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No connectivity for the retailer's device, not for the customer device. There are also quite a few payment terminals that still do dial-on-demand to get author
by iam-TJ 4y ago
No connectivity for the retailer's device, not for the customer device.
There are also quite a few payment terminals that still do dial-on-demand to get authorisation from the merchant service provider (Chip&PIN/NFC Contactless).
I still see those in the UK especially at independent fuel stations. The additional delay waiting for the terminal to dial and connect sometimes makes me think it has failed - had a few occasions where the line was busy and the terminal redialled several times before it finally made it!
- emptyfile 4y agoSelling an item without contacting the tax authority's internet server and processing the transaction is illegal in my country, and others in Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscalization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscalization If you want to sell anything to anyone, and you're in the VAT system, you have to be online at all times.
- ghaff 4y agoI have definitely been in stores where their card readers were down and it was cash only. Personally I default to chipped credit cards but carry a few bucks with me too. Also in general I don’t like to be utterly dependent on my phone especially if I’m traveling.
- Nursie 4y agoOffline transactions are available in many systems up to certain limits defined by both th card and the terminal. They get reconciled later. Merchants not having connectivity is a rather small problem in this day and age really, with ubiquitous mobile data connections. (Yes, I am aware someone will be along shortly to tell me they have yet-another-edge case where it doesn't work for them. I don't really care, for the vast majority it is a massively convenient way to conduct business.)