How do you process a forced authorization in QBO merchant services? I have a customer that provided a authorization number but I cannot seem to get it to work.

Hello, sbrazgel.

I'll point the way and ensure we'll be able to take care of that authorization number issue when processing payments. 

For payment authorizations, we would go through the standard process of accepting payments from the customer. So, we're unable to force the authorization when processing the authorization procedure. 

Since the authorization code didn't work as you enter it, we'll want to contact our Merchant or Payments services team. They can check the system and see what's preventing the code from going through. 

Here's how to contact them:

1. Click the Help icon on the top right corner of the screen.
2. On the pop-up panel, go to the Search tab.
3. Click the Contact Us button on the bottom part.
4. In the box, enter something like "authorization number not working."
5. Proceed with Continue, then choose how you want to reach us (phone or chat).

If you'd like a documentation with some details in processing payments with QuickBooks Merchant Services, I'll share this article: Take and process payments in QuickBooks Online with QuickBooks Payments. 

After fixing the authorization issue with our support, do you need help checking your transaction statements within the Merchant Services Center? Check out this guide for more details: View and download statements in the Merchant Service Center.

If you need more help with your customer payments or transactions, let me know and I'll throw in a guide or two. Would you like some assistance on pulling up a report? Or perhaps do you need to manage other entries? Ask away and I'll help you out in the future. 

I figuired this out on my own.  Simple answer was our accounted needed to be setup as an industry that is "Commercial" to allow acceptance of forced authorizations.

Since I am not the "Primary" on the merchant account, NO ONE from QBO would help me.  I ended up dragging the owner of the company (45 employees) into a phone call so I could talk to a rep.  She had NO clue and it was a complete waste of time.  

Therefore, I feel QBO needs to change this.  Not ONLY small businesses (1-5 employees) use QBO.  We have dedicated finance team now.