# Pre-Authorization/Increment/Completion ### Pre-Authorization A pre-authorization allows you to authorize an estimated amount for the final total sale, setting aside (reserving) that amount on a client’s card prior to completing the transaction. {% hint style="info" %} NOTE: If there is a difference between the pre-authorized amount and the final sale amount, it remains reserved on the card balance until the completion of the pre-authorization or until the posting date on the client’s account, depending on the card issuer’s policies. It is recommended to complete the pre-authorization when the final amount is known in order to release any difference back to the client's account. {% endhint %} #### **To pre-authorize an amount on a client’s card:** 1. Touch **Operations** and touch **Pre-Authorization** from the menu.

2. Using the number pad, enter the amount to pre-authorize. 3. Touch **OK**. The *Total Pre-Authorization* screen appears.

{% hint style="info" %} NOTE: If the merchant account is configured to add any fees, they are added automatically to the amount that appears on the screen. {% endhint %} 4. Tap, insert, or swipe the payment card. 5. After confirming the pre-authorization, the terminal prints the merchant copy of the transaction receipt. To print the customer copy, touch **Print receipt** or touch **No receipt** if no customer copy is requested. *** ### Pre-Authorization Increment There may be times when you pre-authorize an amount of money on a client’s card, but you recognize that the final sale will be greater than the pre-athorized amount. In this situation, you can increase the pre-authorization by incrementing (adding) an additional amount. This increases the amount reserved on the customer's card, further reducing the available spending limit. As with any pre-authorization, when you complete a pre-authorization, you release the unused funds earlier. #### **To increment an existing pre-authorization:** 1. From the main screen, touch **Settings**.

2. Enter the merchant password and touch **Confirm**. 3. In the **Transaction management** section, touch **Transaction History**.

4. Scroll to or search for the desired pre-authorization transaction to complete. {% hint style="info" %} NOTE: Because all of a merchant's transactions processed on all terminals are saved immediately to the server, the list of transactions may be quite long. For more information on searching for a transaction, refer to the [*Search for a Transaction*](https://docs.payfacto.com/payfacto-knowledge/canada-doc-center/applications/secure-payment/payment-standalone-mode/search-for-a-transaction#search-for-a-transaction) procedure. {% endhint %} 5. Touch the desired transaction to display the details. 6. Touch **Increment**.

7. On the *Increment amount* screen, use the number pad, enter the amount to add to the existing pre-authorization and touch **Confirm**. 8. After confirming the new pre-authorization amount, the terminal prints the merchant copy of the transaction receipt. To print the customer copy, touch **Print receipt** or touch **No receipt** if no customer copy is requested. *** ### Pre-Authorization Completion When you pre-authorize an amount of money on a client’s card, the card issuer reserves that amount for a period that varies with each user and card issuer. This reserve (or freezing of funds) reduces the client’s available spending limit. \ If the pre-authorized amount is greater than the final sale, the unused portion of pre-authorized amount remains reserved until the card issuer releases the reserved funds. When you complete a pre-authorization, you release the unused funds earlier. #### **To complete a pre-authorization:** 1. From the main screen, touch **Settings**.

2. Enter the merchant password and touch **Confirm**. 3. In the **Transaction management** section, touch **Transaction History**.

7. Using the number pad, enter the final sale amount and touch **Confirm**. 8. After confirming the pre-authorization completion, the terminal prints the merchant copy of the transaction receipt. To print the customer copy, touch **Print receipt** or touch **No receipt** if no customer copy is requested. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.payfacto.com/payfacto-knowledge/canada-doc-center/applications/secure-payment/payment-standalone-mode/transactions/pre-authorization-increment-completion.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.