Steps
- Read the screen. While the terminal waits, the payment screen shows Processing Payment. If it says This is taking longer than usual, the terminal or connection is slow, not the card.
- Customer not ready yet. If the customer has not tapped and wants to change the order, tap Cancel — Card Not Tapped Yet. The terminal is released and the order stays on screen.
- No clear answer. If the result is unclear, tap Check on Terminal. SeroPOS reads the terminal to confirm whether this card was charged before you try again.
- Safe retry. When SeroPOS is sure nothing went through, it offers Tap Card Again — Safe Retry. Ask the customer to present the card again.
- Declined card. A decline shows a red screen with an alarm and prints a decline slip. Choose Retry — Try Another Card, Use Another Payment Method (the order is kept) or Cancel Sale.
- Step away safely. If you need to serve someone else, tap Close — Keep Order. The order stays open and an approved charge that arrives later is still recorded.
How SeroPOS protects against double charges
An approved card charge is written to a safe outbox on the till before the sale is saved. If the sale fails to save, for example because the till lost power or connection, SeroPOS replays it so the charge is never lost. It also warns you if the same card was charged the same amount moments ago.
If a transaction stalls for more than 90 seconds, SeroPOS records what happened so our support team can trace it. You never have to guess whether the customer paid.
Moneris terminals
Moneris payments have the same idea with their own buttons: Back to Order, Try Again, Use Another Payment Method and Close — Check Terminal Before Charging Again. Look at the terminal's screen before you charge a second time.
Frequently asked questions
The customer tapped, but the till shows nothing. Should I charge again?
No. Tap Check on Terminal first. It reads the terminal's batch to see whether the card was charged. If it was, the sale is recorded. If it was not, SeroPOS offers a safe retry. Charging again without checking risks a double charge.
What happens to the order after a decline?
The order stays on screen. You can ask for another card with Retry — Try Another Card, take cash or another tender with Use Another Payment Method, or cancel the sale. A decline slip prints so you have a record.
Will I lose a payment if the till crashes during a card sale?
No. An approved charge is saved to the till's outbox before the sale is stored, and SeroPOS replays it if the sale was not recorded. Check Recent Transaction once the till is back to confirm the sale.