x

Can not use tap debit or chip reader for debit- gives error

I am receiving an error when attempting to tap a debit card "Unknown Card Brand"

And when I try to use the chip reader it tells me to use the tap or use a different card.

 

I paid for this for the sole purpose of being able to provide Debit as a payment option, if it doesn't work, thenit is useless to me since I already had the swipe reader for credir card payments (which was free).

 

Looks like I was not the only person to have this problem; waiting on support to get back to me.

19,316 Views
Message 1 of 49
Report
1 Best Answer
Admin

Best Answer

Thanks @Emily2!

 

To accept debit card payments in Canada with Square you can use Square Contactless and Chip Reader or Square Terminal, with either device you can accept Interac chip transactions for any amount and Interac Flash transactions (tap debit) up to $100. Interac dip (chip and PIN) payments have no transaction limit.

 

These Support Centre acticles have more information about the payment cards you can accept in Canada:

If you have any other questions please reply here or give our Customer Success team a call.

 

This post was updated in 2020. 

️ Helen
Seller Community Manager

Did you find help in the Seller Community? Mark a Best Answer to help others.

View Best Answer >

16,728 Views
Message 41 of 49
Report
48 REPLIES 48
Super Seller Alumni

Does the contactless reader work with any cards?  Has this happened to more than one card?    Also you can use the swiper for Credit and Debit Cards.

14,802 Views
Message 2 of 49
Report

Tap worked for Visa. No Debit and the swipe doesn't work for anything. To my lnowledge swipe is still not available for debit anyway.

14,796 Views
Message 3 of 49
Report
Super Seller Alumni

Swipe works with anything, Credit, Debit, Gift Card.  However, if you have the contactless reader hooked up it will force you to use the chip.  Disconnect the contactless reader until you get the issue figured out and the swipe reader will work.  

 

Have you tried a hard reset of the reader?  Hold the power button for 20-30 seconds and it will hard reset.  Maybe that will fix your issue.

 

Are you located in the U.S.?

14,793 Views
Message 4 of 49
Report

I am in Canada; I disconnected the contactless and the Swipe reader actually doesn't work at all. I have my old one at home that I will try later. 

 

I have unistalled and reinstalled the app and completed a hard reset; Forgot reader and reconnected; still not working.

 

Frustrating and disappointed.

14,783 Views
Message 5 of 49
Report

Oh and Swipe did not work with Debit cards...this is why I wanted the contactless; At least not in Canada.

14,781 Views
Message 6 of 49
Report
Super Seller

You are correct that Debit cards can only be processed by tap in Canada.  Have you had any work with this reader as this is a new feature to square in the last month or so?

 

https://squareup.com/help/ca/en/article/5085-accepted-cards

 

I don't know what Interac Debit means, so if that is all debit or just a specific kind.

14,777 Views
Message 7 of 49
Report

As I said; no debit cards work and I did have a Credit card work via Tap method. 2 different banks for Debit were tested. I will likely have to return the swipe...but I want to test my old one first.

14,771 Views
Message 8 of 49
Report
Admin

Hey @TDTB, I wanted to check in here and see if you were still encountering trouble with accepting debit cards. One thing to note, you'll need to tap Charge to prepare the reader for the payment. For more information, have a look here: Accept Contactless (NFC) Payments.

 

Does that help clear things up?

️ Tom | he/him
Seller Community Manager | Square, Inc.
Find step-by-step help in our Support Center
14,753 Views
Message 9 of 49
Report

Just to be clear; I understand how this works; I have charged credit card via tap; I have been using a magnetic reader from square for years.

 

All hardware troubleshooting was done before I contcated square and posted to the community board. 

 

The new magnetic reader I received in the box is defective- DOES NOT READ CARDS. And the contactless / chip reader DOES NOT READ DEBIT CARDS.

 

I am in Canada, so I can not swipe to charge debit...this is why I got the new reader; which is either faulty or the advertising is misleading (false) meaning it is not capable of reading canadian debit cards.

 

So far I am developing a sour taste for Square as I haven't been able to get any proper support. Just many Social Media type recommendations of the same BS. 

14,745 Views
Message 10 of 49
Report

Hey @TDTB, I'm sorry to hear about the trouble and have taken the time to read through all the comments. Could you tell me a little bit about what happens when you go to tap a payment? Are there any lights shown on the reader? I know you had success with a credit card. Are you testing with an Interac debit card? When you tap the card does it register that there was a payment attempt or does nothing happen at all? 

 

I'll keep an eye out for your reply. 

9,226 Views
Message 11 of 49
Report

I am getting tired of saying this...

It gives me an error message:

 

Unknown card brand please use a different card.

 

I tried 3 different cards from 3 different banks; all with confirmed tap access. 

 

Chip says:

Cancel Payment and tap card

Or use a different card.

 

All debit cards give the same message; all known troubleshhoting has been done. 

Either the reader in malfunctioning ir it can not take canadian cards.

 

9,224 Views
Message 12 of 49
Report

Interesting @TDTB, what are the brands of the cards that you're trying to tap? 

9,195 Views
Message 13 of 49
Report

Credit union

TD canada Trust

Alberta Treasury Branch

9,194 Views
Message 14 of 49
Report

@TDTB, I'm sorry I should have been a little more clear. Card brands would be Master Card, Visa, American Express, and JCB for example. Those look to be the card issuers, which are banks credit unions, and credit card companies. 

9,194 Views
Message 15 of 49
Report

Once again...DEBIT- Bank Card. Credit Cards are not a problem.

9,189 Views
Message 16 of 49
Report

Yes, I understand that Debit Bank cards are what's giving you trouble. You mentioned that you received an error message that the card brand was not supported. This is why I asked the brands of the cards that you're using. Currently, Square can only accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, and JCB logos. Currently this reader only accepts INTERAC Flash enabled debit cards for debit transactions. Did any of these cards have a different brand? 

9,185 Views
Message 17 of 49
Report

They are Interact Flash and chip enabled. 

9,181 Views
Message 18 of 49
Report

Hey @TDTB, I've done some talking with our Support Team and we came to an agreement that somethings up with the reader you have. Let's get a warranty started so our Hardware Team can take a look at the reader you have and we will send you a new one. 

 

 

9,175 Views
Message 19 of 49
Report

Hey!  

 

This is also happening with our reader we just received!

 

We are located in canada and everything works except debit!

 

Yvette

9,163 Views
Message 20 of 49
Report
Admin

Sorry to hear about the trouble @marvette! Have you confirmed that the debit card your customer is using is on our list of accepted cards

 

Keep in mind when you're using the new reader to accept debit payments using tap you must select "Contactless" in the Square app, and then have your customer tap to complete payment. 

️ Helen
Seller Community Manager

Did you find help in the Seller Community? Mark a Best Answer to help others.
8,561 Views
Message 21 of 49
Report