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Initiating Preauthorized Payments with Consent Tokens

Consent tokens can also be used to initiate preauthorized card transactions over the Stitch API. Similarly to a standard recurring card payment, an initiateTransaction API call is used to authorize an initial amount on the user's card. A subsequent continueTransaction API call is used to capture an amount not exceeding the original authorization. Transactions can be automatically voided or manually cancelled using the cancelTransaction API.

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Transactions can only be initiated using consent tokens that are in the PaymentConsentGranted state. Attempting to initiate a transaction on a consent with any other status will result in an API error being returned.

Preauthorization​

To preauthorize an initial amount on a user's card, use the initiateTransaction API. The initiateTransaction API call requires a client token with the scope transaction_initiate.

API Input Fields
  • The externalReference field (4096-character limit) field may be used to associate the transaction to your payment/order's reference.
  • The nonce field (4096-character limit) is required to be unique per request, and hence, transaction.
  • The token field should contain the previously granted consent request id value, representing the card that is being charged.
  • The paymentMethods.card.preAuthorization.enabled field must be set to true.
  • The voidAt field optionally specifies the datetime at which the preauthorization should be voided.

Completion​

To capture the preauthorized amount and complete a transaction, use the continueTransaction API. The continueTransaction API call requires a client token with the scope transaction_initiate.

API Input Fields
  • The id field must contain the transaction ID returned in the initiateTransaction API response.
  • The amount field specifies the final amount to capture, up to the preauthorized value.
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The capture amount in the continueTransaction API call must not exceed the original amount that was preauthorized in the initiateTransaction call. Attempting to capture an amount greater than that which was preauthorized will result in an API error being returned.

Cancellation​

To cancel a transaction manually and void the initial authorization, use the cancelTransaction API. The cancelTransaction API call requires a client token with the scope transaction_cancel.

Transaction Cancellation Options
  • Transactions are cancelled by default after 72 hours.
  • A default voidAt for all transaction can be configured on your client.
  • If the voidAt field has been specified in the initiateTransaction API call, then manually cancelling the transaction is not required, but can be actioned before the duration has elapsed.

Transaction Statuses​

The table below describes the different statuses a transaction can have:

StatusDescription
TransactionPendingThe transaction has been initiated, but an interaction is required for the transaction to be successfully completed. An associated reason will be returned with this status.
TransactionSuccessThe transaction has been successfully completed, and user's card has been charged. If 3DS is disabled, or not required for the transaction, this will be returned immediately on successful intiation.
TransactionFailureThe transaction failed to be charged on the user's card. An associated reason will be returned with this status.
TransactionCancelledThe transaction has been cancelled automatically or manually, and the preauthorization has been successfully voided.

Subscribe to Webhooks​

Webhooks for transactions can be subscribed to by running the clientWebhookAdd mutation, to receive transaction webhook events. The webhook will contain originalAmount and amount fields that denote the preauthorized and final captured amount respectively.

If the subscription is successfully created, the body returned by the request will look similar to the sample in the Example Response tab in widget above.

For more information on receiving webhook events, listing active webhook subscriptions, unsubscribing from webhooks and validating signed webhook subscriptions, please visit the Webhooks page.

Webhook Statuses​

The transaction webhook will be dispatched for each of the following status updates:

  • TransactionSuccess
  • TransactionFailure
  • TransactionCancelled
Example Payload
{
  "data": {
    "amount": {
      "currency": "ZAR",
      "quantity": "1"
    },
    "card": {
      "cardHolderName": "Joe Soap",
      "expiryMonth": 12,
      "expiryYear": 2024,
      "first6": "41111111",
      "id": "Y2FyZC85YWY4OGE4MS05ZjNhLTRlNDItYWRiYy04ZTA1M2Q1YTM3M2U=",
      "last4": "1111",
      "network": "Visa"
    },
    "createdAt": "2023-05-10T12:22:42.865Z",
    "externalReference": "79261d16-c53b-48eb-9019-dc9cfb6c5126",
    "id": "Y2FyZHRyYW5zYWN0aW9uLzQwNDMxRTY5LTNERjctNEIyQS1CNDY0LURFNTQwNDc0QkMxQw==",
    "originalAmount": {
      "currency": "ZAR",
      "quantity": "1"
    },
    "originalTransactionId": "GBFyZHRyYW5zYWN0aW9uLzQwNDMxRTY5LTNERjctNEIyQS1CNDY0LURFNTQwNDc0QkMxQw",
    "paymentConsentRequestId": "FRFyZHRyYW5zYWN0aW9uLzQwNDMxRTY5LTNERjctNEIyQS1CNDY0LURFNTQwNDc0QkMxQw==",
    "paymentRequestId": "RRFyZHRyYW5zYWN0aW9uLzQwNDMxRTY5LTNERjctNEIyQS1CNDY0LURFNTQwNDc0QkMxQw==",
    "status": "success",
    "statusReason": null,
    "type": "card",
    "updatedAt": "2023-05-10T12:22:42.865Z"
  },
  "datetime": "2023-05-10T12:22:42.865Z",
  "id": "transaction:status:success:40431E69-3DF7-4B2A-B464-DE540474BC1C",
  "type": "transaction"
}

Querying Transaction Status​

You can check any transaction's status, as well as other corresponding details, with a query to the GraphQL API. An example query is shown below: