How to Use a Credit Card Machine to Program a Card: 5 Steps

Purchases at stores and retail outlets used to be a cash only proposition. With the advent and growing popularity of credit cards with magnetic strips embedded in them, many stores and retail outlets began to accept credit cards as payment for purchases. This purchase by credit system is based on getting the billable account information from the information on the credit card that the customer presents. For their own protection, the stores or retail outlets must confirm at the time of purchase that the credit card information provided represents a valid billable account, that the billable account is active, and that the billable account has sufficient credit remaining to cover the purchase. Stores and retail outlets use credit card readers that are networked to a central information repository that can advise if the purchase being attempted by the customer should be accepted or denied. Use these tips to learn how to use a credit card machine to program a card.
STEPS

1

DECIDE ON THE TYPES OF CR CARDS TO BE ACCEPTED. There are many companies that provide credit services, and it should not be assumed that all credit card companies make their information available to all central information repositories. The various credit providers add a service fee to the customer purchase that varies from credit provider to credit provider. Such service fees can be anywhere from 5 percent to

1

0 percent of the value of the purchase, and the store or retail outlet must bear these service fees.

2

CHOOSE THE CENTRAL INFORMATION REPOSITORY THAT WILL BE USED. The chosen central information repository must support all of the credit cards that the store or retail outlet has chosen to accept. The services of the central information repository will be charged to the store or retail outlet, usually in the form of a monthly fee. Many repositories will discount their fees if preferred credit cards are used, or if the card reading machines of that company will be used on either a rental or purchase basis. Conduct online research to find the right combination of cards accepted and central information repository services that are right for your store or retail outlet.
Determine the access method to the central information repository of choice. Some repositories will require a telephone modem connection for which the store or retail outlet must supply a telephone line. Other repositories will link over the Internet, for which a dedicated link to the Internet must be provided. Credit card machines cannot be linked to the Internet through a personal computer.

3

CHOOSE THE TYPE OF CR CARD READING MACHINE TO BE USED. The 2 choices are machines that will read the magnetic stripe on the card and machines that must have an operator enter the number printed on the card on a keyboard. In either case, choose the use of a built-in receipt printer or an auxiliary receipt printer for the credit card machine of choice. Credit card machines that require an auxiliary printer can be purchased for between $200 USD to $450 USD (140 to

3

15 Euros), while card swipe credit card machines with built-in printers can be purchased for between $275 USD to $900 USD (17

3

to 6

3

0 Euros).

4

INSTALL THE CR CARD READING MACHINE. The credit card reading machine must be installed through either a phone line or an Internet link per the manufacturers instructions. The credit card reading machine must be programmed per the manufacturers instructions to identify the store or retail outlet and the billing code provided by the central information repository for the store or retail outlet.

5

USE THE CR CARD READER. Activate the reader as indicated by the manufacturer's instructions to begin a new transaction. Swipe the credit card, or enter the credit card number on the numeric keypad of the credit card reader. Commit the credit card reader to process the new transaction as indicated by the manufacturers information.
Accept any denials by the credit card reader. The credit card reader will not indicate why the transaction was denied.
SOURCES AND CITATIONS
http://www.merchantequip.com/information-center/credit-card-machines/
http://www.merchantcouncil.org/merchant-account-information/credit-card-processing-equipment.php
ARTICLE INFO
Categories: Credit and Debit Cards
Discuss
Email