Authorize.net has announced that they are closing down their SIM service. Once the closure happens, then you won’t be able to accept online payments through Authorize.net SIM. Authorize.net has recommended their Accept product as a replacement for their SIM product and we’ve integrated with it with Event Espresso 4 by using their Hosted option through an iframe. With Authorize.net Accept, event organizers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia will be able to accept online payments for their registrations.
Authorize.net Accept is a replacement for Authorize.net SIM
As a refresher, Authorize.net SIM is an offsite payment service. This means that a registrant or attendee is temporarily taken to a secure page on Authorize.net to make their payment and then they are returned to your website to view a confirmation of their registration.
With Authorize.net Accept, a guest will pay on your website through an iframe. This has several benefits:
- An attendee can now make a payment without leaving your website
- The card information is sent directly to Authorize.net for secure processing and never touches your website
Here is a comparison of the registration flows between SIM and Accept (uses the Hosted option):
1) A guest starts their registration from the event page by making a selection
2) They enter their registration information
3) They are sent to a page on Authorize.net to pay
4) The guest is returned to your website to view their confirmation
1) A guest starts their registration from the event page by making a selection
2) They enter their registration information
3) They pay and see their confirmation on your website
There are less steps needed to register and pay which means a faster registration experience for your attendees and registrants.
How to transition from Authorize.net SIM to Authorize.net Accept
We know that you want to minimize any downtime so you can continue accepting registrations and payments through Authorize.net.
If you are using Authorize.net SIM for Event Espresso 4, then here are important points to know:
- An SSL certificate is required on your WordPress website
- If you have an active Personal or a Developer support license with the Authorize.net SIM add-on, then Authorize.net Accept has been added to your account
- If you have an active Everything support license, then Authorize.net Accept has been added to your account
- Your existing credentials for Authorize.net SIM can be used with Authorize.net Accept
If you do not see the new extension for Authorize.net Accept on your account on EventEspresso.com, and you believe that it should be there then please reach out through our contact page and a team member will check into this for you.
Here is an overview of the steps to make the switch to Authorize.net Accept. These steps will take 5 to 10 minutes to complete:
- Login to your Authorize.net merchant account and enable Transaction reporting
- Download Authorize.net Accept from your EventEspresso.com account page
- Upload and activate Authorize.net Accept through your WordPress plugins screen in your WP-admin (WP dashboard)
- From your WordPress dashboard, go to Event Espresso → Payment Methods and click on Authorize.net Accept
- Now click on the button to activate Authorize.net Accept
- From the top of your screen, immediately click on Authorize.net SIM and scroll down and look for the API Login ID and copy it
- Click on Authorize.net Accept and paste in the API Login ID that you just copied.
- Now click on Authorize.net SIM and then look for the Transaction Key and then copy it
- Click on Authorize.net Accept and paste in the Transaction Key and then save changes by scrolling down and clicking on the button
- Now switch back to Authorize.net SIM and then scroll down and click to deactivate it
Moving forward, any new registrations will be processed using Authorize.net Accept via the Hosted option in an iframe. And your existing registrations will not be affected.
Questions and Answers
Here is some information to help you along.
I’m using Authorize.net AIM. Am I affected?
If you are using Authorize.net AIM, then you are not affected. This change affects you if you are using Authorize.net SIM.
I don’t have an SSL certificate on my WordPress website. What do you recommend?
An SSL certificate is required to use Authorize.net Accept. Please get in touch with your web host or hosting provider and they will be able to provide you with some options on adding an SSL certificate to your website.
Will my events or attendee information be lost?
Your events and attendee information will still be there when you transition to Authorize.net Accept.
I’m using Event Espresso 3 with Authorize.net SIM?
The new integration was created as an extension for Event Espresso 4. If you are using Event Espresso 3, then please reach out to our support team so we can help you move forward.
When will Authorize.net SIM stop working?
Once the date is known, then it will be available here.
If you are currently using Authorize.net SIM for Event Espresso 4, then we recommend being proactive and creating a plan to make the switch sooner rather than later. The process takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You’ll enable Transaction reporting in your Authorize.net merchant account, add the new extension/add-on to your website, copy over your credentials, and deactivate Authorize.net SIM.
Remember that if you have any questions, then you can get help by reaching out through our support channel for Event Espresso.
Additional source for Authorize.net
Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash