What is a voice authorization line?

The voice authorization line is a dedicated phone number you can call to manually authorize a credit or debit card transaction when electronic authorization systems are unavailable or not functioning properly.

The line is typically used in rare or emergency situations, such as system outages, connectivity issues, or when a card triggers a security flag that requires manual review.

Once you call the voice authorization line, you’ll be prompted to provide transaction details (card number, amount, merchant ID). You will then receive an approval or denial code from the card issuer or processor.

This process often incurs a Voice Authorization Fee, which is usually higher than standard electronic authorization fees due to the manual labor involved.

For TSYS voice authorizations, follow the steps below:

1. Dial 1-800-291-4840
2. Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish
3. Enter the last 12 digits of your TSYS merchant ID and your merchant ZIP code
4. You’ll be asked for your transaction code. Press # for additional options.
5. Press 1 for sale
6. Enter the credit card number, expiration date and transaction amount, Press 9 to confirm 
7. You’ll then receive the approval code. Press * for additional approvals.

For Omaha voice authorizations, follow the steps below:

1. Dial 1-800-228-1122
2. Press 1 to receive an Authorization Number
3. Enter your full Omaha merchant ID, then press # 
4. Enter the full credit card number, then press #
5. Enter 4-digit expiration date (e.g., 0823), then press #
6. Enter the authorization/purchase amount, then press # 
7. Press 1 to confirm your amount, or 2 if it’s incorrect 
8. Then, press 1 for merchandise
9. You’ll receive the approval code/authorization number
10. Enter the next card number if you need additional approvals.