# Virtual Terminal

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The **ArgoFire** Virtual Terminal is a secure, browser-based interface that allows authorized users to manually enter and process payments without needing to build or integrate through the API. It is ideal for back-office staff, support teams, or nonprofits processing donations over the phone.

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#### Overview

While ArgoFire’s Secure Electronic Payments API is designed for developers building integrated donation forms or eCommerce workflows, the **Virtual Terminal** provides a ready-made interface for directly entering payment data, including:

* One-time credit card and ACH payments
* Processing sale, pre-authorization, return, and force authorization transactions
* Accessing stored customer payment methods
* Issuing refunds or voids on previous transactions
* Viewing basic reporting and transaction search

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#### Key Features

| Feature                          | Supported                        |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| One-time credit card payments    | ✅                                |
| One-time ACH / eCheck payments   | ✅                                |
| Recurring billing setup          | ❌                                |
| Use of stored payment tokens     | ✅                                |
| Refunds and voids                | ✅                                |
| PCI-compliant entry              | ✅ (browser-based, secure)        |
| User role and permission control | ✅ (via Admin Console)            |
| Supported transaction types      | SALE, PREAUTH, RETURN, FORCEAUTH |

***

#### Use Cases

* Phone-in donations or purchases
* Staff-assisted payments
* Refunds without developer involvement
* Quick resolution of failed or rejected transactions
* Manual processing of force authorizations and pre-authorizations

***

#### Access and Permissions

Access to the Virtual Terminal is granted through the **FrontStream Admin Console**. All users with admin credentials have full access to all terminal features. Permissions are not role-based at this time.

Key functional notes:

* **Full access for admins:** Any user with Admin Console access can process payments, issue refunds, and manage transactions.
* **Activity visibility:** Transactions processed via the Virtual Terminal are visible in Admin Console reports and associated with the user account used for entry.

***

#### Relationship to API

While the Virtual Terminal does **not** use your custom API integration, it operates on the **same ArgoFire gateway and account**. This means:

* Transactions appear in the same reporting and export tools
* Stored tokens created via the Virtual Terminal are accessible via API
* API-created records (e.g., customer tokens) can be used in the Virtual Terminal

***

#### Important Notes

* **No development required.** The Virtual Terminal is fully managed and hosted by FrontStream.
* **Great for testing:** You can use the Virtual Terminal to test payment credentials, card behavior, or even failure scenarios without needing to write code.
* **Useful fallback:** In case of downtime or integration delays, the Virtual Terminal provides a manual backup for critical payment flows.


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