Initial payments

An initial payment can be a debit, a pre-authorisation, or card registration. If the customer selects a saved card, BillPro checks that it is still valid.

BillPro collects different initial payments depending on the order type.

Order type	Initial payment
Single payment	The full amount of the order. The default Debit option charges the amount at the checkout. The Pre-authorise option secures the funds on the customer's card. You can then capture the funds, or reverse the pre-authorisation to release the funds.
Instalment	The deposit amount, which can be `0`. If the initial amount is `0`, BillPro registers the customer's card.
Subscription	The subscription amount, with any discount or fee. If the initial amount is `0`, BillPro registers the customer's card.
Metered	The initial amount, which can be `0`. If the initial amount is `0`, BillPro registers the customer's card.

To register or check a card, Billpro uses a pre-authorisation transaction. The pre-authorisation is for a small amount, usually less than 1 currency unit. The amount is reserved on the customer's card and released after a few days.