Payments And Match Events

As described under When Are Match Events Created?, the system creates a match event when a payment is added for an open-item account. The system uses the payment's match type and match value to determine the FT's (e.g., bill segments and adjustments) that will be matched with the payment's FT's (i.e., the payment segments).

Another way to think of this is as follows:

• When most payments are distributed, the system calls the payment distribution algorithm that is plugged-in on the account's customer class.
• However, a payment that is made in respect of a specific bill requires a different distribution algorithm because the payment should only be distributed amongst the debt associated with the specific bill being paid. This is accomplished by referencing a match type / match value on the payment. The match type references the appropriate payment distribution algorithm. This algorithm is used rather than the customer class distribution algorithm.

For example, if a payment were made in respect of bill ID 192910192101, this payment would reference a match type of bill ID and a match value of 192910192101. At payment distribution time, the system calls the override payment distribution algorithm associated with this match type. The base package bill ID distribution algorithm does several things:

• It distributes the payment amongst service agreements associated with the bill.
• It creates a match event and links the bill's bill segment and adjustment FT's to it.
• Refer to the Bill ID Match Type Algorithm for more information about this algorithm.

It's worth noting that payment distribution and freezing are two separate steps that typically happen in quick succession. The system's standard match event algorithms create the match event during payment distribution. This match event exists in the open state (because the payment segment's FT's have not yet been linked to the match event and therefore debit FT's do not equal credit FT's). The open match event references the debit FT's (the bill segments and adjustments) for which it pays. It is only at payment freeze time that the credit FT's (the payment segments) are linked to the match event thus allowing the match event to be become balanced.

If, at freeze time, the payment's credit FT's do not equal the debit FT's on the match event, the match event is left in the open state. An alert will appear on Control Central to highlight the existence of open match events (if the appropriate alert algorithm is plugged in the installation record). In addition, you can also set up a To Do entry to highlight the existence of open match events.