ARU (Audio Response Unit) is an automated credit card processing system via a touch-tone telephone available for both retail and mo/to merchants. It offers full draft capture – authorization and settlement.
ARU is ideal for converting paper merchants who do not want the added expense of a credit card terminal. The only equipment an ARU merchant will need to use is an imprinter and a touch-tone telephone. They can have quicker response times (less than 5 seconds), receive their funds electronically via ACH and improve their processing costs.
The ARU process is simple to use. The merchant dials a toll-free 800 number and is prompted to key specific data on the telephone keypad to complete the transaction. The merchant has the option to do sales, credits, voids, forces, batch settlements, AVS and inquiries on current and previous batches. Settlement can occur automatically once a day or the merchant can settle his batch manually through the ARU system.
IMPORTANT: A paper merchant converting to ARU must understand that sales slips no longer need to be mailed or deposited at a bank. Settlement and processing occurs through ARU. If sales slips are mailed or deposited at a bank, cardholders will be charged twice for the transaction.