Accepting credit and debit cards

To complete transactions using a credit or debit card, ensure that a compatible PIN pad is configured for use with the POS terminal. Credit cards can include prepaid third-party gift cards, such as a Visa gift card.

In the AS solution, all credit and debit card data is stored in encrypted, hashed, or masked format. The POS application provides store customers with increased data security through tokenization. Tokenization is the process of replacing a sensitive element, such as the primary account number (PAN), with a non-sensitive alternative, such as an asterisk symbol. This non-sensitive element is referred to as a token, which bears no value to potential thieves or frauds. The token is validated by the authorizer before proceeding with the transaction. The sensitive data is then secured and presents less risks to customers.

For specific payment solutions, credit transactions can be completed even when the POS is offline to the payment solution. The application then processes the offline credit transactions when the payment solution is back online and when no associate is signed on to the POS terminal. To specify when the application can process the offline credit transactions, refer to Tender Setup.

Accepting EMV cards

The POS application supports payments made through Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV)-enabled devices. These three credit card companies collaborated to devise a global standard for applying chip card technology in payment transactions.

The EMV card is embedded with a microchip that is encrypted with data and is only readable using EMV-enabled devices. Aside from the embedded microchip, the EMV card also has the magnetic stripe at the back of the card. EMV-enabled devices are able to read both chip and PIN credit cards. When a store is configured to accept EMV cards, the user must insert the card into the EMV PIN pad.

EMV cards are instrumental in preventing credit card fraud from lost, stolen, and counterfeit cards. This is because only EMV-enabled devices are automatically verified as authentic payment terminals through a process called dynamic authentication. When a user enters the PIN, the chip further validates the user’s authenticity. These provide the extra level of security that is ideal in card transactions.

The POS application supports the following EMV cards for tenders:

• Credit cards
• Debit cards

Accepting foreign credit cards

The AS solution offers the Dynamic Currency Conversion service for customers using foreign credit cards. When the POS payment authorizer detects a foreign credit card, the authorizer sends two amount options to display on the PIN pad:

• The amount due in the local currency. When the customer selects to pay with the local currency, the bank connected to the credit card converts the currency then charges it to the customer.
• The amount due in the foreign currency. When the customer selects to pay with the converted foreign currency, the bank connected to the credit card charges the customer with the converted amount displayed during the sales transaction.

Configurable features

The POS application can be configured with the following features.

• Specify a payment solution for real-time online validation and authorization of EMV card tenders. For more information, refer to Payment Authorization.
• Disable visual verification of electronic signatures. For more information, refer to Tender Setup.
• Integrate with a payment solution that supports manual card entry.
  • Enter the card numbers on the PIN pad when the credit card magnetic stripe or chip is damaged.
  • Disable manual entry of card numbers on the PIN pad for gift card sales.
• For more information, refer to Tender Setup.
• Enable the information message to pay at PIN pad after selecting the tender type. For more information, refer to Tender Setup.
• Modify tenders with the following options:
  • Rename the Credit button to indicate acceptance of dual credit/debit cards.
  • Rename the Credit button when the POS is offline to the payment solution.
• For more information, refer to Tender Modifiers.
• Specify the folder location of the SAF token files after the SAF tenders are processed when the payment authorizer is back online. Refer to the following option:
  • Payment Authorization > Payment Extra Data (1–4)
  Note

  Retailers can refer to the sample data table.

• Group tenders in a single button on the Tender Menu screen. Refer to the Tender Button Display Sequence option in Tender Definitions.
• Disable printing of an audit copy of the receipt. The POS will print an audit copy when the payment authorizer requires a signature and when the customer is unable to sign at the PIN pad. For more information, refer to Receipt Printing.
• Print the voided credit and debit tender information on the sales, return, and exchange receipts. This feature applies to single partial tender and mid-void transactions. For more information, refer to Receipt Printing.
• Prompt the associate to retry voiding the credit, debit, and house card tenders when the tenders fail to void. This feature applies to single partial tender void, mid-void, and post-void transactions only. For more information, refer to Credit Card Setup.
• Prevent the transaction from post voiding if the first credit, debit, and house card tender or other authorizable tender fails to reverse during authorization. An information message that the transaction could not be voided is displayed. When the first card tender fails to reverse, the associate can retry to post void the transaction at a later time. If there are multiple card tenders and only some reversed, the transaction will have to be manually adjusted by the sales audit department. For more information, refer to Tender Setup.
• Specify authorized associate roles that can process credit tender when the POS application is offline and the amount is over the configured floor limit. For more information, refer to Authorization Overrides.
• Specify a threshold for when payment plans are to be offered. The Payment Plan screen is displayed only when the tender amount is equal to or greater than the specified threshold. Refer to the Payment Plan Threshold option in Payment Plans.