Online Payment FAQs

Our 3D compliant online payment system allows for multi-currency payment and is easy, secure and user-friendly. When you need to make a payment Go2Africa will send you a link and a unique username and password that is created for each individual booking.

1. What is 3D compliant?
2. How does the 3D payment process work?
3. Why should I sign up for 3D?
4. What do I need to do to use 3D?
5. How do I know my payment is secure and safe?
6. Why is my payment not going through?
7. I received an error code reply (i.e. Code 5) - what is this?
8. My payment was declined. What do I do now?
9. What credit cards are accepted?
10. Why do you not accept AMEX for online payment?
11. Do you charge me for using my credit card and paying online?
12. Which currencies does Go2Africa accept?
13. Why is my quote split into two currencies?
14. How do I make a payment which is larger or different than the due amount?
15. Can I pay using more than one credit card?
16. Can two or more parties pay on the same booking (split the cost/pay separately)?
17. Can I pay the balance of payment sooner than the due date?

What is 3D compliant?

A security system designed by MasterCard and Visa to protect the credit card details of their card holders when making online payments.

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How does the 3D payment process work?

1. You enter the merchant's online payment site, which has your order for payment.

2. Once you opt to pay, you are routed to the MasterCard or Visa's gateway for the credit card authentication check.

3. The authentication check will verify your card details / expiry date / CVV (code on the back of your card).

4. Once that is confirmed as authentic, you are routed to your issuing bank for the final check. Your bank will ask you for your pin code to verify against what they have on record.

5. Once this is verified, they will perform standard checks such as:

• Are there sufficient funds?
• Are you exceeding your withdrawal limit?
• Are you processing to the same merchant more than once?
• Are you exceeding your quantity of withdrawal transactions per day?

Once all of the above has been done, your payment will be processed.

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Why should I sign up for 3D?

• 3D offers comprehensive fraud protection by adding an extra layer of security at the point where you enter credit card information online.
• The service helps prevent unauthorized online use before it happens by confirming your identity with an additional password.

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What do I need to do to use 3D?

All you need to do is activate your card with your bank before the online payment is accepted. Your bank will then issue a secure pin code (3D secure). Whenever you subsequently submit an order at a participating online store, a 3D window will appear automatically. Enter your password* and submit, and simply complete payment.

*If you have not yet activated your 3D card, just enter the authentication information when prompted by your card issuer and create a password.

Once activated, your card number cannot be used without your personal password for online purchases.

NOTE: Our experience has shown that the authentication process can take a day or more.

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How do I know my payment is secure and safe?

We understand that many people are reluctant to enter their credit card numbers in unfamiliar places online, but you can rest assured that your personal and payment card information is transmitted by Visa and MasterCard using a high level of encryption (SSL) and is stored on a secure server behind a firewall to protect against unauthorized access.

For more details, see your card issuer's privacy and security policies which you can access during the activation process.

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Why is my payment not going through?

There are a number of reasons - they include:

• Your credit card might not be 3D compliant (please contact your bank).
• You, the card holder, did not complete the payment process (please complete the process).
• Your credit card number is invalid since you have inserted spaces between the numbers (please re-enter the number without any spaces in between).
• You did not click the correct symbol in choosing between Mastercard and Visa Card (please ensure that you click the correct symbol related to your card).
• Your bank may decline a payment for safety reasons when they see it is a large amount in a foreign currency (we advise that you contact your bank to inform them that you are paying for travel services abroad).
• Your credit card has a limit on the number or the value of international transactions you can do within a certain time period (please contact your bank to find out).

NOTE: We've learnt that the payment process can be delayed if all or some of the above is applicable, or if adjustments such as those described above are made.

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I received an error code reply (i.e. Code 5) - what is this?

The kind of error code reported depends on your bank itself (with its own error code system) but normally indicates that you have not been enrolled for 3D secure. Please contact your bank and quote the error code that you have received.

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My payment was declined. What do I do now?

The first thing you should do is contact your bank or credit card company to advise them that you are trying to make payment online. Go2Africa has no control over whether your card is accepted or declined.

If you have a 3D compliant card but haven't yet registered for a password from your bank, or your password has not yet been activated, you may have to wait a day or two before making your payment.

If you have to make two payments in different currencies it is often advisable to wait for a day in between payments. Transactions in different currencies on the same day would alert the bank to a possibly fraudulent transaction and this may delay your payment while the bank checks that it is all as it should be.

If this is the case, please speak to your Africa Safari Travel Expert about which payment should be made first - if you have to make a choice, then it's often worth paying for your flights first to ensure that you don't lose your tickets.

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What credits cards are accepted?

Currently, we only accept MasterCard and Visa as they are registered for secure online payments guaranteeing that your credit card details are protected.

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Why do you not accept AMEX for online payment?

AMEX do not secure their users' credit card or personal details when making online payments, hence the risk that you may expose yourself to fraudulent activity. If you want to make payment using your AMEX card, please advise your African Safari Expert who will send you a form to complete with your credit card details and return to us via fax or email. Until American Express provide a 3D secure code facility this offline process is necessary to verify payment authorisation.

Due to this off-line manual process, an administration fee on all USD travel services is levied when paying for these services with an AMEX credit card.

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Do you charge me for using my Mastercard and Visa card when paying online?

Not at all - Go2Africa does not levy any charges if you pay for your trip by credit card as all merchant fees are carried by us. The fees you will be responsible for are those applicable as charged by your bank and may include currency conversion, credit card and/or issuing bank conversion as well as admin fees.

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Which currencies does Go2Africa accept?

We bill in the currency that our suppliers invoice us in - these could be:

US Dollar (USD) South African Rand (ZAR) Euro (EUR ) British Pounds Sterling (GBP) Canadian Dollar (CAD) Mauritian Rupee (MUR) Swiss Franc (CHF)

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Why is my quote split into two currencies?

Simple - we charge you in the same currency that our suppliers invoice us in. If you are travelling to South Africa and Kenya for example, there may be separate South African Rand and US Dollar payments. This means that the number of currency conversions that need to be done are reduced and you save on charges from your bank.

Please note that the total cost of this holiday would be the combined sum of the South African Rand portion and the US Dollar payment.

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How do I make a payment which is larger or different than the due amount?

You should click on the Edit button and manually enter the amount you want to pay.

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Can I pay using more than one credit card?

Yes, it's very simple: click on the pay button, edit the amount you want to pay, complete the transaction and then repeat the payment process with another credit card.

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Can two or more parties pay on the same booking (split the cost/pay separately)?

Yes, as detailed above, but note that only one person can be logged on to the system at a time. They would need to log off before anyone else can access the payment portal.

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Can I pay the balance of payment sooner than the due date?

Of course. You can make any payments online whenever you like, so you can pay off the balance at any time before the due date.

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