Payments glossary · Methods
Voucher and Prepaid Cash Payments
Voucher payments let customers pay online with cash or a prepaid code: they either buy a prepaid voucher in a shop and enter its code at checkout, or receive a payment slip or reference to pay in cash at a store, bank or agent.
How Voucher and Prepaid Cash Payments works
There are two main models. Prepaid vouchers, such as paysafecard, are bought in advance at retail outlets and redeemed online with a PIN, and are usually issued as e-money. Cash payment slips work the other way round: the checkout generates a barcode or reference, the customer pays at a convenience store, bank, lottery agent or through online banking, and the merchant is notified once the payment is confirmed. Examples include boleto bancário in Brazil, OXXO in Mexico and konbini payments in Japan.
Vouchers reach customers who have no card or bank account, or who prefer not to share financial details online, and carry very little chargeback risk because the customer pays upfront. The drawbacks are delay and drop-off: an order is not paid until the customer visits a payment point, many slips expire unpaid, and goods should not ship until confirmation arrives. In Brazil, for example, boleto payments made before a daily cut-off can clear between banks the same business day, otherwise on the next.
Refunds are harder than with cards, often requiring a bank transfer or store credit, and anonymous prepaid products are subject to anti-money laundering limits; in the EU, the due diligence exemption for low-value prepaid instruments does not cover online payments above 50 euros. Check which voucher brands and countries a provider supports, expiry periods, confirmation times and refund handling.