What to expect with the upgrade to Shulware Integrated Payments FAQ
What is Shulware Integrated Payments (SIP)?
Shulware Integrated Payments (SIP) is our updated payment processing platform, that leverages what we learned from TogetherPay (TP) in 2019 that adds additional security and compliance.
What are the major improvements in SIP?
Pan Merchant ID Processing – There is no longer any need to have members re-enter payment methods for different Merchant IDs.
Credit Card Auto Updating – Automatic updates to stored payment methods when members get new credit cards, reducing declines and the need to follow up when cards on file expire.
NACHA Supplementing Fraud Detection Standards for WEB Debits Compliance – Full compliance with NACHA Web Debits Fraud Detection rule (effective March 19, 2021)- More Information.
Bank Account Validation via Plaid – Streamlines NACHA compliance with ability to immediately validate bank accounts to be used for ACH payments that also eliminates the possibility of adding a bad bank accounts.
Are there any changes to the congregant experience?
The congregant experience is very much the same except that one payment method is now available for use across all applicable gateways and ACH/e-Check payment methods now require validation in order to be used for making payments.
Why do we need to validate a bank accounts as a saved payment method and why didn't members need to do that in the TP platform?
NACHA, the authority that oversees ACH payments, has been implementing stricter measures for processing ACH (eCheck) payments. Processors must first verify and validate the payer’s bank account BEFORE processing the first ACH payment. This is accomplished either by using a tool such as Plaid or Micro Deposit to complete the process. In either case the payer (member) must complete this process. In addition to the above requirements it’s also a “best business practice” to NOT have a synagogue staff member create a saved payment method tied to a bank account. https://www.nacha.org/rules/supplementing-fraud-detection-standards-web-debits.
Is there a cost to use either of the account validation method?
To help our community add as many bank account payment methods ahead of high holidays this year, we will be waiving any fees for this service. The Micro Deposit option is at no charge but will take several days to complete and requires the payer/member to access their bank account to obtain the two micro deposit amounts needed to apply in their saved payment method to verify the account.
Will migrated ACH payment methods from TP to SIP need to be validated via Plaid/Microdeposits?
One of the benefits of our migration process is that we are able to make available on SIP all currently existing saved payment methods, both Credit Cards and bank accounts.
Are there any changes to Auto-batching?
The Auto-batching process has not changed except that ACH/e-check payments are handled separately from credit card payments. Due to this, they will auto-batch separately. Please do not manually batch ACH/e-check payments as they will batch when completed.
What happens to our existing saved payment methods?
We will update the tokens from your TP merchant account to your new SIP merchant account.
What do we (the synagogue) do during the transition period?
Continue processing payments as you currently do. Your TP merchant account(s) will continue to operate and function with restrictions on creation and editing of Gateways to ensure all of your previous settings are migrated properly.
What happens to recurring payments during the transition period and after?
Recurring payments will continue to process on your TP merchant account(s). Once the transition is complete recurring payments will automatically process on the updated SIP platform using your SIP merchant account(s).
Will my processing rates change? Are you adding other fees?
No, your current rates will continue on your updated merchant account(s). Our pricing plan continues to be transaction based with no other monthly or recurring fees.
Is there any cost to migrate?
No.
Can I stay on TogetherPay?
To ensure we are fully compliant with NACHA rules, all customers will be upgrading to SIP
Do I still need access to the TogetherPay Portal?
The TogetherPay portal will remain available for historical research for the foreseeable future. This portal is NOT needed for the updated SIP platform as all of your reporting needs are available from within your ShulCloud account.
Without the TogetherPay portal where do I access reporting?
Daily Settlement File – A daily report that shows the detail activity of payments, ACH returns and CC chargebacks (if any). These reports are viewable via Admin Menu -> Integrated Gateway Settlement.
Monthly Statements File – A monthly statement that shows a summary, by date, of payment activity (summarizes Visa, Mastercard and Discover on one line, AmEx on one line and ACH payments on one line). These reports are viewable via Admin Menu -> Integrated Gateway Invoices.
How do I know if a payment or refund was successfully processed on the platform without the Togetherpay portal?
On the Deposit screen (Admin Menu -> Deposit) – In the “Check/TX #) column there will be a long string of alpha numeric characters starting with “pi_”. This is your indication that the payment was successfully processed. Refunds will have “re_” as the leading character.
On the payers’ Transaction Log screen the same information will appear in the “Notes” section of online payments or refunds
Are there other reports available?
Yes, all existing reports (Admin Menu -> Reports) that were used in the past and associated with TogetherPay are now used for SIP. If you have a specific report need and can’t find that report or the information to which you are looking, please contact ShulCloud Support (questions@shulcloud.com)
