1.13.7 Auto-recharge

The auto-recharge is a function that automatically tops up the client account after its balance drops below a certain limit. The function can be enabled from the VUP My Profile menu. Also there, a client can set the threshold value and the top up amount.

The autorecharge works only with credit card type providers as it requires the onlineshop to send the request to the provider’s API on behalf of the client.

The credit card details can be stored in the voipswitch database in the credit_card_data table. The critical data are encrypted. Although this method works with any provider that supports credit card payments through an API, it is not recommended due to security reasons.

Another method is to store the credit card details on the payment provider’s side and make use of a specially generated token instead.

This method works only with the following providers:

• Authorize.net
• BarclaySmartPay
• Eway
• InternetSecure
• SagePayDirect

For these providers, in the Payments.config file, add the following attribute:

storeCreditCardsLocally="0"

Make sure it is set to 0 unless you want to store the cc details locally.

My Profile menu

The feature can be managed from VUP’s My profile menu. Before a client can enable autorecharge, the VUP checks in the database if there is either credit card data or a provider’s token stored for this client.

In the case where credit card details are stored locally the client has to enter the details first. To do so she has to click on the “edit credit card” button and fill the required fields in the credit card form. Only after saving the data the autorecharge checkbox can be selected.

Otherwise it will show appropriate warning window asking user to put the cc details first.

In the case when a token should be used, the client has to make a top up transaction first. This is to verify the card and if transaction is successful the payment provider will return a token identifying the client in future transactions. The onlineshop saves the token, in the encrypted form, into the card_number field in the credit_card_data table. If the client tries to check the autorecharge checkbox before making a transaction a popup window will appear asking to make a top up first.

Next to the autorecharge checkbox there are two fields:

• Top up amount drop down – the amount which will be topped up
• Threshold – when the client balance drops below this value the auto-recharge is triggered.

Event manager configuration

The auto-recharge function is controlled by the Event Manager service. In the VSM Settings/Event manager configure the auto-recharge job properties. Tick the enable checkbox and select the allowed client types.

In the “Other” panel put the onlineshop’s URL.

Next, edit the onlineshop’s AppSettings.config file and set the UseCreditCardApi to “true”:

<!-- Enables CreditCard data storage and charge using CC.ashx API -->

    <add key="UseCreditCardApi" value="true"/>

The Event Manager sends the top up requests to the CC.ashx API. The rest of the process is carried on by the onlineshop which communicates with the payment provider API.