Reference to terminology used by Netcash in our Technical Documentation
Please advise us if there is a term we used that you don’t understand or if you would like to suggest a new addition and we will gladly update our glossary.
Abbreviated name
Refers to Debit Orders
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Once the debit order compliance process is complete, Netcash will apply for an abbreviated name which appears on the account holder’s bank account when a debit order is processed to his account. Each Netcash merchant account is assigned a unique abbreviated name.
ACB
Automated Clearing Bureau now referred to a BankServ Africa
The central clearing house used by the South African banks to process transactions through the National Payments System
Account Service
Netcash Service Type
The Account Service is the default service activated with every Netcash Merchant Account. It allows for the validation of Bank Account details and the rendering of the Netcash Statement which is used for reconciliation purposes.
Action Date
Payment/Collection date
The date a transaction/s will be affected. Tip: see Request Action Date web service method
API
Application programming interface
In computer programming, an Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of subroutine definitions, protocols, and tools for building software.
Available balance
Money at your disposal
The balance in your Netcash account less any hold, uncollected funds, retentions and/or restrictions against the account.
Authorize
Instruction
Authorizing a batch/transaction is giving Netcash instruction/approval to process the batch/transaction. Netcash Debit Order and Outbound Payment batches can be authorized and unauthorized.
Banking day
Operating hours of the financial system in ZA
A banking day is a business day during which an office of a bank is open to the public for substantially all of its banking functions.
Base Page
System feature
The base page is the specific web (landing) page to which the user is directed when NetAccess is opened. The base page is determined by the remote application and is sent in the XML request.
Batch
Group of transactions
The aggregating of transactions in one file for processing on the same action date
Beneficiary
Someone/Entity who receives
Branch Code
Code used for transactional banking
A branch code is a unique identifying code for a given branch of a bank.
Compliance
Mandatory bank process
A process implemented by the banking council and PASA to ensure that debit order collections are legitimately processed. Netcash goes through a compliance process with all debit order merchants
Cloud
Processing of transactions in a virtual environment. The Netcash system is internet/cloud based and as such no computer hardware or software is required to make use of the Netcash service.
Creditor
You owe money to
A creditor is a party (e.g. person, organization, company, or government) that has a claim on the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some property or service to the second party under the assumption (usually enforced by contract) that the second party will return an equivalent property and service. The second party is frequently called a debtor or borrower. The first party is called the creditor, which is the lender of property, service, or money.
Creditor Service
Netcash Service Type
The Creditor Service is used for the once-off -and/or recurring creditor payments of third parties such as leases, suppliers etc. It is advised that the Realtime method is used for creditor payments.
Refer to service cutoff times for this service.
Credit Bureau
Vetting facility
An agency that collects individual credit information and sells it for a fee to creditors so they can make a decision on granting loans. Typical clients include banks, mortgage lenders, credit card companies and other financing companies
Credit Card Issuer / Card Issuing Bank
Bank who issues a card
A detailed report of an individual’s credit history prepared by a credit bureau and used by a lender in determining an applicant’s creditworthiness.
Credit Report
Status of financial stability
An agency that collects individual credit information and sells it for a fee to creditors so they can make a decision on granting loans. Typical clients include banks, mortgage lenders, credit card companies and other financing companies
Central Branch Code
Code used for transactional banking
A branch code is a unique identifying code for a given branch of a bank. Each branch of a bank used to be differentiated by its branch code. These branch codes are known by various different names across the globe. South Africa has moved away from individual branch codes and implemented Universal Branch Codes (UBC) for that applies to all branches of a particular bank (also known as a Central Branch Code (CBC)).
Note: there are some smaller banks that still use individual branch codes. See validation for a complete list South African of Universal Branch Codes
Deadline / Cut-off
End of allocated time
A time of day established by a bank for receipt of deposits. After the cut-off time, deposits are considered received on the next banking day. Netcash has specific deadlines for the processing of transactions. see here for Salary Payment deadlines and here for Debit Order processing deadlines.
Debit Order
Electronic collection of funds.
A debit order is a way for a third party, that you have given permission, to collect money from your bank account. Such instruction is given by means of a debit order mandate. It’s typically used to collect monthly subscriptions, insurance premiums, or loan repayments.
Debit Order Service
Netcash Service Type
The Debit Order Service allows for the recurring collection of bank -and/or Credit Card premiums. Such instruction is given by means of a debit order mandate. It is recommended that the TwoDay method is used for recurring debit orders.
