Frequently Asked Questions
What is 8A Payments?
8A Payments hosts a Payment Platform specifically engineered for Cash Bail Payments. We offer a “white-labeled” solution provided by Worldpay/Payrix to bring their industry-leading payments processing technology to an untapped market. 8A Payments services are not available directly to consumers, but only as a “card present” payment solution for government agencies.
8A Payments is located in Alpharetta, GA and can be reached at 404.590.4180.
FOR JAIL OPERATORS
Is 8A Payments a collection agency?
No. We are a payment processing company, not a collection agency.
What kind of payments can be made on the 8A Payments Payment Platform?
Cash Bail paid via Credit or Debit Card.
What cards do you accept?
We accept credit and debit cards from Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, or Discover®.
Do you accept EBT (SNAP/Food Stamp, TANF, etc.) cards?
No.
Is there a cost for your services?
Yes. The traditional credit card model has fees associated with the use of the card subtracted from the amount of the payment. This model does not work for the Jail, as they must receive 100% of the Bail amount required. To that end, a service fee of 8% is charged on top of the Bail amount, meaning the cost of our services comes from the cardholder and not the Jail. The combined amount is processed as a single charge on the card. These fees are non-refundable.
Do you deduct charges or fees from the amount the Jail is due?
No. 8A Payments customers (Jails) receive the full amount of the authorized payment. Our system obtains the service fee from the payer, up front, along with the principal obligation. For example: $1000 cash bail + 8% fee = $1080 authorized; $1000 to the merchant (jail), $80 to 8A Payments. From that service fee, all processing and risk fees are covered.
How will a payment appear on my payer's card statement?
It will reference the “merchant,” which is the Agency to whom the cash bail payment was made. The specific reference will be whatever the Jail defines during the setup process.
How long will it take to implement accepting payments on the 8A Payments Payment Platform (after we sign the contract and are approved)?
Our implementation period for a direct to Jail solution allows new Customers to be up and running on the 8A Payments Platform in as few as 14 days from inception to up-and-accepting payments. For API integration to Jail Management Systems, 30- 45 days should be expected.
If we believe that a payer’s card was used without permission, will you reverse the payment?
Generally, no, because the payer is typically protected from unauthorized use by their credit card companies: Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, or Discover®. Furthermore, our service is limited to 1st Party transactions, meaning that only the person who needs bail can make a charge. The cardholder always can always dispute any charge with their card issuer.
What if the payer’s financial institution denies the payment?
At the time of the denial our system will publish a denial message with a brief explanation on the card reader that our customer(s)’ staff (for onsite payments) will relay to the payer. The payer will be given the opportunity to make the payment using another card. Until a financial institution authorizes the payment request, we will not be able to complete the payment transaction. No service fee is charged in the event of a denied payment.
Do you guarantee a card payment against chargeback?
A Chargeback cannot legally be processed on a transaction unless the transaction was in fact processed fraudulently. If a cardholder initiates a fraudulent Chargeback, 8A Payments will pursue criminal charges against them. 8A Payments bears the risks of all Chargebacks. No Chargebacks come back to the Jail.
Does 8A Payments guarantee eCheck (ACH) payments?
No. We do not process eCheck payments.
FOR PAYERS
What information do you need to process my payment?
For all payments, we need the payer’s name, address, and an alphanumeric code 8A Payments calls a “Pay Location Code” or “PLC,” and the Merchant Code, which is provided by the organization that you’re paying. For card payments, we need the card number and CVV. Other information you may have to provide depends upon the type of payment and whatever our customer has requested to help identify and apply the payment.
What is a "CVV?"
CVV stands for card verification value. The CVV is a three-digit number on the reverse side of cards issued by Mastercard, VISA and Discover. American Express prints their CVV on the front side of the card and has a four-digit CVV.
Can I make a partial payment?
This depends on the policy of the organization you are paying. It is up to the Jail if they choose to take partial payments.
