2026 How to keep credit cards current with Authorize.Net Account Updater

Modified on Mon, Jun 29 at 4:18 PM

Petly Plans integrates with Authorize.Net Account Updater (AU) to automatically update your clients' stored credit card information — account numbers and expiration dates — once a month. This helps prevent payment declines, lost revenue, and service interruptions.

Authorize.Net Account Owner

When Account Updater runs

Start date

4th of each month

Runs in batches through month-end

Enable by the 3rd

Updates start this month

Enabled before the 4th

Enable on/after the 4th

Updates start next month

Reports available the following month

Things to know before you begin

Availability and cost

Available for U.S. and North American processing accounts only.
Cost: $0.25 per card updated.
Average of 20–35% of cards update in the first month.
Delete unused payment profiles in Petly Plans to avoid unnecessary charges.

Supported cards and notifications

Updates Visa and MasterCard only.
Petly Plans checks for changes nightly.
Designated admins receive an email notification whenever a card is updated.

Benefits

Increase approvals: Fewer declines and payment interruptions due to outdated card details.

Retain clients: Reduce plan cancellations caused by outdated payment information.

Save time: No need to manually contact clients to collect updated card details.

Cost-effective: Pay only per card updated — no flat monthly fee.

Possible Account Updater response codes

Response code reference

Codes returned by Authorize.Net when a card is reviewed

Code	Meaning
NAN	New Account Number — the card account number has been updated.
NED	New Expiration Date — the card expiration date has been updated.
ACL	Account Closed — the card account has been closed.
CCH	Contact Card Holder — the card may be lost, stolen, or replaced. The exact reason is not provided by Visa or MasterCard.

Steps

Registration takes approximately 2 hours to complete

Log into Authorize.Net

Log into the Authorize.Net Merchant Interface.

Open Account Updater

Click Tools then click Account Updater.

Begin sign-up

Click Sign Up Now.

Look up your industry

Under Industry Information, click Look Up. Search for 742 and select 742 VETERINARY SERVICES. Click SELECT MCC.

Agree to terms and submit

Agree to the terms and conditions and click I Agree to complete registration.

Registration time:Allow approximately 2 hours for registration to complete before Account Updater becomes active.

View the Account Updater report

Reports are available the month following the update batch

Log into Authorize.Net

Log into the Authorize.Net Merchant Interface.

Open Account Updater Reports

Click Reports then click Account Updater Reports.

Run the report

Select the month you want to review and click Run Report.

More than 100 records?Use the Download to File option to export the full report.

Cancel Account Updater

Cancellation applies to future batches only — current batch will still complete

Log into Authorize.Net

Log into the Authorize.Net Merchant Interface.

Open Account Updater

Click Tools then click Account Updater.

Discontinue the service

Click Discontinue Account Updater Service to cancel.

Note:Cancellation applies to future batches only. Any batch currently in progress will complete before the service stops.

Other helpful resources

Authorize.Net Account Updater FAQ Delete a payment profile Put a plan on hold Why does Account Updater flag a card every month?

Attachments (1)

pdf

2023 Authorize.Net Account Updater FAQ.pdf
240 KB