What to Do If a Credit Card Is Not Swiping
Credit card use helps facilitate many retail transactions. If a credit card is not swiping properly, there are steps you can take as a cashier to try to rectify the situation to avoid lost sales and slowdowns in the checkout process.
Clean the Card
Clean the debris, dust and general gunk, if any, from the credit card that can make it difficult to read the bar code. At times, a quick swipe with a cloth across the back of the card where the black or sometimes silver magnetic strip is located can allow the card to be read accurately.
Some credit card terminals are more sensitive than others, so if you find your terminal often has difficulties swiping credit cards, consider changing models or keeping a lint cloth near your register. Make sure to perform routine maintenance for your machine to avoid optical problems that can result in swiping problems.
Reverse Your Swipe
Reverse the direction you are swiping the credit card when it will not scan. If you were swiping from top to bottom, reverse your motion and swipe from bottom to top. If your credit card equipment processes horizontally, swipe the card from left to right and then right to left. If a card is slightly damaged, reversing your swiping direction might allow your credit card terminal to read the card.
Credit Card in a Plastic Bag
Place the credit card in a thin, clear plastic bag and reswipe the card. The plastic overlay on the card can help the terminal to disregard scratches and small problems on the credit card and successfully read the card. Keep a small stash of plastic bags suitable for this method near your checkout to avoid delays.
Call In the Transaction
Most credit card processors offer a call-in number for processing transactions by phone. Place the call-in number in a location convenient to your checkout for instant access.
Request a Different Card
Ask the customer for a different card. If a card will not swipe, you can request a different card from the customer. Most credit card users carry multiple cards and will gladly give you another credit card to process the transaction.
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