Refer to the service cutoff times
Dispute
Disagreement between account holder and service provider
A dispute is where an account holder formally argues the authorization of a transaction. It results in an unpaid transaction and may not be reprocessed without a new mandate from the account holder.
Debtor
Owes you money
A debtor is an entity that owes a debt to another entity. The entity may be an individual, a firm, a government, a company or other legal person. The counterparty is called a creditor. When the counterpart of this debt arrangement is a bank, the debtor is more often referred to as a borrower.
EFT
Electronic Funds Transfer
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is the electronic transfer of money from one bank account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple institutions, via computer-based systems, without the direct intervention of bank staff or the money actually changing hands.
FICA
Financial Intelligence Centre Act
the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001, (the FIC Act) came into effect on the 1st of July 2003. The FIC Act was introduced to fight financial crime, such as money laundering, tax evasion, and terrorist financing activities.
Gateway
Payment gateway
A payment gateway is a merchant service provided by an e-commerce application service provider that authorizes credit card or direct payments processing for e-businesses and online retailers.
GUiD
A Globally Unique IDentifier (GUID)
GUID (or UUID) is an acronym for ‘Globally Unique Identifier’ (or ‘Universally Unique Identifier’). It is a 128-bit integer number used to identify resources. The term GUID is generally used by developers working with Microsoft technologies, while UUID is used everywhere else.
Inbound Payment
Receiving payment
Refers to debit order and online gateway transactions where YOU are being paid.
Issuing Bank
Bank that issues a card
Issuing Bank. An issuing bank also known as card issuer is a bank, financial institution or credit union that is affiliated to the card association brands and provides credit or debit cards directly to customers. The most renowned card association brands are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Independent Software Vendor / Integrated Software Vendor
Integrated/Independent Software Vendors are companies who develop -and retail their own software/systems to 3rd parties, which in-turn communicates with Netcash to enable transaction processing via the ISV’s software/system; into the Netcash system for the end-user (Netcash merchant). Depending on qualifying criteria (ie. number of existing clients in ISV base that will use Netcash integration, services integrated -and level of integration etc.), Netcash may enter into rebate agreements with certified Netcash ISV’s.
Limit
Service Limit
A security limit (floor limit) which is imposed on transaction and/or batch level to minimize fraud and Netcash’s risk. These limits can be adjusted based on management decision.
Lead Generator Service Key
A unique Netcash system generated GUiD used to transmit data for the opening of new merchant account/s to the Netcash system
The default Lead Generator Service Key to be used by all other ISV‘s is 97f3a99c-1887-41e9-8351-015718fd8d5d
It is used to transmit the data required to open a new Netcash account and to provide statistical data on past leads passed to Netcash. Certified Netcash Integrated Software Vendors (ISV) may apply for a unique Lead Generator Key for commercial purposes.
Mandate
eg. Debit Order Mandate
An instruction that a bank account holder gives to the bank, to allow a third-party to collect an amount directly from the bank account either once-off or on a recurring basis. This instruction can be given in any one of three (3) ways
- Written Mandate – A paper-based document with your “wet signature” on. See requirements
- Voice Mandate – a voice recording of your explicit authority to allow debit orders against your account. See example
- e-Mandate – Electronic mandates must comply with the requirements set out in the ECT Act of 2002, PASA regulations, PCI DSS compliance, and sponsoring bank requirements. A “tick box” on a website is not compliant/acceptable.
Read the quick start guide.
Merchant Service
Processing facility
Merchant services is a broad category of financial services intended for use by businesses. In its most specific use, it usually refers to merchant processing services that enables a business to accept a transaction payment through a secure (encrypted) channel using the customer’s credit card or debit card or NFC/RFID enabled device
Netcash Merchant
Netcash account holder
a Netcash merchant is the company/entity making use of the Netcash service.
Netcash Merchant Account
Online facility
a Netcash merchant account refers to the virtual account a business will open with Netcash to make use of our services via a secure cloud based infrastructure.
NetAccess
System feature
NetAccess is used by Integrated Software Vendors (ISV’s) to integrate Netcash services into a host/remote application with HTML content.
NetConnector
System feature
NetConnector is regarded as the place in an application where a Netcash customer will enter details to enable / communicate via the host software with Netcash
OpCo
Operating Company
OpCo is the abbreviation for “operating company,” typically used when describing the division of the primary operating company.
