A credit card authorization form is one way to protect yourself against chargebacks. If you have a signed document from the cardholder that gives you permission to charge their card for services rendered, your chances of winning your case with the card issuer are much more likely and less complicated.

Credit card authorization forms are standard at most hotels when the guest's name differs from the cardholder's — as is common with business accounts. The form protects the hotel by ensuring funds are available to pay for the room and that the charges will be approved.

A credit card authorization form is a document, signed by a cardholder, that grants a merchant permission to charge their credit card for recurring payments during a period of time as written in that document.

Typically it contains: The cardholder's credit card information. Card type. Name on card. Card number. Expiration date. The merchant's business information. Cardholder's billing address. Language authorizing the merchant to charge the customer's card on file. Name and signature of the cardholder. Date.

The information on such a form must include: Cardholder's name. Card number. Card network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc.) Card expiration date. Cardholder's billing zip code. Business name. Statement authorizing charges. Cardholder's signature and the date they signed.

What to Include Cardholder name. Card number. Card type (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, etc.) Expiration date. Cardholder's billing ZIP code. Merchant name. A statement that authorizes the charge(s) Cardholder signature and signing date.