Authorize.net SIM method

[MBAngel]

I am trying to find some step by step directions for setting up the authorize.net sim method. I can find somewhat complete directions for the aim method, but not for the sim method. The integration guides on the authorize web site are disagreeably vague and complicated.

I have searched this web site and forum for hours now and can't find one piece of info on how to set this up.

I don't see why my web site should have to have a secure certificate if I don't want to save credit card info. A person's name, address and phone number are public records and I shouldn't sell off customer's info, but I don't see a reason to have a secure cert for this.

[stevesh]

I don't see why my web site should have to have a secure certificate if I don't want to save credit card info. A person's name, address and phone number are public records and I shouldn't sell off customer's info, but I don't see a reason to have a secure cert for this.

Technically true, but your visitors/customers may feel differently. Web users are taught to look for the 'padlock' before entering personal info.

SSL certs aren't that expensive.

[MBAngel]

Helpful answer. I still would like directions on how to set up the sim method. I've been looking for directions for days. I'm not sure why there's a plugin for this, and no directions on how to use it.

[stevesh]

At the risk of being 'helpful' again, though I don't use Authorize.net, looking at the setup options in Admin - Modules - Payment for both SIM and AIM, they seem to be pretty similar. I wonder if the AIM instructions would help with SIM setup.

You might also mention what specific problems you're having.

[MBAngel]

OK, so I set this up, and find on the checkout page that it still wants credit card info when using the Authorize.net SIM method.
The point of using the sim method is so that your user enters the credit card info into THEIR secure form, and not mine at all.

I can see why you'd think that a secure cert was needed, with this module defeating the purpose of SIM that way. People sign up for web sites all the time without a secure server, hence the confusion.

I need to turn that off on the checkout form. I have gone to the credit card settings and turned off all of those. I have the authorize.net sim module as the only payment module turned on.

If there's no button to turn this off, where would I go to change this behavior in the code? - the sim module's code? or the form's code?

[MBAngel]

Ok, after some digging into the sim module, I can see that it clearly specifies that that box be shown. Funny how other shopping carts that interface with the sim method don't ask for credit card info on the checkout page, and this one does. I guess I'll be hackin code tonight.

[DrByte]

Good grief.

from the SIM module configuration settings:
Gateway Mode
Where should customer credit card info be collected?
onsite = here (requires SSL)
offsite = authorize.net site

default = offsite

If you want the card to be processed on the Authnet site, set the SIM module into "offsite" mode. Otherwise it'll attempt to collect the card on your site the same way the AIM module will.

No need to hack code at all.


As for the recommendation to use SSL on your site ... ANY site that collects ANY personal information SHOULD protect that info via SSL. The choice is yours, and at the same time it's also the customer's choice. Many people DO in fact refuse to provide personal address information if the page is not protected by SSL. Even SSL-protecting password-entry pages is also preferred, and for many customers if it's not an option, they'll click to another site where they can see that the storeowner cares enough to spend the chump change to get themselves an SSL certificate and treat their customers' data securely. Do what you like, but realize there are consequences to your choice.