Are you an existing user of Sage MAS 90 or 200 (Versions 4.2+) looking to setup Sage Payment Services on your system?

If so, here are my notes based on a recent setup for a client who was not using any credit card processing prior to adding Sage Payments.

Note: If you are a current PC Charge user – you may be eligible for a free upgrade to the Sage Payment server which is fully compatible only with Sage Payment Services ( Update: works only with the Sage Payment Services).

Condensed Installation Notes:

1. Re-enter new unlock keys to MAS 90 or MAS 200
(This has to be done so you can enable Sage Payment Service)

2. Client receives email verification of their new credit card account – this is where Merchant ID and Mkey are located – no separate paperwork is sent to the client except Visa/MC stickers

3. Turn on Sage credit card processing in MAS90 or MAS200 – Tab #3 – Server Maintenance under Company Maintenance

– Also enable credit card processing for cash receipts (if desired) in Accounts Receivable Options

4. Download the PocketSoap program and install to workstation – www.pocketsoap.com/pocketsoap/#dl

5. Setup the payment types in AR – Setup – Payment Type Maintenance

– Unlike PC Charge – the merchant # doesn’t self populate – key the Sage TERMINAL ID NUMBER in manually (from client welcome email) – IMPORTANT: To set up with Sage Payments USE THE TERMINAL ID # for all credit cards — and NOT the merchant ID as the field is labelled.

– Need the 12 digit Merchant Key (MKEY) number from the client’s welcome email
– Once you save this and then re-open payment type the “valid processor” in lower right should be checked

I did not have to re-load any software to the server (only load pocket soap [download here for free] to each workstation processing credit cards).

The above is only a summary of the instructions which is meant for those with some familiarity with MAS90 and MAS200 credit card processing. Please note that versions 4.2 and higher support the use of Sage Payment Server embedded within the software (no separate download) – so different steps may be needed for older MAS90 or MAS200 versions.

A more complete list of instructions is in the support area of Sagesoftwareonline as a pdf or download from here.

Summary

I strongly recommend this solution for ease of setup. It was a little nerve wracking – but I did it all remotely in under an hour — including testing and walking through the terminal program.

Brett Zimmerman has a great set of suggestions as well (copied below):

(Courtesy Brett Zimmerman at The Fitzgerald Group) :

* If you would like to enable auto-settling, go to the Help menu in VT (Virtual Terminal) > Tech Support, and send a message requesting that auto-settling be enabled for whatever time you’d like. Apparently this request will first go thru Underwriting for approval since auto-settling won’t be allowed for certain businesses.

* By default, for every credit card charge processed, an e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address on file. To disable this function, go to the Configuration menu in VT > E-mail Notices > General Settings.

* Although you can set VT to automatically e-mail a .csv file (raw data) for each settled batch, it’d be great if it could e-mail a nicely formatted report of the settled batches – similar to what you can view inside VT.

* Supposedly with 4.3, the PocketSOAP software won’t have to be installed on the MAS 90 workstations. (Update: You still must manually download PocketSoap)

* MyVirtualReports: It appears this is for Account Management of your SPS account.

Additional tips for Credit Card integration to MAS90 or MAS200 Bank Reconciliation:

If you apply credit cards via cash receipts you’ll notice that each individual credit card transaction goes to the bank reconciliation.

Normally the bank will clear your credit card transactions in groups.

To properly reflect this on the bank reconciliation you can setup a separate bank code (use a clearing account GL that is on the balance sheet) to hold the individual credit card charges.

When the card charges clear the bank – go into cash receipts and receive the total amount cleared into your live account and take the amounts out of the clearing account.

If you have any other questions – please call the office or use the email contact form below and we’ll be happy to explain this in more detail. We can also provide you with contact information for Sage Payment Services so you can speak with them directly.

[contact-form 1 “Contact form 1”]