Gift Card Simulator

The Gift Card Simulator was created to help merchants perform unattended (self-service) testing for Gift Cards via Payeezy Gateway. It consists of two parts;

  • A user interface (UI) which allows merchants to create and manage test gift cards
  • A processor which handles the processing of simulated gift card transactions

The UI also allows merchants to configure certain cards to always return a particular Gift Solutions Response Code (previously known as ValueLink Response Code), thereby allowing them to test error handling in their application.

The Simulator does not pass the transactions downstream to Gift Solutions (ValueLink) and no actual transaction processing occurs. The Simulator sends back responses based upon the transaction message received from the merchant, it creates simulated transaction records in the database and correctly manages the simulated card's current balance.

The Simulator can be used with the following Payeezy Gateway products:

  • Hosted Checkout Page (HCO)
  • Web Services API 
  • Real Time Payment Manager
    • Reporting/Searches
    • Tagged Void and Refund of Gift Card Purchases
    • Gift Card Simulator itself (Demo environment only)
    • Transaction Management
    • Reporting

Although the Simulator cannot be used from the POS tab, the simulated transactions will appear in both Transaction Search and Reports and you may continue to perform refunds, completions & voids from within the RPM against gift card transactions which have been simulated.

Simulator Reset

It's important to realize that the Simulator is only designed for testing your handling of gift card transactions. As such, the Simulator is completely reset on the 1st and 15th of every month. This reset will delete all simulated cards, any transactions against those simulated cards and all payment requests which were paid with a simulated card. In the case of split tenders, if one part of the tender was paid with a simulated card, all transactions associated with the tender will also be deleted.

Transactions involving gift cards which are not simulated, i.e: there is no entry in your simulated gift cards list for that card number, will not be deleted on reset, unless of course they were used as part of a split tender transaction which involved a different, simulated gift card.

As all pre-configured cards are to be deleted, it may be preferable to start your gift card testing on either the 1st or 15th of the month to maximize your time before the next reset. The UI for creating new simulated cards contains a warning to remind you about the Simulator reset.

Supported Gift Card Types

The Simulator supports both Physical and Virtual gift cards. From a transaction perspective, they are functionally identical, although the creation procedure of the simulated cards is slightly different in that you can create a Physical simulated card with a particular card number (refer to the end of this article for a list of card numbers that can be used for this type of testing), whereas the process of creating a Virtual simulated card generates a new card number automatically. 

Accessing the Simulator UI

The Simulator UI can be accessed through the Administration menu, or the Task List on the home page (you will only be presented with the Gift Card Simulator option if you are logged in as the administrator).

Once you have accessed the Simulator UI you will be presented with a screen similar to the one shown below, it displays a list of simulated cards (if any) which are currently available to your account, along with links that enable you to create new Physical and Virtual cards.

Simulator.PNG

This data can be sorted by the clicking on the column names, most of which are self-explanatory. The two which require some clarification are:

  • 'Current Balance' - the current balance of the particular card. This is updated as transactions are processed with the card via the HCO or API.
  • 'Virtual Card?' - indicates whether this is a Virtual or Physical card.
The Simulator UI supports both the creation and editing of simulated cards. Additionally a limited set of transactions are supported from within the UI itself, namely the  'Activate', 'Reload', 'Cashout' and 'Deactivate' transactions. All other transactions types, such as 'Purchase', 'PreAuth' etc. must be initiated from either HCO or the  API (Transaction Management does support both the Tagged Void and Tagged Refund on gift card Purchase transactions).
 

Creating a Simulated Physical Gift Card

Clicking on the 'Create Physical Gift Card' link will present the following form:

Physical.PNG
 
Enter the card number you want to setup (see the list at the end of this article), and select the appropriate Security Code Type. The Security Code Type you select will determine the number of digits required for the Security Code on this card.  Next enter the actual Security Code to be used, this value will be validated each time a transaction is run for this card in the simulator from either the API or the HCO. You may also enter an optional description to help you remember the purpose of this simulated card.
 
Finally, you can select a Simulated ValueLink Response from the pull down menu (see ValueLink Response Codes section for a complete list of these codes), please note that any transactions on this card will return the chosen response. As the input tip notes, the selected response does not apply to Activation and Deactivation requests.  Also leaving this field blank will cause the card to function normally based on the balance in the simulator against the transactions received from the API or HCO. Clicking 'Create' will save your card.
 
Zero_Balance.PNG
 
Note that the card has not been activated, and its current balance is $0.00. Clicking the arrow icon in the actions column will allow you to activate the card.
 
Balance_Update.PNG
 
To Activate, press the green arrow, enter the amount you would like the card to be activated with and provide an optional reference number. Once entered, clicking the Submit button will activate the card and display the receipt for the transaction (see Sample Activation Receipt). The card is now activated, in this example with a balance of $125, and may be used for transacting. 
 
