Authorization Scope
Explicitly state whether the charge is one-time, recurring, or a range of amounts and include start and end dates where applicable.
A documented authorization reduces billing disputes, clarifies the merchant’s legal right to charge a card, and improves auditability. Capture explicit consent and charge limits to support compliance and customer transparency.
Common users span merchants, service providers, property managers, and healthcare or billing departments that accept card payments without in-person swipes.
Use the form whenever you need written consent for scheduled or remote card charges, and adapt fields to the industry and applicable regulations.
Responsible for ensuring authorizations are collected and stored per PCI and company policy. Coordinates with billing and customer service to resolve disputes and maintains the audit trail for chargebacks and merchant processor reviews.
Provides the payment card details, billing address, explicit consent, and any limits on charges. The cardholder is the primary signer whose name must match the card issuer records to minimize disputes.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication Method | Email link, SMS code, or stronger KBA depending on risk. |
| Charge Schedule | Define start date, frequency, and end date for recurring charges. |
| Receipt Delivery | Auto-send receipts by email after each charge. |
| Retention Policy | Set retention period and secure archival for audit purposes. |
Use platforms that support secure uploads, strong authentication, field validation, and an immutable audit trail to preserve consent records.
Explicitly state whether the charge is one-time, recurring, or a range of amounts and include start and end dates where applicable.
Specify exact dollar amounts or a maximum charge limit and confirm the billing currency to avoid processor or customer confusion.
Include a clear consent sentence the signer must initial or sign indicating they permit the merchant to charge the card.
Note whether the card will be tokenized, stored, or vaulted and reference adherence to PCI DSS storage rules.
Collect CVV only when necessary for authorization; do not store CVV post-authorization in accordance with PCI DSS.
Provide customer service contact details and a simple explanation of how to dispute charges to reduce chargeback rates.
Charge permissions begin on the effective date specified in the form.
Send a receipt immediately after each charge, or within 24–48 hours for recurring billing.
Cardholders typically have 60–120 days to dispute charges with their issuer.
Provide advance notice of any change in recurring amount or schedule.
Settlement timing depends on processor — typically 1–3 business days.
Form sent to cardholder for completion and signature.
Signed form and any identity checks are collected and validated.
Processor tokenizes and submits charge for settlement.
Signed authorization and audit trail archived securely.
Optica created a simple online authorization for investor fees
Martin Properties used mobile authorizations for tenant move-in fees
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies | Varies | Varies |