What are Reference Transactions (tokenization)?
A Transaction ID (or ‘token’) is generated every time a transaction is performed. You can use this to initiate subsequent transactions, even without storing the credit card information in your local database. This can save you from:
- Having to ask the buyer for their payment details again.
- The burden of complying with PCI requirements for storing credit card information.
Enabling Reference Transactions on your Payflow Pro account
If you're an admin user on the account, here's how to enable Reference Transactions:
- Log in to PayPal Manager.
- Click Account Administration.
- Click Transaction Settings.
- Click Yes for Allow reference transactions.
- Click Confirm.
Allow one hour for the changes to take effect on your account.
Note: If you're processing through PayPal, you'll need Reference Transactions enabled on your account. To request approval, contact us.
Processing a Reference Transaction
You can process Reference Transactions within the PayPal Manager and via API. Here's how to perform a Reference Transaction within PayPal Manager:
- Log in to PayPal Manager.
- Click Search Transactions.
- Enter the transaction ID (PNREF) of the transaction you want to reference.
- Click Submit.
- Click Create Reference Transaction.
- Select the Transaction Type.
- Click Submit.
- Enter the Amount that you want to charge.
- Enter any other information you want to include in the transaction (such as expiration date, address, comment 1, etc.).
- Click Submit.
Note: You can't perform Reference Transactions on Express Checkout transactions within PayPal Manager. See the Express Checkout for Payflow documentation for additional details on submitting Express Checkout Reference Transactions via API.
Through the Payflow Pro API, you can perform a Reference Transaction via your website or application. To perform a Reference Transaction via Payflow Pro, you must include the ORIGID in the API request. Some examples follow:
Perform a Sale transaction to the same card used in the ORIGID
"TRXTYPE=S&TENDER=C&PARTNER=xpartner&VENDOR=xlogin&USER=xlogin&PWD=xpassword&ORIGID=PA0102000000&AMT=25.00"
Credit the same card used in the ORIGID for a different amount by adding the AMT (amount) parameter
"TRXTYPE=C&TENDER=C&PARTNER=xpartner&VENDOR=xlogin&USER=xlogin&PWD=xpassword&ORIGID=PA0102000000&AMT=25.00"
Perform an Authorization to the same card used in the ORIGID
"TRXTYPE=A&TENDER=C&PARTNER=xpartner&VENDOR=xlogin&USER=xlogin&PWD=xpassword&ORIGID=PA0102000000&AMT=10.00"
Note: Payflow Pro transaction IDs (PNREFs) are valid for use in Reference Transactions for 12 months and possibly up to 15 months.