Online Banking
Web Based Banking
A service that allows an account holder to obtain account information and manage certain banking transactions through a personal computer via the financial institution’s web site on the Internet. (This is also known as Internet or electronic banking.)
Outbound Payment
Making payment
Refers to creditor and salary payment transactions where YOU are paying someone else.
PASA
Payments Association of South Africa
The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) is the governing body that regulates transaction processing in South Africa. Netcash and all other third party payment providers (TPPP’s) must adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by PASA.
Pay Now Service
Netcash Service Type
The Pay Now service allows you to collect live and off-line payments from end users. It is divided into 4 categories
- Pay Now Request service – an SMS/eMail request service where a payment request is sent via the web service to the payee
- Pay Now Invoicing service – web service that allows for the printing of multiple payment options on any document such as an invoice, membership card, statement etc.
- Pay Now QR/POS service – a retail POS and desktop based QR generating web service. The Netcash Multi-QR can be displayed digitally and/or printed on any document and can also be read a multitude QR wallets and Banking applications’ generated QR’s, without the need of installing an additional app.
- Pay Now Gateway service – an online payment gateway allowing payees to do payments in a secure online environment.
Payment methods
Netcash Payment Type
Your customer will be directed to the Pay Now page and be able to pay using any of our payment methods. These methods include;
Please note– the Netcash merchant does not have to acquire an account/s with any of the above vendors nor does the Netcash merchant have to be PCI Compliant -or supply an SSL Certificate to make use of the Netcash – Pay Now service. Ask your Netcash Payments Advisor for more information in this regard.
Read more about real-time payment notifications
PCI
Payments Card Industry
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an information security standard for organizations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes.
Plugin
Add on software
a Plug-in module or plug-in software is used in conjunction with Netcash systems. Ie. Shopping cart plugins.
Point of Sale (POS)
Card reader
Systems and hardware devices that allow bank customers to effect transfers of funds from their accounts and other financial transactions at retail establishments.
Postback URL
System feature
Netcash makes use of notification URL’s where we post data to after a transaction has been processed. We term these URL’s “postback URL’s” and they are
- Accept URL – where we post data back to -and redirect the user after a transaction was SUCCESSFULLY processed.
- Decline URL – where we post data back to -and redirect the user after a transaction was UNSUCCESSFUL/DECLINED.
- Notify URL – Netcash will post all data received from the transaction (irrespective of transaction status) back to the NOTIFY URL. It is strongly suggested that transaction status is processed (not reconciled) from the NOTIFY URL.
- Redirect URL – this url is used for two (2) purposes:
- To redirect a customer should they have selected BANK EFT/Cash/Retail Payment.
- To redirect the customer should they click “cancel” on the payment page.
Please read the acceptable URL format section in the Pay Now Gateway API.
Processing
Doing something
Online processing is an automated way to enter and process data continuously as use as the information becomes available.
Quick Start Guide
Help guide
An easy to use reference guide aiming at assisting the user in performing certain tasks. Quick Start Guides are developed by Netcash and frequently updated to the latest screenshots and procedures to assist the end user.
Rebate
An amount paid
Netcash pays certified ISV‘s rebates for transactions processed via the ISV‘s system, to the Netcash system by means of a Software Vendor Key.
Retention
Surety Retention
A percentage (%) of the batch value is held back for 30 (thirty) days and provided to the bank as a gaurantee of the transactions processed. This is done to mitigate the potential risk.
Real-Time Notification
Service Type
Real-time payment notification refers to when someone makes a payment as soon as the transaction is initiated. Notification is supplied instantaneously after the transaction has been completed.
With BANK EFT and Cash/Retail payments, the payment can be made by the payee at a later stage -and therefore notification of such payment can only be given after payment was made.
Although the notification of some transactions may be in real-time; the actual value of the transaction, is only available in the Netcash Account the following business day.
Retention
Unpaid Retention
A percentage (%) of the batch value, (based on historical unpaid statistics calculated over a 90 day period) is held back for 30 (thirty) days to make provision for possible unpaid transactions.
Risk Service
Netcash Service Type
The Risk Service allows you to perform risk related enquiries such as credit checks and account verification on consumers and companies.
Please refer to the disclaimer and legal requirements for implementing this service via the web service. It is strongly recommended that you only use the NetAccess service to perform any risk related enquiries.