125.PNG
 
Now that the card is activated, the icons in the Actions column are Reload, Cashout and Deactivate respectively.
  • Reload will open a form allowing you to specify the amount you would like to add to the card balance
  • Cashout will cash-out the card, i.e: the card's balance will be reduced to zero
  • Deactivate will return the card to its pre-activation state, i.e: balance is zero and Activation is required before it can be used again
Creating a Virtual Gift Card
Clicking on the 'Create Virtual Gift Card' link will present the following form:
 
virtual.PNG
 
Virtual Gift Cards are created in the same way but the card number and EAN are auto-generated. Otherwise its the same process, just there is no card information to enter or edit afterwards.  To proceed, enter the amount you would like the card to be activated with, choose a Security Code Type, and provide an optional reference number. Clicking submit will activate the card and display the receipt for the transaction (see Sample Activation Receipt). The card is now activated, in this example with a balance of $310, and may be used in transactions.
 
Virtual_310.PNG
 
As before, the icons in the Actions column are Reload, Cashout and Deactivate respectively.
  • Reload will open a form allowing you to specify the amount you would like to add to the card balance
  • Cashout will cash-out the card, i.e: the card's balance will be reduced to zero
  • Deactivate will deactivate the card.
Important Note: Unlike a physical card, a virtual card cannot be re-activated once it has been deactivated. Once deactivated, the Actions column will show the text 'Used' and the card remains in a deactivated state.
 

Editing Gift Cards

Here are some points to be aware of when editing a gift card:

  1. Once a Physical card has been activated, you cannot change the Card Number, Security Code Type or the Security Code itself. The same rule applies to a Virtual Card, but since creating a Virtual Card involves performing an activation request, you'll never be editing a non-activated Virtual card.
  2. You may choose a Simulated ValueLink Response for the card only if there has not been a successful transaction using that card since its activation.

Card Restrictions

The following restrictions are in place for all cards:

  1. A card cannot be activated with more than $500
  2. A card cannot be reloaded with more than $500
  3. A card cannot have a balance greater than $500. A reload which would result in a balance greater than $500 will be declined.
  4. A maximum of $2000 of transactions per day are permitted against a given card. Transactions beyond this limit will be declined. For the purposes of calculating the daily total, a day is deemed to start at 0000 EST. 

Sample Activation Receipt

ReceiptPNG.PNG

 

ValueLink Response Codes


ValueLink Code

Meaning.

00

Completed OK.

01

Insufficient funds.

02

Account closed. The account was closed, probably because the account balance was $0.00.

03

Unknown account. The account could not be located in the account table.

04

Inactive account. The account has not been activated by an approved location.

05

Expired card. The card’s expiration date has been exceeded.

06

Invalid transaction code. This card or terminal is not permitted to perform this transaction, or the transaction code is invalid.

07

Invalid merchant. The merchant is not in the merchant database or the merchant is not permitted to use this particular card.

08

Already active. The card is already active and does not need to be reactivated

09

System error. There is a problem with the host processing system. Call your help desk or operations support.

10

Lost or stolen card. The transaction could not be completed because the account was previously reported as lost or stolen.

11

Not lost or stolen. The replacement transaction could not be completed because the account was not previously marked as lost/stolen.

12

Invalid transaction format. There is a transaction format problem.

13

Intentionally Blank

14

Intentionally Blank

15

Bad mag stripe. The mag stripe could not be parsed for account information.

16

Incorrect location. There was a problem with the merchant location.

17

Max balance exceeded. The transaction, if completed, would cause the account balance to be exceeded by the max_ balance as specified in the promotion. Some merchants set the max_ balance to a value twice the max transaction amount.

18

Invalid amount. There was a problem with the amount field in the transaction format – more or less than min/max amounts specified in the promotion for that transaction.

19

Invalid clerk. The clerk field was either missing, when required, or the content did not match the requirements.

20

Invalid password. The user password was invalid.

21

Invalid new password. The new password does not meet the minimum security criteria.

22

Exceeded account reloads. The clerk/user/location was only permitted to reload some number of accounts. That number was exceeded. (See your Business Manager in order to extend this limit.)

23

Password retry exceeded. The user account has been frozen because the user attempted access and was denied. Seek management assistance.

24

Incorrect transaction version or format number for POS transactions.

25

Request not permitted by this account.

26

Request not permitted by this merchant location.

27

Bad mag stripe. The mag stripe could not be parsed for account information.

28

Incorrect location. There was a problem with the merchant location.

29

Bad replay date.

30

Bad checksum. The checksum provided is incorrect.

31

Balance not available (denial). Due to an internal First Data Closed Loop Gift Card (CLGC) issue, information from this account could not be retrieved.

