What is the correct procedure for posting a payment received through a credit card at the counter?

• A. Accept payment via PCI-compliant card reader, capture authorization, print or email receipt, post to the payer's case/account, and balance the cash drawer.
• B. Only accept checks; ignore card payments.
• C. Process payment and void the receipt.
• D. Enter payment manually without authorization.

Answer: (A)

Handling a credit-card payment at the counter should follow a secure, traceable flow: use a PCI-compliant card reader to protect card data, then capture an authorization to confirm that funds are available. After authorization, issue a receipt—print or email it—for the payer’s records. Finally, post the payment to the payer’s case or account in the system and balance the cash drawer to keep the books accurate. This sequence ensures the payment is legitimate, properly recorded, and reconciled.

Other options break essential controls: ignoring card payments misses revenue and the proper workflow; voiding the receipt eliminates a valid record and harms reconciliation; entering payment manually without authorization bypasses security and can lead to errors or fraud.