A Virtual Terminal or VT is a way for on online merchant to accept credit card transactions over the phone vs accepting an online credit card transaction.

Why would any one call a web site to make a credit card transaction when they can use their credit card online? The answer is very simple and the simple answer is that certain percentage of customers still like to talk live to a real person vs entering in their credit card number online.

The merchant’s customer service department ( CSR) will capture the customers credit card number form the customer as well a the CVVC code which is the 3 digit code on the back of the card and then the CSR will manually enter all the card information on a special form supplied by the processor and once all the information is entered the CSR just click send and the transaction is approved or declined just like a regular online credit card transaction.

Most online pharmacy merchant accounts have the virtual terminal option because a large percentage of the follow up recurring sales are done live by the pharmacy’s direct marketing department calling up card holders every 3 months to renew their three month recurring billing cycle of reordering their prescriptions.