What Is a Credit Card Authorization Form?

If you want to use your credit card for recurring transactions or pre-authorize a future payment, you may need to sign a credit card authorization form.

What is credit card authorization?

Payment authorization verifies the amount a merchant will charge to the credit card. When authorizing credit card purchases, the merchant’s payment terminal will communicate with your credit card’s network provider to ensure that your credit card is a valid form of payment.

The process of credit card authorization is straightforward and typically looks something like this:

While the above scenario is the most common authorization method, keep in mind there are a few variables. With Canadian debit and credit cards, many issuers allow you to tap your card for purchases less than $250. There’s no need to insert or swipe your card.

If the merchant terminal denies your card, it will usually tell you why, such as wrong PIN, insufficient funds, or exceeding your credit limit. However, it’s not always obvious, so it might be something such as the merchant not accepting a particular payment network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).

Authorization usually requires a bit more work for online payments. You’ll need to provide the name on the card, the address of the cardholder, the expiry date and the security number (CVV), which is the three-digit number on the back of Visa and Mastercards or the four-digit number on the front of American Express cards.

If the transaction continues to decline on your credit card, you could try it again. If it fails a second time, try using a credit card on a different network or using your debit card.

What is a credit card authorization form?

Credit card authorization forms are a document/agreement that formally allows a merchant to charge your credit card at a later date, either for single-use or recurring transactions. The amount to be charged can be a predetermined fixed fee or variable based on the services used.

A credit card authorization form requires some general information, as follows:

When to use credit card authorization forms

When setting up payments, there would have been a pre-authorized credit card payment agreement that you had an opportunity to review before giving your final authorization. Quite often, consumers quickly skim this digital document or just click “agree” since these forms can be quite long.

Services that charge you monthly — for example, your cellphone, streaming services and digital news subscriptions — are a common example of when you may use a pre-authorized payment agreement.

Hotel check-ins typically require a pre-authorized payment agreement (sometimes known as a hold). Even though you may have already paid for your room before arriving, the hotel will ask you to put a credit card on file to cover for any incidentals, such as additional charges to your room or damage. Holds can last for several days after you’ve checked out.

A few government agencies also use credit card authorization forms. Let’s say you’re renewing your passport by mail. There would be a payment section which would act as a payment authorization form. Once the government receives your passport application, they will charge your credit card.

Alternatives to using a credit card authorization form

There are advantages to paying bills with your credit card.

Some recurring payments, such as internet and utilities, may allow you to pay in person at a store or your bank, or they may accept money orders or another method for transferring money. If allowed, you could potentially prepay your billing account so you have a negative balance. In this case, you wouldn’t owe any money until you have a positive balance again.

Others methods, like automatic credit card payments, will also allow you to set up pre-authorized payments directly from your bank account to settle your credit card bill. Several services also allow you to use your credit card to pay rent.

These alternatives may require more work from both you and the merchant, which is why time-saving credit card authorization forms are often preferred.