1) No additional telephone lines are required, just a single broadband connection - saving you money.
2) No re-keying of tender value, saving you time and eliminating potential errors.
Since the launch of Chip & Pin Technology, card transactions are increasingly becoming the safest and quickest way to purchase goods. As a result of this, we've linked our solutions with Comms XL to provide the most advanced card authorising and integrated Chip & Pin solution available.
With direct Internet Card Authorisation through the most stable platform on the market your business can trade 24 hours a day, 365 days a year while still performing daily stock reconciliations without an interuption in trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if a customer doesn't know their PIN?
In the UK, the banking industry has put in place special arrangements to help shop staff continue to accept a customer's signature whilst customers are getting used to shopping with their PIN. This means that if a cardholder cannot remember the PIN on their credit or debit card, shop staff will be prompted by the chip and PIN terminal to do a quick online check with the card issuer. The card issuer will in most cases authorise that a signature can be accepted. This ensures that there is no transfer of fraud liability and it remains with the card issuer.
When customers no longer require this service it might be removed, but this will be in response to customer needs and as yet there is no date set. However, it is in the interests of everyone that we move to chip and PIN as quickly as possible so its full security benefits can be realised. For this reason shop staff and card companies will actively encourage customers to use PIN as quickly as possible.'
Back to top
What do I do if a customer doesn't have a chip and PIN card?
There will be instances where cardholders do not have a chip and PIN card, for example disabled cardholders who are using chip and signature cards or UK and foreign cardholders who don't have a chip and PIN card yet. A customer using a non chip and PIN card will automatically be prompted by the terminal to give their signature. As always, you need to undertake the usual security checks so that you are protected from any liability for fraud.
Back to top
Do I have to check anything else when a card is used and verified with a PIN?
No, a PIN is all the verification required.
Back to top
What do I do if a customer's card becomes locked at the point-of-sale?
You should advise the customer to contact their card company. The customer may need to provide an alternative card or payment method for their transaction.
Back to top
How will I know if the chip and PIN transaction has been successful or declined?
The terminal will give you these messages exactly as it does now. Authorisation will be a similar process but will only happen if the correct PIN has first been entered into the PIN pad.
Back to top
What staff training will I need to provide?
Each retailer should determine their own training requirements in conjunction with their acquiring bank.
Back to top
How do I get a chip and PIN terminal installed in my outlet?
If your equipment is owned by a third party you will need to contact your acquiring bank for further information. If you own your own point-of-sale equipment speak to hardware and software suppliers to discuss the options for your business.
Back to top
What chip and PIN solutions can I choose from?
There are a wide variety of chip and PIN solutions to choose from and the list is constantly growing as suppliers introduce new products. Your first step should be to speak to your existing supplier to discuss the options they can offer you. You can also talk to your acquiring bank to find out which suppliers they regularly work with.
Back to top
What will chip and PIN terminals be like?
As is the case with existing chip and magnetic stripe terminals, chip and PIN terminals will continue to be of various shapes and sizes. All terminals will need to have a chip card reader and a PIN pad for cardholders to key in their PIN. Some terminals will incorporate a PIN pad into their design and others will have a separate PIN pad connected to the terminal.
Back to top
Will point-of-sale (PoS) equipment need upgrading?
If you rent your point-of-sale equipment your supplier will arrange for the equipment to be upgraded to support chip and PIN. If you own your own PoS equipment then you may need to upgrade both hardware and software so that it can read the information held on the chip and enable cardholders to enter their PIN via a keypad.
Back to top
How much will this cost me?
This depends whether your equipment is owned by yourselves or a third party. You will need to seek further information from your acquiring bank or from hardware and software suppliers.
Back to top
How will chip and PIN be good for business?
The main benefit will be a reduction in cardholder present fraud. In 2004, fraud on lost and stolen cards and counterfeit cards together accounted for almost half (48%) of all losses. With chip and PIN now almost fully implemented, however, it is set to have a major impact in these two areas.
Also, merchants will no longer need to check a cardholder's signature where a chip card has been used and the transaction has been verified by the cardholder keying in their PIN. It will also no longer be necessary to store vouchers for these types of transactions. Chip and PIN will also bring increased opportunity for unattended point-of-sale and vending machines.
Back to top
What will using chip and PIN at the point-of-sale be like?
Either the cardholder or the merchant will insert the chip and PIN card into a card reader attached to the point-of-sale terminal. The card reader will identify whether a card is PIN enabled. If it is the customer will be prompted to enter their PIN into a secure PIN pad instead of signing a receipt. In other respects a transaction using a PIN will be similar to that of an existing chip or magnetic stripe transaction.
Back to top
Will it be quicker than verification using signatures?
Once customers and staff get used to it chip and PIN is quicker in most environments. As staff and customers become even more used to the system this may speed up even further and chip and PIN could become a valuable weapon in cutting queue times.
Back to top
What will the fallback procedures be if the point-of-sale terminal fails to read the chip?
If the chip fails, fallback to magnetic stripe and signature may be permitted. Similarly, if the cardholder forgets their PIN, fallback to signature may be permitted. These options will be discontinued as soon as it is practical to do so, therefore it is important to encourage customers to use PIN sooner rather than later, emphasising that this creates a real security benefit for all cardholders.
Back to top
How is my contractual relationship with my acquiring bank affected?
Please contact your acquiring bank.
Back to top
Are there any changes to settlement procedures and or timescales?
Chip and PIN does not affect backend processes: the purpose of chip and PIN is to enhance cardholder security at POS.
Back to top
What about mail order, telephone order and internet transactions?
These are not currently covered by the Chip and PIN Programme, however there are several initiatives going on in parallel that address security for these types of transaction. They include Address Verification, Security Code checking, and, for Internet transactions, Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode. In the longer term, it may be possible to use your chip and PIN card over the Internet as well.
Back to top
