• Swipe cards instead of manually entering the card number during a face-to-face environment.
  • Utilize the Address Verification Service (AVS). By confirming the zip code; you reduce your fees, and this adds a layer of protection against accepting a stolen credit card.
  • Settle or close your transaction batch the same day the authorizations occur.

What is Downgrading?

Transactions are downgraded when they don’t meet interchange requirements, such as not capturing the correct card information at the point of sale, settling the transaction after a deadline has lapsed (typically 24 – 48 hours after the authorization) or manually entering rather than swiping a card. A downgraded transaction results in a higher cost for the merchant.