Why it is called a single-use card
“Single-use” describes a control on a card number: the buyer intends it for one purchase, and the number is restricted from later use. You will see this term in business-to-business payments, where a customer sends a supplier a card number for an invoice instead of paying by ACH or check.
Card issuers and commercial card programs use the label for numbers configured for one transaction. Exact controls depend on the program, including how adjustments or refunds are handled. For your business, accepting a single-use card is still accepting a card-not-present payment. The label does not by itself lower your processing rate or remove dispute and fraud exposure.
On a statement, the transaction appears with your other card-not-present sales, rather than as a separate fee solely because the buyer used a single-use number. The rest of this page explains virtual cards, the broader term for these digital card numbers and their effect on your costs and payment process.
What a virtual card is
A virtual card is a digital payment credential, not a physical card. It has a card number, expiration date and security code, and it is linked to an underlying funding account. A financial institution issues it through a website or app. Businesses use virtual cards to pay suppliers, cover employee expenses and make purchases tied to a specific invoice.
A single-use virtual card can be set for one purchase, supplier, amount or time period. The buyer controls can also limit where and when the card works, including by merchant category. There is no universal expiration period or spending limit. The buyer's settings determine those controls.
A virtual card is still a card payment, so treat it as a card-not-present sale with ordinary processing costs and dispute risk.
How virtual card payments work
The buyer sends your business the card details and payment information, such as an invoice or purchase-order number. Your accounts-receivable team enters the card details and authorized amount into your payment gateway, then captures the payment. Automated processing can handle the card and remittance information without manual entry.
Many business payments are set to the exact invoice total. If the invoice changes, the buyer may need to issue an updated card or approve a different amount. The payment travels through your existing merchant account as a card-not-present transaction. The cited processing guidance puts settlement at 1 to 3 business days after capture.
What virtual cards mean for your costs
Accepting a virtual card is still accepting a card payment. Merchant discount rates apply, and the transaction is processed as card-not-present. The available sources do not establish a universal virtual-card fee or a standard fee amount, so do not assume the word “virtual” means lower processing costs.
The buyer's controls can reduce the risk of unauthorized use, but they do not remove your normal card-payment exposure. Keep proof of delivery, signed purchase orders and clear payment terms to support your response if a buyer disputes a charge. Do not store the full card number or security code after processing.
Where the work can add up
The hidden cost for your business is often staff time, not a special fee line. When card details arrive by email or phone, your team must match the payment to the right invoice and record its remittance details. A mismatch between the card's authorized amount and the invoice can delay reconciliation or require a corrected payment.
Before accepting virtual cards from a customer, agree on how to handle invoice changes, partial payments, refunds and expired cards. Decide whether your team will request a replacement card or use a partial capture and credit process. Those steps reduce avoidable delays when the payment is tied to one invoice and one authorized amount.
What you can actually change
- Match payments carefully. Record the invoice and purchase-order details with each card payment. Confirm the captured amount matches the authorized amount before posting it.
- Set refund rules. Agree with the buyer on how to handle partial payments, invoice changes and cards that have expired before a refund is issued.
- Track card costs. Compare virtual-card transactions with your other card-not-present sales on your processing statement. Review the fees and any staff time spent fixing payment mismatches.
Frequently asked questions
Does a single-use card mean the same as a virtual card?
A single-use card is a virtual card number configured for one purchase. Virtual cards can also be set up for repeated payments or other limits, so the terms are related but not identical.
Does accepting a single-use card cost less?
No. The single-use setting does not itself reduce your card-processing fees. Your business still accepts a card-not-present transaction, and the card program and network determine applicable rates.
Can the same single-use card number be charged again?
The number's controls are meant to prevent another purchase after its allowed use, but the issuer or card program defines how reversals, refunds, and adjustments work. Confirm the permitted amount and transaction details before processing an adjustment.