generated: '2026-07-24'
method: searched
source: https://docs.getpinch.com.au/docs/test-and-live-mode + https://docs.getpinch.com.au/docs/dishonour-codes
summary: >-
  Pinch runs test mode inside its production system — no separate sandbox account or
  login. The same Application/Merchant credentials work in both environments; the base
  URL path segment (/test/ vs /live/) selects the mode. Test mode performs every action
  without touching the bank, supports Time Travel to simulate scheduled/overnight
  processing instantly, and lets you deterministically trigger failure codes.
mode_separation:
  mechanism: base-url-path
  test_base: https://api.getpinch.com.au/test/
  live_base: https://api.getpinch.com.au/live/
  credentials: >-
    Same Application ID + Secret Key (or Merchant ID + Secret Key) in both modes; the
    base URL determines test vs live. CaptureJS uses a pk_test_... publishable key in test.
time_simulation:
  header: Time-Travel
  example: 'Time-Travel: 2026-08-01T09:45:59Z'
  behaviour: >-
    Treats the request as if it arrived at the given date/time, triggering scheduled
    payments, overnight direct-debit processing, and settlement/transfer logic that
    would otherwise take days. Ignored in live mode.
test_cards:
- number: '4242424242424242'
  scheme: Visa
  country: Australia
- number: '4000000360000006'
  scheme: Visa
  country: Australia
- number: '4012888888881881'
  scheme: Visa
  country: Australia
- number: '378282246310005'
  scheme: AMEX
  country: Australia
- number: '4111111111111111'
  scheme: Visa
  country: New Zealand
- number: '5105105105105100'
  scheme: Mastercard
  country: New Zealand
- number: '4000005540000008'
  scheme: Mastercard
  country: New Zealand
- number: '371449635398431'
  scheme: AMEX
  country: New Zealand
- number: '4000056655665556'
  scheme: Visa
  country: USA
- number: '5200828282828210'
  scheme: Mastercard
  country: USA
- number: '5555555555554444'
  scheme: Mastercard
  country: USA
test_cards_note: Use any future expiry date and any CVC value with these numbers in test mode.
test_bank_accounts:
- bsb: '000-000'
  account_number: '0000000000'
  description: Generic test bank account
- bsb: '000-001'
  account_number: '1234567890'
  description: Alternate test bank account
test_bank_accounts_note: >-
  Any BSB / account number combination is accepted in test mode; use realistic-looking
  values (6-digit BSB, 5-9 digit account) to exercise your own UI validation.
failure_triggers:
  mechanism: >-
    Add a dishonour code prefixed with '#' anywhere in a payment `description` field or a
    payer `firstName` to force that specific failure in test mode.
  example: 'description: "Monthly membership #insufficient-funds"'
  codes: [insufficient-funds, temporary-problem, blocked-by-bank, invalid-card, invalid-account, unsupported-card, technical-error]
  reference: errors/pinch-payments-decline-codes.yml
end_to_end_direct_debit:
- Create a payer with a test bank account
- Schedule a payment for today
- Send a Time-Travel header set past the processing window to process it and fire a bank-results event
- Advance the date further to trigger settlement and a transfer event