Can I make a payment for someone else?
No. At this time, 8A Payments does not allow for third-party payments to be made. Furthermore, we only take payments via the Jail, not direct from the cardholder.
Who can I pay through the 8A Payments Platform?
Any government agency, court, or jail under contract with us.
Can I send money to friends and family on the 8A Payments Platform?
No, 8A Payments only processes payments for the governments and organizations currently under contract with us.
Do you refund payments?
Other than payments rejected by our customer, 8A Payments does not refund payments. Payers should contact the organization to which they made the payment to discuss a refund. The service fee is non-refundable.
What if I paid the wrong amount?
You must contact the entity you paid through 8A Payments to resolve the issue.
Do I get a receipt if I pay through 8A Payments?
A payer using the 8A Payments Platform at our customer’s location can request a printout or an email of the payment confirmation.
How can I cancel a payment?
A payer can only cancel a payment during the payment process. Once we have processed a payment request, the payer cannot cancel the payment through 8A Payments; payers must contact the institution that they made the payment to, after the payment request is processed.
What if I have a question about a payment?
Payers who have a question about the payment itself (when it was made, in what amount, to whom) may contact us for further information. Questions about the obligation being paid, the accuracy of the amount to be paid, or anything else not having to do with the making of the payment itself must be directed to our customer.
PRIVACY AND SECURITY
How does 8A Payments keep card information secure?
We are independently, annually certified as complying with the highest level of card security available. We are PCI-DSS compliant. Learn more about our privacy policy at 8A-Payments.com.
Will 8A Payments keep my information private?
Yes, please see our privacy policy for more information.
Does 8A Payments sell my information?
No. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
How does 8A Payments process a payment?
We process payments through a “white-labeled” payment processor, Payrix Solutions. More information about them is available at payrix.com.
PAYMENT OF CASH BAIL
How does a cardholder post bail?
Cardholders may post cash bail directly with the Jail, by using the card reader just as you do with most retail transactions.
May I post bail from my checking account with an eCheck?
No. 8A Payments does not process bail proceedings by eCheck. However, a debit card issued by the payer's bank through Visa or Mastercard will enable the payer to draw funds from the payer's bank account, provided funds are available to pay the payment transaction.
Can I use more than one credit card for the transaction?
No, you may only use one credit card to pay the cash bail.
When I submit payment, an email address or mobile phone number is required. What if I don’t have either one of these?
Once the payment is processed, we email or text a receipt to the email address or mobile phone that you provided to us. In some instances, the Jail may require a copy of this receipt to process a refund. If you do not have an email address, you may provide an email address of a friend or family member who can print the receipt for you.
Is 8A Payments a bail bondsman?
We are not a bail bondsman, and do not guarantee a defendant’s appearance in court. 8A Payments is a payment processor that enables a cardholder to use their card to post cash bail for themself only.
How is cash bail returned after the defendant shows up for trial?
The return, refund, or forfeiture of cash bail is a court process that doesn’t involve us. Typically, a check is issued by the Court directly to the defendant. The “service fee” is not returned.
After disposition of the case, can the refund be applied to my credit card?
No. Refunds are not applied to your credit card.
Can bail be posted through 8A Payments if the defendant has outstanding government taxes, fees, or fines?
A defendant’s eligibility for bail is a court process that doesn’t involve us.
How long does it take for a cash bail payment to post after authorization?
We inform our bail-taking customer immediately when a cash bail payment is authorized by the card issuer. Many of our customers choose to release a defendant based on this confirmation because we are contractually obligated to process the funds when authorized. After an authorization, delivery of the cash for bail is 8A Payments’s responsibility.
Are there any limits on the amount of cash bail that may be posted by card?
8A Payments only posts cash bail up to $10,000. Some bail-accepting customers may set their own limits at a lower figure or be subject to state laws limiting the amount of cash bail that can be posted by a card based on the severity of the crime.