[michellejmg]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone uses IATS to process large numbers of gifts through batch. We do over 4,000 in one batch and we are starting to have issues. Does anyones else generate large bathes of monthly (or otherwise) gifts? If so, how many? And are you using 7.8.1?

Thanks in advance!

Michelle

[Harriet]

We process approx. 2000 credit card monthly gifts through IATS. We are on 7.81. Our first run with this version was yesterday, and we had no problems. What exactly is happening?

[michellejmg]

Hi there, Sorry for the late reply...We are having a problem with the answer file. We create the transmission file to IATS and then we get a error message (which I can't remember right now, but I can dig it out) it forces us to save and close the batch and then when we open it again it gives us a message asking us if we want to retrieve the answer file. When we say "yes" it all pops in (well it takes about half an hour, but it works)We process about 4000 in the batch and it only seems to happen every 2 months, but it is annoying and I am worried one day the answer file will not answer!Also - what does everyone do with their monthly donor correspondence? Like when Credit cards or banks decline? We do the following but I wanted to get a sense of best practices:- send letter when credit card will expire next month- send a letter when credit card has expired (last month)- send letter when bank or credit card declines- if they decline 3 times or more a phone call is made and if there is no response the gift is put on hold- after 3 months of being on hold the gift is terminated- reactivation campaigns are done 2 times a yearWhat does everyone else do to manage this correspondence?Thanks!

[Harriet]

We have not experienced the answer file problem you describe. I wonder if IATS has a transmission size threshold problem? Our 2000 record file takes only seconds to receive the authorization codes back from IATS.

As for procedures:

We contact the donor 3 months prior to credit card expiration date.
Declined cc's receive a letter, and are Held pending response. If no response to the letter in 2 weeks, they receive a phone call. If the phone number is no longer valid, the Held is changed to Terminated.
Also, if the letter is returned as not deliverable, and the phone number is no longer working, the Held is changed to Terminated.