Overview
When you review guest transactions, or analyze a report (particularly the General Card Activity Detail Report), you will see a column labeled "Transaction Type." It's important to know the different transaction types, and what they mean so you can understand what's happening with guest accounts. This article provides a thorough explanation of the different transaction types.
Before You Start
Not all card templates have all possible transaction types. Transaction types vary by card template (gift, comp, loyalty).
Most loyalty programs have a "cardless" option. When reading the chart below, "card" is interchangeable with a guest's loyalty account.
In addition to card template types, which transaction types you see will vary based on the specifics of your program(s).
Some transaction types are very rarely seen; you probably won't see every transaction type on the chart below.
If you see a transaction type not on this chart, or have any questions about how to interpret them, please email [email protected].
Transaction Types
Transaction Type | Description |
Activate | The activation of a card. Card templates can be configured to activate from the POS, registering online at your website, or by Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal. |
Void Activate | Void of the initial use of a gift or loyalty card. This transaction returns the card to an INACTIVE state. All card data cleared. |
Denied Activate | Denial of a loyalty card activation. This usually occurs if the card is already active, or activation is not allowed for the card template. No account or wallet changes are made. |
Reverse Activate | Transaction was incomplete/didn't finish rather than being actively voided (as with a Void Activate). The card returns to an INACTIVE state. All card data cleared. |
Admin Adjustment | Admin Adjustment appears if a CSR adjusts one wallet, for one guest, via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal.
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Rule Adjustment | Similar to Admin Adjustment. The difference is that the CSR adjusts ALL wallets for one guest when making the adjustment.
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Accrual/Redemption | Accrual/Redemption (sometimes called Add/Redeem) is the most common transaction type. It appears if a card is swiped at the POS system and any wallet is affected. |
Denied Accrual/Redemption | Denial of an attempted accrual/redemption transaction. The transaction can be denied for a number of reasons, including: an intentional denial rule (for suspended or terminated cards), insufficient wallet balance, wallet balance unavailable, transaction exceeds wallet balance. No wallet is affected. |
Void Accrual/Redemption | Void of an attempted accrual/redemption transaction. Transaction actively reversed by someone at the POS, or via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal. |
Attach Account | If a guest links multiple cards to one account (cards are still separate, but can be accessed via the same login/password), this transaction type appears on the main account. |
Auto Recharge | A guest‘s card has been auto-recharged with stored value. |
Auto Reverse | When a guest redeems a reward, a "Paytronix item" is added to the check. If this item is deleted, cancelled, or voided the transaction is recorded as Auto Reverse. Since the redemption did not complete at check close, the reward is returned to the guest's account. |
Balance Inquiry | Card balance inquiry request at POS. |
Denied Balance Inquiry | Denial of a balance inquiry. This usually happens because the card is inactive, suspended or terminated. |
Bulk Purchase Card | This is essentially the same transaction as Activate, except that it means someone at your organization (usually a CSR, or server) activated a large number of cards at once (bulk activation) via the POS, or the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal . |
Bulk Adjust | Bulk adjustment of multiple cards via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal. |
Card Exchange | A card is exchanged at the POS, or via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal. This most frequently happens if a guest asks to replace a broken/worn card, or a lost card (lost cards can be replaced if the guest provides identifying info at the time of the request). |
Void Card Exchange | A card exchange is voided at the POS. |
Campaign Adjustment | Wallets adjusted on guest accounts via a campaign. |
Campaign Expiration | Wallets adjusted on guest accounts via a campaign, due to campaign expiration. |
Combine Account | If a guest merges multiple cards into one account, this transaction type appears on the main account. This appears on the main account when other (secondary) cards are combined with it, adding points from the secondary accounts to the main one. |
Close Account | This appears on the secondary account(s) if the account was closed as a result of being combined with the main account. |
Dormancy Fee | A dormancy fee has been applied to an account. |
Expiration | A stored value card has expired; all stored value was removed. |
Identify Customer | Identify Customer is part of a multi-step transaction and will always appear in combination with another transaction (usually Add/Redeem). It indicates the first swipe of a loyalty card in a check; it will have the same Check Number as other subsequent transactions related to that check. |
Denied Identify Customer | An attempted Identify Customer transaction was denied. This usually occurs because the card is inactive, suspended, or terminated. |
Purchase Card (All Cards Only) | With gift cards, this is the first use of the gift card. It's less common with loyalty cards, and most typically occurs only in fee-based loyalty programs. |
Void Purchase Card | Void of the initial activation of a gift, or loyalty card. The void usually returns the card to an inactive state. |
Reversed Purchase Card | Reversal of the initial activation of a gift, or loyalty card. Reversed Purchase returns the card to an inactive state. Can be done via check-level reconciliation, or an explicit reversal (as when performed through a retail partner, like Blackhawk). Displays as a single transaction. |
Reconciliation | If a transaction doesn't complete properly, it will be flagged so you can have the opportunity to review it. If after review, someone at your organization reconciles the transaction via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal, the transaction will appear as a Reconciliation. |
Redeem Stored Value | Guest uses gift card as payment; redemption of stored value/gift dollars. The Stored Value Wallet is reduced, and a corresponding tender is inserted into check. |
Void Redeem Stored Value | Void of Redeem Stored Value. Payment by gift card is voided. Stored Value Wallet balance remains the same; no tender inserted into check. |
Register | A guest registered their card. Can also appear if a CSR registers the card via the Customer Service Center on the Merchant Portal. |
Web Reward Purchase | If guests are allowed to use points to choose their own rewards (sometimes called "Reward Yourself"), Web Reward Purchase will appear if a guest visits the website to "purchase" a reward using their points. |
Apply Visit Code | This transaction type appears if a guest uses "Forgot Card Code" from the transaction's receipt. The guest did not initially provide loyalty account info at the time of the transaction, and this is the result of the guest using that code to connect this transaction to their loyalty account. |
Denied Apply Visit Code | Reasons for this transaction type include: Forgot Card Code has expired, maximum number of Forgot Card Codes allowed has been reached. If you suspect there was an alternate reason for this transaction type, please email [email protected]. |
For further assistance, please contact your solutions consultant or customer success manager, or email [email protected].