises or declines payments.
  • Fraud Protection: Transactions are monitored for patterns of fraud. This helps protect businesses against chargebacks and fraudulent transactions.
  • Address Checking: The billing address used in a transaction is compared with the information held with the Customer’s card issuer or bank. A decision is made whether to accept the transaction depending if the address fully or partially matches.
  • 3D Secure (UK and Ireland only): 3D secure is an additional layer of authentication for card transactions which asks your Customer’s to confirm their identity with the card issuer. This may involve authenticating through their banking app, or through a one-time passcode (OTP) sent to their phone.
  • Compliance and Security: Payment Service Providers are responsible for ensuring their processes and systems comply with industry standards, such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

 

Which Payment Service Provider should I use?

Spektrix integrates with the following Payment Service Providers:

Not all Payment Service Providers provide the same Payment Channels to use in Spektrix. Read the sections below to learn the differences between each Payment Service Provider.

 

Spektrix Payments (all regions)

All Payment Channels are available with Spektrix Payments:

  • Ecommerce (also known as Web Payments): Used for online sales.
  • MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order): Used when performing transactions over the phone.
  • EPOS: Used for taking in-person payments through a Payment Terminal/Chip & Pin/Chip Reader.
  • Continuous Authority (also known as Recurring Payments/Billing): Used in conjunction with stored cards in Spektrix. You can automatically charge a Customer’s stored card, for example to automatically renew a Membership.

 

Opayo (UK and Ireland)

All Payment Channels are available with Opayo:

  • Ecommerce (also known as Web Payments): Used for online sales.
  • MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order): Used when performing transactions over the phone.
  • EPOS: Used for taking in-person payments through a Payment Terminal/Chip & Pin/Chip Reader.
  • Continuous Authority (also known as Recurring Payments/Billing): Used in conjunction with stored cards in Spektrix. You can automatically charge a Customer’s stored card, for example to automatically renew a Membership.

 

Worldpay (US and Canada)

All Payment Channels are available with Worldpay:

  • Ecommerce (also known as Web Payments): Used for online sales.
  • MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order): Used when performing transactions over the phone.
  • EPOS (US only): Used for taking in-person payments through a Payment Terminal/Chip & Pin/Chip Reader.
  • Continuous Authority (also known as Recurring Payments/Billing): Used in conjunction with stored cards in Spektrix. You can automatically charge a Customer’s stored card, for example to automatically renew a Membership.

REMINDER: In-person payments using a Chip Reader is only available in the US.

 

Authorize.Net (US and Canada)

The following Payment Channels are available with Authorize.Net:

  • Ecommerce (also known as Web Payments): Used for online sales.
  • MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order): Used when performing transactions over the phone.
  • Continuous Authority (also known as Recurring Payments/Billing): Used in conjunction with stored cards in Spektrix. You can automatically charge a Customer’s stored card, for example to automatically renew a Membership.

TIP: Authorize.Net doesn’t provide an EPOS Payment Channel to use with Spektrix, this means you won’t be able to take in-person payments through a Chip Reader. You can perform a Sale with the Customer present, however you’ll need to manually type the Customer’s card details into Spektrix.

If you want to take payments using Chip or Tap to Pay, you’ll need to move to Spektrix Payments. Read Introduction to Spektrix Payments for more information.

 

Moneris (Canada only)

The following Payment Channels are available with Moneris:

  • Ecommerce (also known as Web Payments): Used for online sales.
  • MOTO (Mail Order Telephone Order): Used when performing transactions over the phone.
  • Continuous Authority (also known as Recurring Payments/Billing): Used in conjunction with stored cards in Spektrix. You can automatically charge a Customer’s stored card, for example to automatically renew a Membership.

TIP: Moneris doesn’t provide an EPOS Payment Channel to use with Spektrix, this means you won’t be able to take in-person payments through a Chip Reader. You can perform a Sale with the Customer present, however you’ll need to manually type the Customer’s card details into Spektrix.

If you want to take payments using Chip or Tap to Pay, you’ll need to move to Spektrix Payments. Read Introduction to Spektrix Payments for more information.

This article should give you an introduction to Payment Service Providers. To learn more about Payments, visit the Manage Payments section of the Support Centre.