Which process would include a merchant's request to charge a cardholder's account?

The correct answer focuses on the specific action taken by a merchant to initiate a charge against a cardholder's account. The authorization request is a critical step in the payment process where the merchant must seek permission from the cardholder's bank (issuing bank) to confirm that the card has sufficient funds or credit to cover the transaction.

During this request, the merchant submits the card details and the transaction amount to the payment processor, who then relays this information to the card network and ultimately to the cardholder's bank. If the bank verifies that the transaction can be authorized, it will return an approval code to the merchant, allowing the transaction to proceed. This step is crucial because it ensures that the transaction can be funded before the merchant completes the sale.

In summary, the authorization request is an essential part of the payment process that directly involves the merchant's initiative to charge the cardholder, ensuring that the transaction has the necessary backing before moving forward to completion.