Cross-product featuresTokenization

Card Account Updater

Automatically refresh stored cards that are about to expire to reduce recurring payment declines
View as MarkdownOpen in Claude
Applies to:DevelopersPartners

Card Account Updater keeps stored card credentials current. For stored cards that are about to expire, the service checks the card networks and refreshes the stored token automatically when the card has a new expiration date, a new number, or a closed account. Recurring and repeat payments keep working without asking the cardholder for a new payment method.

The service uses the card network account updater programs, Visa Account Updater (VAU) and Mastercard Automatic Billing Updater (ABU), to check for updates on stored cards that are about to expire. When an update is available, Payabli refreshes the stored token for you.

Card Account Updater is most valuable when you have a large portfolio of stored cards on file for recurring or repeat payments, such as subscriptions, payment plans, rent, or dues. The value scales with stored-card volume.

How it works

The service runs automatically twice per month for every paypoint that has it enabled. On each run:

1

Stored cards are collected

Payabli collects stored card tokens that are about to expire in the current month and the next month for each enabled paypoint.

2

Cards are checked for updates

The collected cards are submitted to the Visa and Mastercard account updater programs to check whether any updates are available, such as a new expiration date, a new card number, or a closed account.

3

Updated tokens are refreshed automatically

When an update comes back for a card, Payabli refreshes the stored token automatically. You don’t have to take any action, and the stored payment method keeps working for future payments.

4

Actionable results are reported

When a card can’t be updated automatically, such as a closed account, Payabli sends a notification so you can follow up with the cardholder. You must subscribe to the event to receive these notifications.

Enable Card Account Updater

Card Account Updater is enabled by the Payabli team. To enable it for one or more paypoints, or across your entire organization, contact your Payabli representative.

Get your results

You must subscribe to the CardUpdaterComplete event to receive the results. Set up a notification for the event using one of these channels:

  • Email delivers a CSV attachment with the full results for the run, including each card’s token, new expiration date, paypoint ID, and result message. Use email if you want to import results into your own system.
  • Webhook fires once per card in real time. Use a webhook to automate follow-up, such as emailing a cardholder when their account is closed.

To create the notification, send a POST request to /api/Notification. This example sets up an email notification for a paypoint:

1{
2  "method": "email",
3  "frequency": "untilcanceled",
4  "target": "partner@example.com",
5  "ownerType": 2,
6  "ownerId": "255",
7  "content": {
8    "eventType": "CardUpdaterComplete",
9    "timeZone": 0
10  }
11}

To send results to a webhook instead, set method to web and target to your endpoint URL. For the full request shape and more examples, see Manage notifications and the Create notification endpoint reference.

Result code reference

Each card in a run returns a result code. Update codes are applied automatically. Actionable codes need follow-up with the cardholder. Informational codes mean the card couldn’t be updated and no action is needed. Error codes point to a data quality issue worth investigating.

Result codeTypeWhat it meansRecommended action
UPD_EXP_DATEUpdateThe expiration date was refreshed. The card number is unchanged.None. The token is updated automatically.
UPD_PANUpdateThe card number was replaced and a refreshed token was issued.None. The token is updated automatically.
UPD_BRAND_CONVUpdateThe card brand changed.None. The token is updated automatically.
UPD_CORRECTEDUpdateThe issuer corrected an earlier update.None. The token is updated automatically.
WRN_CLOSED_ACCOUNTActionableThe card account is closed and no replacement is on file.Contact the cardholder for a new payment method. The stored card can’t be updated.
WRN_CONTACT_CARDHOLDERActionableThe issuer flagged the card and the cardholder must be contacted.Contact the cardholder to resolve before retrying.
WRN_ISSUER_NO_DATAActionableThe issuer returned no update data.Monitor for recurrence. This result can be transient.
WRN_ISSUER_NOT_ENROLLEDInformationalThe issuer isn’t enrolled in an account updater program.None. The card can’t be automatically updated.
WRN_UNSUPPORTED_NETWORKInformationalThe card network doesn’t support account updater.None. Expected for networks other than Visa and Mastercard.
WRN_OPT_OUTInformationalThe cardholder opted out of account updater.None. The cardholder’s preference is respected.
ERR_INVALID_PANErrorThe card number is invalid.Investigate the card number for a data quality issue.
ERR_INVALID_TOKENErrorThe token wasn’t found.Investigate. The token may have been deleted.
ERR_INVALID_EXP_DATEErrorThe expiration date was invalid.Investigate the expiration date for a data quality issue.

Billing

Card Account Updater is a paid add-on feature and adds one billable event to your Payabli account: a token update, charged each time a stored card token is refreshed. This event is billed to the partner or merchant, not the payor, and appears on your monthly billable statement alongside other processing fees. Rates follow your Payabli agreement.

Limitations

Keep these limitations in mind while using Card Account Updater:

  • Visa and Mastercard only. Other networks aren’t enrolled in account updater programs. Expect around 40% of results to return WRN_ISSUER_NOT_ENROLLED. This is normal.
  • No sandbox testing. Card Account Updater can’t be tested in the sandbox environment today.
  • No dedicated token management view. There’s no single view for your stored card portfolio. You manage stored cards through individual customer records.

See these related resources to help you get the most out of Payabli.