SpectrumPayment Solutions
All terms
Payment MethodsAlso: CP

Card-Present

A transaction where the card is physically read at a terminal by chip, tap, or swipe. Card-present sales generally carry lower fraud risk and interchange than online sales because the card and cardholder are verified in person.

Businesses that sell both in person and online benefit from a provider that supports card-present and card-not-present acceptance under one relationship.

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Related terms

Payment Methods

Card-Not-Present

A transaction where the card is not physically presented — online, over the phone, or in-app. CNP sales carry higher fraud and chargeback risk than in-person sales, which is why they rely on fraud tools like CVV, AVS, and 3-D Secure.

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Fees & Pricing

Interchange

The fee set by the card networks and paid to the customer's issuing bank on every transaction. Interchange is the largest, non-negotiable component of processing cost — everything a provider charges sits on top of it.

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Payments & Settlement

Authorization

The step where a customer's bank confirms a card is valid and has funds available, placing a hold on the amount. Authorization approves the sale but does not yet move money — that happens at capture and settlement.

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