Using PayPal Payflow Card on File feature for future recharging with their API

Question

I am trying to save credit card info so I can allow my users to recharge saved cards for subsequent purchases via the PayPal Payflow Pro API.

There seems to be a stored credential transactions feature with examples of how to indicate a CARDONFILE transaction, but I don't see anything about how to then recharge that card later without having the card number.

Here is an example of the a Card on File request and response...

TRXTYPE=S&TENDER=C&AMT=9.95&ACCT=4012000033330026&EXPDATE=0125&VERBOSITY=HIGH&STREET=100 SOUTH NORTH DR&CITY=NORTHWOOD&STATE=NH&ZIP=03275&CVV2=987&CARDONFILE=CITR

RESULT=0&PNREF=AS0O0D64E7C2&RESPMSG=Approved&AUTHCODE=010203&AVSADDR=Y&AVSZIP=Y&CVV2MATCH=X&TXID=X1Y2Z3100026810&HOSTCODE=00&RESPTEXT=APPROVAL&PROCAVS=Y&PROCCVV2=X&VISACARDLEVEL=A&IAVS=N

Notice on the end there is &CARDONFILE=CITR, this seems to indicate for PayPal that this is to be a card on file.

But then how would I recharge this card for a later purchase?

Thanks in advance for any help

Answer 1

You are describing reference transactions, so according to the Payflow documentation there is no need to specify CARDONFILE. It is handled for you.

To use reference transactions, save the PNREF of an initial sale transaction, delayed capture, or zero dollar authorization -- and reference it in the future for a new sale (TRXTYPE=S) with ORIGID instead of ACCT

Note that to use reference transactions they must be enabled in the settings of your Payflow Manager, and you must wait up to 1 hour after making changes to those settings.