32

Account locked.

33

No previous transaction. The void or reversal transaction could not be matched to a previous (original) transaction. In the case of a pre-auth redemption, the corresponding locking transaction could not be identified.

34

Already reversed.

35

Generic denial. An error was produced which has no other corresponding response code for the provided version/format.

36

Bad authorization code. The authorization code test failed.

37

Too many transactions requested. See SVdot Transaction Manual Appendix B for Transaction History limits by detail record format.

38

No transactions available/no more transactions available. There are no transactions for this account or there are no transactions as determined by the specified first transaction number.

39

Transaction history not available. The history could not be provided.

40

New password required.

41

Invalid status change. The status change requested (e.g. lost/stolen, freeze active card) cannot be performed.

42

Void of activation after account activity.

43

No phone service. Attempted a calling card transaction on an account which is not configured for calling card activity.

44

Internet access disabled. This account may no longer use transactions in which an EAN is required.

45

Invalid EAN or SCV. The EAN/SCV is not correct for the provided account number.

46

Invalid merchant key. The merchant key block provided is invalid. (e.g. The working key provided in an Assign Merchant Working Key transaction).

47

Promotions for Internet Virtual and Physical cards do not match. When enabling a physical card to a virtual card, both must be from the same promotion. Cards for bulk activation request must be from the same promotion.

48

Invalid transaction source. The provided source (field EA) is not valid for this transaction.

49

Account already linked. (e.g. Response when enabling a physical card, when the two provided accounts have already been linked together.)

50

Account not in inactive state. (e.g. Response when enabling a physical card, when the physical card in not in an inactive state.)

51

First Data Voice Services returns this response on Internet transactions where the interface input parameter is not valid.

52

First Data Voice Services returns this response on Internet transactions where they did not receive a response from CLGC.

53

First Data Voice Services returns this response on Internet transactions where the client certificate is invalid.

54

Merchant not configured as International although the account requires it. (e.g. The account allows currency conversion but the merchant is not configured for International.)

55

Invalid currency. The provided currency is invalid.

56

Request not International. Merchant configured to require currency information for each financial transaction, however none was sent.

57

Currency conversion error. Internal CLGC system error.

58

Invalid Expiration Date. Expiration date provided is not valid.

59

The terminal transaction number did not match (on a void or reversal).

60

First Data Voice Services added a layer of validation that checks the data they receive from CLGC to make sure it is HTML friendly (i.e. no binary data). First Data Voice Services will return this response on Internet transactions if the check fails (the data is not HTML friendly).

61

Intentionally Blank

62

Intentionally Blank

63

Intentionally Blank

64

Intentionally Blank

65

Intentionally Blank

66

Intentionally Blank

67

Target Embossed Card entered and Transaction Count entered are mismatched.

68

No Account Link.

69

Invalid Time zone.

70

Account On Hold.

71

Fraud Count Exceeded.

72

Promo Location Restricted.

73

Invalid BIN.

74

Product Code(s) Restricted.

75

Bad Post Date. The Post Date is not a valid date.

76

Void Lock Status Error.

77

Reloadable Already Active.

78

Account is Purged. The Account record was purged from the database.

79

Transaction is declined as the Duplicate transaction.

80

Bulk Activation Error In Range.

81

Bulk Activation Not Attempted Because Error In Range.

82

Bulk Activation Package Amount Not Matched.

83

Location 0 invalid for third party aggregators.

84

Account Row Locked Response Code.

85

Timeout received, but not processed.

86

Incorrect PVC.

87

Provisioning limit exceeded, currently 10.

88

De-provisioning limit reached, current count is 0.

89

The EAN TYPE is not mentioned in manufacture_fa table.

90

Field SCV is required in the transaction.

91

Promo Code is not compatible for consortium code.

92

Product Restricted Declined.


 Test Cards - Physical

8 digit EAN

Account               7777080386114982 EAN 64510217

Account               7777080386122930 EAN 49704075

Account               7777080386137777 EAN 72156715

Account               7777080386141907 EAN 58047275

Account               7777080386154307 EAN 41597683

Account               7777080386168771 EAN 77936849

 

4 digit EAN

Account               7777080387113495 EAN 5358   

Account               7777080387123949 EAN 9356   

Account               7777080387137795 EAN 2385   

Account               7777080387147726 EAN 1403   

Account               7777080387156384 EAN 5446   

 

No EAN

Account               7777080383164347

Account               7777080383174622

Account               7777080383182302

Account               7777080383192302

Account               7777080383203281

 

8 digit SCV

Account               7777080382912412 SCV  63402713

Account               7777080382928511 SCV  92980890

Account               7777080382932434 SCV  74358683

Account               7777080382944696 SCV  02903691

Account               7777080382954696 SCV  41908739

Powered by Zendesk