Authorization Expiry
Overview
Astrada does not receive real-time authorization expiry information, and the standards for expiry vary by both processor and network. Based on industry observations, we have compiled a heuristic guide to help you determine when it is safe to consider an authorization as expired in 99.9% of cases.
Important Note: Fallbacks
We advise that all customers implement a mechanism to 'unexpire' an authorization if a subsequent message for the transaction is received.
Authorization Expiry Heuristic
Use the following guidelines to determine authorization expiry timelines:
Merchant Category Code (MCC) | Authorization Amount | Expected Expiry |
---|---|---|
5542 or 5541 (Fuel Stations) | $0 or $1 | 1 day |
3501-3790, 7011 (Hotels) | Any | 30 days |
3351-3441 (Rental Cars) | Any | 30 days |
5960-5969 (Mail Order) | Any | 30 days |
4411 (Cruise Lines) | Any | 30 days |
All Other MCCs | Any | 7 days |
Best Practices
- Unexpiring Authorizations: Ensure your system can reopen or extend an authorization window if a subsequent transaction message is received.
- Edge Cases: The above guidelines cover 99.9% of cases. Certain networks or processors may have outliers, so consider adding flexibility for edge cases.
Updated about 2 months ago