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How to Set Up and Use Level III Advantage

Updated

Overview

Setting up Level III Advantage ensures you're getting the lowest possible card processing rates when handling business or government transactions. This guide explains how to enable the service, add transaction data, and take advantage of automation options.

Merchant Impacts

  • Saves time by eliminating manual data entry.

  • Reduces costs on qualifying transactions.

  • Supports automation, minimizing errors and speeding up billing.

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

  • Make sure your payment processor supports Level III data.

  • Confirm that Level III Advantage is available on your merchant account.

  • You must be using supported card types: Visa and Mastercard.

How to Enable Level III Advantage

  1. Contact your Merchant Service Provider to check if Level III Advantage is available for your account.

  2. If eligible, your provider can enable the service for you. If not compatible, the option may be unavailable.

How It Works

When Level III Advantage is active:

  • The system checks if the card used is a business or government card using a BIN Lookup tool.

  • If it qualifies, the platform prompts or automatically adds Level III data (e.g., item name, quantity, tax, shipping address).

  • This data is sent with the transaction to help qualify for reduced interchange rates.

đź’ˇ Example: Instead of just "Total: $500", you send "5 widgets @ $100 each, shipped to ABC Corp in TX."

Enabling Automatic Level III Data

For hands-free savings, consider automatic Level III data application:

  • Merchant Template: Set up default Level III data that applies to every transaction.

  • Provider Template: Your provider may enable a pre-set template on your behalf. Ask them if they can help you with this.

These options work even if your payment software doesn’t support manual Level III entry.

Using Level III in Recurring Billing

You can also include Level III data in recurring payments. When setting up a subscription:

  1. Navigate to Add Subscription.

  2. Fill in the extra Level III fields (like product info and shipping).

  3. Save it. The system will use this data in each recurring charge.

Common Questions

What happens if my processor doesn’t support Level III?
You won’t be able to enable the service until your processor is updated or changed.

Can I opt out after enabling?
Yes, you can disable Level III data submission from your Virtual Terminal if needed.

Will I be charged if my card doesn’t qualify?
You’ll only be billed for transactions where Level III data is submitted and the card is eligible.

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance activating or configuring Automatic Card Updater, please contact your Merchant Service Provider.