Card machine says no signal? How to take payments offline on site featured image
Tools, Materials & Tech

Card machine says no signal? How to take payments offline on site

TrainAR Team 1 month ago 5 min read

Card machine says no signal? How to take payments offline on site

Category: Tools, Materials & Tech • Niche: card readers, offline payments, Tap to Pay, Square, SumUp, Zettle, Stripe

Contents

Quick answer

  • If you need true card-present offline, Square’s Offline Mode is the practical option on UK sites. Reconnect within 24–72 hours (device dependent) to upload queued payments. You carry the risk if a payment later fails.
  • SumUp Air now advertises an offline queue on its UK site, but official Help Centre docs for Air are sparse. Test before relying on it. SumUp Terminal/Solo use built-in data, not offline.
  • Zettle by PayPal does not support offline card payments. Use payment links or take cash and record later.
  • Tap to Pay on Android requires an internet connection with providers like Stripe, Square and SumUp. Tap to Pay on iPhone may support Store and Forward only if your provider’s app enables it. Check your app’s release notes and test.

When to use offline payments

  • Rural installs with no 4G/5G
  • Basement plant rooms and lift shafts
  • New-build plots before broadband is live
  • Storm days when networks are flaky

If the customer is present and needs to pay now, offline mode lets you complete the job and move on.

What works offline and what doesn’t

  • Square hardware: documented Offline Mode on Register, Terminal, Stand and Reader (selected generations). Not supported with Tap to Pay on iPhone/Android.
  • SumUp: Air page mentions “offline mode/queued until connection is restored.” POS Pro tills can work a trading day offline with start/end-of-day sync. Product pages urge having Wi‑Fi or data on Tap to Pay.
  • Zettle: no offline card acceptance. Terminal falls back to SIM/Wi‑Fi only.

Citations you can check:

Square: enable and use Offline Mode

  • Turn it on: In Settings on your Square device/app, enable Offline Mode. Set a per-transaction limit you’re comfortable with.
  • Know the limits: On Terminal/Register/Handheld you typically must upload within 24 hours. On Reader/Stand paired to a phone/tablet, reconnect at least hourly; payments expire if not uploaded within the window.
  • Supported tender types: Chip and PIN and mobile wallets on supported hardware. Not supported: physical contactless cards on some devices, Tap to Pay on phone, Clearpay, gift cards, or manual key entry.
  • Risk: You’re responsible if the card declines later. Keep solid job evidence and customer contact details.

Links: Square UK Offline Mode and time limits

Field workflow tip

  • Before losing signal: Open the app and start the offline session.
  • During the job: Record photos, serials and signature as usual.
  • After: As soon as you get signal, reconnect and watch the queued payments upload.

SumUp: current options and gotchas

  • Air: SumUp’s UK blog says Air supports offline queuing. Because Support docs aren’t explicit, trial it on a small amount and confirm funds settle as expected.
  • POS Pro till: Can run for the day offline if opened/closed online and synced after. Good for events with patchy Wi‑Fi.
  • Solo/Terminal: Rely on built-in data. If there’s zero coverage, they won’t process.
  • Tap to Pay: Requires data; no offline softPOS noted.

Links: SumUp offline mention and Tap to Pay Android

Zettle: what to do with no signal

  • No offline card processing.
  • Practical workarounds:
    • Payment link/QR on the customer’s phone
    • Bank transfer via Faster Payments
    • Take cash and issue a VAT receipt later
    • Book a revisit when you have coverage

Link: Zettle connectivity

Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android

  • Android: Stripe, Square and SumUp document that Tap to Pay on Android needs an active connection. No offline support.
  • iPhone: Apple introduced a Store and Forward capability that may allow offline acceptance, but only if your payment app implements it. Check your provider’s UK support pages and do a test before relying on it.

Links: Stripe Tap to Pay on Android and Square UK Tap to Pay on Android

Pricing, risk and PCI

  • Fees: Offline transactions generally cost the same, but you may lose surcharge ability or real-time tip prompts.
  • Chargebacks: Keep evidence. For on-site works, collect before/after photos, signed job sheet, and the customer’s name, postcode and phone.
  • PCI hygiene: Don’t write down card numbers. Keep devices updated, screen locked and in a rugged case.

Best-practice checklist for UK sites

  • Carry a power bank and spare till roll
  • Use a multi-network MiFi for backup
  • Pre-set an offline per-transaction limit, e.g., £250–£500
  • Get customer mobile and email at checkout
  • Offer a backup: bank transfer QR or payment link
  • Reconnect the same day to upload queued payments

Troubleshooting poor signal

  • Move outside or higher for better reception
  • Turn airplane mode on and off to reset radios
  • Switch to a different network via dual-SIM or eSIM
  • If nothing works, switch to cash or instant bank transfer

FAQ

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