Article facts
| Stage | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Card acceptance and authorisation | Your acquiring provider |
| Processing | Your acquiring provider |
| Refunds and chargebacks | Your acquiring provider |
| Reserves | Your acquiring provider |
| Settlement payout | Your acquiring provider pays out |
| Receiving the payout | 2PayApp business payment account |
| Does 2PayApp provide acquiring? | No |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-09 |
The two stages
Card acquiring happens at the moment of sale. The customer pays, the transaction is authorised and processed, and the merchant's acquiring provider handles refunds, chargebacks and any reserve arrangement. This runs under a separate agreement between the merchant and that provider.
Merchant settlement happens afterwards. The acquirer, PSP or platform pays out the processed funds. The amount may reflect deductions such as processing fees, refunds, chargebacks, reserves or other amounts specified in the acquiring agreement.
2PayApp sits at the second stage: it can provide approved account details for receiving qualifying settlement payouts, and the account then holds, exchanges and pays out those funds.
Why the distinction matters commercially
- Opening a 2PayApp account does not let you start accepting cards. You still need an acquiring provider.
- A chargeback is handled under your acquiring agreement, not by 2PayApp.
- A reserve held by your acquirer reduces the payout before it arrives; it is not a deduction made on the receiving side.
- If a settlement is late, the first question is usually with the acquiring provider's payout cycle.
What to have in place
- an acquiring agreement with a provider that supports your business;
- confirmation from that provider that it can pay out to the 2PayApp account details;
- an understanding of the deductions applied before payout, so reconciliation matches expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Does 2PayApp provide card acquiring? No. Card acceptance and processing are provided separately by your acquiring provider.
Can 2PayApp handle our chargebacks? No. Chargeback management sits with the acquiring provider under your acquiring agreement.
Why is the settlement smaller than our sales? The settlement amount may reflect processing fees, refunds, chargebacks, reserves or other deductions specified in your acquiring agreement.
Can we use one account for several acquirers? Subject to review, yes — see Can I receive settlements from several acquirers?.
This article is explanatory. Your acquiring agreement governs acceptance, processing, refunds, chargebacks and reserves.