Take a card payment
Step by step on the POS, from the order to the receipt, including what the guest sees on the card reader and what to do when it doesn't go through.
On this page
On the POS you send the amount to a card reader and the guest pays there. The payment is recorded on the order by itself once the reader approves it: you never type in card details or mark a card payment as paid.
Before you start
- Verimly Payments is set up and active. See Set up Verimly Payments.
- A card reader is registered at your location and switched on. Ideally it is the default reader for your till. See Register a card reader.
- You have the Take payments permission. Without it the POS has no pay button.
- The tablet is online. There is no offline card mode.
Take the payment
- Open the order and tap Pay. From quick sale, tap Take payment · {amount}.
- The payment screen shows the amount due in large figures. Under it are the method tiles. The Card tile names the reader it will use.
- If your location asks for tips on the POS, tap Tip first and choose None, 5%, 10%, 15% or type an amount, then tap Add {amount} tip or Continue without tip. See Card tips.
- Tap Card. If the till has no default reader and there are several, choose one under Choose a card reader.
- The POS shows Sending to reader…, then Waiting for card. Ask the guest to tap, insert or swipe their card or phone on the reader.
- If the card asks for its PIN, the POS shows Enter PIN on the reader. The guest enters it on the reader.
- While the bank decides, the POS shows Processing…. Ask the guest to keep the card on the reader until it confirms.
- When the POS shows Approved, tap Done.
The approved card shows as, for example, "VISA •••• 4242", and the payment appears under Payments taken.
What the guest sees on the reader
- The amount. Always the amount you sent, including any tip you added on the POS.
- A tip screen, only when the location's Card tips setting is Asked on the reader. The guest picks 5, 10 or 15% or an amount. For small bills the reader offers fixed amounts instead.
- The order, when Show the order on the reader is on for the location: the items and the amount due appear on the reader screen before the guest pays.
- Your logo on the reader's idle screen, if you've uploaded one in Settings › General.
Receipts
After the last payment, the POS shows Paid with the amount and any change.
- Tap Print receipt to print the customer receipt. When it is sent, the button says Receipt queued.
- If the receipt printer has Print a receipt after payment turned on, the receipt prints by itself when the order closes.
- Card receipts include the card details the bank requires, such as the card application, authorisation code and how the card was verified.
Tap Back to sales to return to where the sale started: quick sale, the table plan or bar tabs.
Take part of the bill by card
To charge only part of the bill, tap Split by amount or Split by items first, then tap Card. Only that amount goes to the reader, and the rest stays due. See Split a bill.
If the payment doesn't go through
| The POS shows | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Declined | The bank refused the card. A reason is shown under it. | Tap Try again or Try another card. See A card payment was declined. |
| Payment canceled | The payment was cancelled on the reader or the POS. Nothing was charged. | Tap Try again or Choose another method. |
| Reader timed out | No card was presented in time. Nothing was charged. | Tap Try again. |
| Reader offline | The reader is off or not connected. | Check power and Wi-Fi, or Use another reader. See The card reader is offline or busy. |
| Reader busy | The reader is handling another payment. | Finish or cancel that payment first. |
| Verifying payment… | The connection dropped mid-payment. Verimly is checking with the bank. | Don't take payment another way yet. Tap Check status. See A payment seems stuck. |
To stop a payment that is still waiting for the card, tap Cancel payment.
Common questions
Can I cancel a card payment that was started on another till?
Yes. The second till shows "Started on another terminal." Tapping Cancel payment asks Cancel the other terminal's payment?. Choose Cancel payment to stop it on that reader, or Keep it.
How do I undo a card payment that went through by mistake?
On the payment screen, tap the cross next to the payment under Payments taken. For a card payment this is Refund to card: choose a reason, and the amount goes back to the guest's card and the order reopens. You need the Void payments permission. For a closed order, use a refund instead. See Refund a payment.