Also called: Store-and-Forward, Store & Forward, SAF
What Store and Forward is
Store and Forward is a feature on a payment terminal or connected payment system. When the terminal cannot reach the payment processor, it stores the card data and transaction details locally instead of waiting for an online authorization. After connectivity returns, it sends the saved transaction for processing.
The terminal's offline acceptance is not a confirmed approval from the card issuer. The issuer makes its decision after the transaction is submitted, so your business can provide goods or services and later receive a decline.
A terminal can store a sale offline, but only the issuer can approve it after submission.
How the terminal handles offline sales
The terminal checks whether Store and Forward is enabled, whether the card and payment type are supported, and whether the sale is within configured limits. Settings can include a maximum amount per sale and a maximum number of stored transactions. There is no universal limit across terminals.
When the connection returns, the terminal forwards its stored transactions. Some systems retry eligible failed authorizations for a set period; one documented implementation retries for one calendar month. That is a provider-specific feature, not a general Store and Forward deadline.
Store and Forward is a specific terminal process within the broader idea of an offline transaction. It describes storing payment data for later submission, while offline transaction can refer more broadly to payments handled without a live connection.
What it means for your costs and risk
The main exposure is an unpaid sale, not a special network fee. If the issuer declines a stored transaction, your business does not receive the funds. You also bear the loss if the sale leads to a dispute or chargeback.
There is no universal Store and Forward fee or statement line. Your processing agreement determines the charges for the card sale. Match the terminal's stored transaction records and final statuses against later submitted sales so a delayed upload is not mistaken for a duplicate or a new fee.
Storing card data on a terminal also creates a security and equipment risk. If the device fails before it uploads its queue, transactions can be lost. Keep the device protected and use its transaction reports to track pending and completed sales.
What you can actually change
You control how much exposure the terminal accepts before it reconnects. Set limits before an outage, and make sure staff know which sales remain unconfirmed.
- Set a maximum amount per offline sale and a maximum number of queued transactions.
- Exclude card types or payment methods your terminal does not support offline.
- Review pending and final statuses after reconnection, then reconcile them against submitted sales.
- Keep receipts and transaction records until every stored sale has a final status.
- Set exposure limits. Choose an offline amount cap and queue limit that fit your average sale and your ability to absorb a decline.
- Train your staff. Make sure employees know that an offline acceptance is not a confirmed issuer approval.
- Reconcile the queue. After service returns, compare terminal records with final processor statuses before treating the sales as paid.
Frequently asked questions
Does Store and Forward guarantee that a payment will be approved?
No. The terminal stores the transaction without receiving a live issuer decision. When it submits the sale after connectivity returns, the issuer can decline it, leaving your business without the payment.
Is Store and Forward the same as an offline transaction?
Store and Forward is a terminal feature for accepting and saving transaction data during a connection failure, then submitting it later. Offline transaction is a broader term for a payment handled without a live connection.
Does Store and Forward add a fee?
There is no universal Store and Forward fee or statement label. Your processing agreement determines the charges for submitted card sales. Compare terminal records with submitted transactions and statement charges to identify duplicates or unexpected fees.