Salary Payment Service
Netcash Service Type
The Salary Payment Service is used for the payment of staff salaries and/or wages. It is recommend that the DatedSalaries method is used for salary payments. Refer to the service cutoff times
Settlement
Settlement model
Rather than holding back unpaid retention/s which could vary in percentage from month-to month, Netcash retains all the funds for a shorter period of time and then pays such out (settlement) to the merchant
Service Key
A Netcash system generated GUiD used to identify Netcash services.
Each Netcash service has its own Service Key with the Netcash user generates. The Service Key has variables/parameters assigned it. An account will be issued a separate Service Key for each service activated on the account. The Service Key prevents unauthorised access, identifies the account and the service to which the action applies.
Software Vendor Key
A unique Netcash system generated GUiD used to identify transactions processed by third party systems via the Netcash system.
A Software Vendor Key is a GUiD used to identify the software which generated the transaction for processing via the Netcash system. The default value: 24ade73c-98cf-47b3-99be-cc7b867b3080 should be used by all developers. Developers who have integrated to the Netcash minimum requirements for ISV‘s -and have met the ISV qualifying criteria, may apply for a rebate agreement whereby Netcash will pay rebates to the ISV based on transactions processed with a unique Software Vendor Key assigned to such ISV. Only certified Netcash Integrated Software Vendors (ISV) can apply for their own Software Vendor Key for commercial purposes -and allocation of such is solely at Netcash management discretion.
3D Secure
Online card security
Signatory/ies
Authorised person
A director and/or shareholder of a Company, member of a Closed Corporation or trustee of a Trust. The person/s signing surety for the Netcash merchant account.
Super user
Senior system user
Usually a director of a company. The super user has system permisisons to set other users’ rights and responsibilities/permissions.
Statement
Netcash Statement
The Netcash Statement is the most critical integration point of the entire integration. It is similar to a bank statement which reflects all the transaction types processed through the Netcash Merchant Account.
It is a file download from a Netcash online account that must be used for reconciliation of data processed. All Netcash transaction types are included in the statement which will allow for full reconciliation of cash books, debtors and creditors account within accounting or management system. An accounting guide is provided for correct transaction posting.
Transaction
Input message to a computer system dealt with as a single unit of work
A transaction is a line of code which contains all the variables required by Netcash to process/effect the data to the banking system.
Unauthorize
Instruction
Unauthorizing a batch/transaction is removing/cancelling a prior instruction/approval given to Netcash. Netcash Debit Order and Outbound Payment batches can be authorized and unauthorized.
Unpaid
Unsuccessful
An unpaid transaction (see unpaid reason codes) is where the bank returns the transaction to the Netcash system for a number of reasons including but not only limited to insufficient funds. It is not a disputed transaction.
Vault
Credit Card Vault
‘Vault’ is a facility housed by the card issuing bank which securely stores the Credit Card details and returns a card token to be used for subsequent transactions. Credit card data has to be stored in industry standard infrastructure that is PCI DSS compliant.
Vault Service
Netcash Service Type
See vault above.
Validate
Validating requirements for processing
Validation refers to checking that the requirements and specifications are correct to fulfill its intended purpose. Bank account validation only confirms that the account is/is not valid for processing in the South African Banking System. It does not confirm that it is open nor that it belongs to the person who supplied it. Validation is a free service.
Verify
Confirming the instance
Verification refers to the transactional data being confirmed. Bank account verification (AVS) uses the account holders ID number/business registration number (identifier) and checks such against the supplied (validated) bank account number; to confirm that the bank account is active -and does indeed belong to said identifier. Verification is a charged service.
Virtual account
Cloud based account
Virtual accounts are a set of off-balance transaction accounts linked to a physical bank account, used for improved reconciliation, cash liquidity management in real-time and self-service opportunity for corporates.
Wallet App
Third party application
Netcash supports a variety of mobile wallet applications for the reading of our Pay Now QR product. These include but are not only limited to:
Tip: Hyperlink this image to always display the latest available payment options to your users.
More mobile wallet applications are being added and additional coding will not be required from your end if you implement the Pay Now QR specification.
Web Service
A method used by one system to communicate with another system.
In practice, a web service commonly provides an object-oriented web-based interface to a database server, utilized for example by another web server, or by a mobile app, that provides a user interface to the end user.
Version 2018.1
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