CSR card causes CC terminal reboot?
Oct 10, 2017, 12:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,622
CSR card causes CC terminal reboot?
Here's a new one for me.
So I went to a Japanese/Chinese restaurant for lunch today. I go to pay and the cashier says I can't use my CSR card (he said Sapphire) because it will cause his CC terminal to reboot. The CC terminal was a typical Ingenico IC2xx type machine. He wouldn't even swipe/insert it, instead insisting on a different form of payment. I ended up paying with another Chase card. All of my Chase cards have the same first 8 digits, so I can't see it being a bank issue.
Has anyone hit this before? Methinks he's full of shiitake and he just didn't want to pay the higher transaction fees. I'm tempted to go in there next time with my plastic CSR card and see what he does.
So I went to a Japanese/Chinese restaurant for lunch today. I go to pay and the cashier says I can't use my CSR card (he said Sapphire) because it will cause his CC terminal to reboot. The CC terminal was a typical Ingenico IC2xx type machine. He wouldn't even swipe/insert it, instead insisting on a different form of payment. I ended up paying with another Chase card. All of my Chase cards have the same first 8 digits, so I can't see it being a bank issue.
Has anyone hit this before? Methinks he's full of shiitake and he just didn't want to pay the higher transaction fees. I'm tempted to go in there next time with my plastic CSR card and see what he does.
Oct 10, 2017, 5:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,516
First, I would file a report with Visa here: https://usa.visa.com/Forms/visa-rules.html
Second, whilst it is certainly possible that a specific card could have some technical issue with a certain terminal based on some permutation of incompatible settings (and I have had this happen before the odd time), it is very unlikely that it means every card of a certain product type from a certain issuer will always cause problems.
You should insist that this is your only credit card, and if (as they claim) it causes issues with their terminal when used electronically, you should insist that they either manually key in the card, or call for a voice authorisation, both of which will cost them more in fees anyways.
Second, whilst it is certainly possible that a specific card could have some technical issue with a certain terminal based on some permutation of incompatible settings (and I have had this happen before the odd time), it is very unlikely that it means every card of a certain product type from a certain issuer will always cause problems.
You should insist that this is your only credit card, and if (as they claim) it causes issues with their terminal when used electronically, you should insist that they either manually key in the card, or call for a voice authorisation, both of which will cost them more in fees anyways.
Oct 10, 2017, 11:55 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
My bet is that there was some sort of terminal issue at some point and the clerk/owner remembers that the customer used a Sapphire card, hence the refusal to run them. It likely wasn't the fact that the card was a Sapphire that caused the issue, but since employees/owners don't really know much about how the card system works, it's an easy enough conclusion to reach.
Oct 12, 2017, 1:57 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,622
Said restaurant does indeed have a minimum for credit cards posted by the register. D582 is correct -- they could have easily hand-keyed the card if need be.
I'll definitely swing by there in the next two weeks with a plastic CSR and see what happens. If they still give me crap over the card, I'll follow up with Chase & Visa. I'm sure Chase wouldn't be happy to have me using a Citi card because a merchant refused theirs.
I'll definitely swing by there in the next two weeks with a plastic CSR and see what happens. If they still give me crap over the card, I'll follow up with Chase & Visa. I'm sure Chase wouldn't be happy to have me using a Citi card because a merchant refused theirs.
Oct 12, 2017, 3:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 998
It drives me insane that my CSR won't work with the vending machines at my work but another VISA card will and even Amex work! I don't have another Chase card to try so I don't know if it's Chase cards, or just the CSR that doesn't work...
Oct 12, 2017, 4:14 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Vending machine stripe readers have always been not so good in my experience. Apple Pay, on the other hand, works every time.
Oct 12, 2017, 4:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New York City
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, UA Platinum
Posts: 141
sorry folks, just curious, how does the owner know that the CSR card carries higher merchant fees? Just because it's metal?
Also - i thought only AMEX was more expensive for the merchants, that's why some stores don't carry AMEX. do different types of visa cost differently to the merchant too?
Also - i thought only AMEX was more expensive for the merchants, that's why some stores don't carry AMEX. do different types of visa cost differently to the merchant too?
Oct 12, 2017, 5:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
sorry folks, just curious, how does the owner know that the CSR card carries higher merchant fees? Just because it's metal?
Also - i thought only AMEX was more expensive for the merchants, that's why some stores don't carry AMEX. do different types of visa cost differently to the merchant too?
Also - i thought only AMEX was more expensive for the merchants, that's why some stores don't carry AMEX. do different types of visa cost differently to the merchant too?
PDF below is how much credit card companies get paid per swipe.
Not the same as how much stores pay per swipe, but you can see the interchange costs difference between Visa infinite and regular Visa/Visa signature, and these fee differences can flow down to the merchant
(stores may use basic square and pay the same 2.75% rate for every visa/amex card, or negotiate different rates with their provider)
(PDF of Visa interchange merchant fees)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...5-April-18.pdf
Last edited by paperwastage; Oct 12, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Oct 12, 2017, 5:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
If I swipe card the reverse way, or put some flimsy paper/receipt around mag swipe, it sometimes works
Oct 14, 2017, 1:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New York City
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, UA Platinum
Posts: 141
csr = always Visa infinite = higher category
PDF below is how much credit card companies get paid per swipe.
Not the same as how much stores pay per swipe, but you can see the interchange costs difference between Visa infinite and regular Visa/Visa signature, and these fee differences can flow down to the merchant
(stores may use basic square and pay the same 2.75% rate for every visa/amex card, or negotiate different rates with their provider)
(PDF of Visa interchange merchant fees)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...5-April-18.pdf
PDF below is how much credit card companies get paid per swipe.
Not the same as how much stores pay per swipe, but you can see the interchange costs difference between Visa infinite and regular Visa/Visa signature, and these fee differences can flow down to the merchant
(stores may use basic square and pay the same 2.75% rate for every visa/amex card, or negotiate different rates with their provider)
(PDF of Visa interchange merchant fees)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...5-April-18.pdf
Oct 14, 2017, 2:21 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,888
csr = always Visa infinite = higher category
PDF below is how much credit card companies get paid per swipe.
Not the same as how much stores pay per swipe, but you can see the interchange costs difference between Visa infinite and regular Visa/Visa signature, and these fee differences can flow down to the merchant
(stores may use basic square and pay the same 2.75% rate for every visa/amex card, or negotiate different rates with their provider)
(PDF of Visa interchange merchant fees)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...5-April-18.pdf
PDF below is how much credit card companies get paid per swipe.
Not the same as how much stores pay per swipe, but you can see the interchange costs difference between Visa infinite and regular Visa/Visa signature, and these fee differences can flow down to the merchant
(stores may use basic square and pay the same 2.75% rate for every visa/amex card, or negotiate different rates with their provider)
(PDF of Visa interchange merchant fees)
https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/downlo...5-April-18.pdf
I know in Canada a few years ago, there was an issue where some merchants refused Visa Infinite cards - again, some of the higher reward cards - because they had to pay higher merchant fees. I think in the end they were forced to accept them, as the Visa merchant agreements meant they couldn't pick and choose which Visa cards to accept - they could either accept Visa cards or they couldn't.
Oct 14, 2017, 5:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
and Ritz Carlton was the first Visa Infinite card for Chase USA around 2016