What would cause Square to request Credit Card PIN?

[TPD]

Does SquareUp have some sort of conditions that have to be met before it asks for a PIN from customer?

As it stands my company has been with SquareUp since it's early days in Canada. I usually process credit cards payment via the Online Terminal, since the company I run is a Plumbing Contracting company.

Lately I started using a SquareUp Contactless Reader which I have gotten long time back, when it came out. But today I was met with something interesting. I had (4) customers total for the day.

Out of the (4) customers, (2) customers credit cards where charged via the Square Up App for iOS (on my iPhone 6S, iOS 13.1) as I didn't have the reader and did not want to go back to the truck to grab it. 

However, (2) other customers I had the Contactless Reader I had the App ask for Customers Credit Card PIN twice and this was in a row. So the (2) last customers where both promoted to enter their PIN codes. 

Does anyone know what may have caused this? I never had this issue, and now I'm bit scared since at times the customer provides their credit card details over the phone when we do work on their rental property, other times customers leave their cards with family member or authorized person that has their permission to authorize and pay for all work our company does.

In both cases the PIN isn't and option when the card isn't present. This makes me wonder. Under this circumstances that would potentially block me from getting paid? 

Edit: Tested on my own credit cards and I'm being forced to enter PIN. What gives? Never had this with Contactless reader, all started today Sep 24, 2019.

[ashc]

Hi @TPD!

If it's requesting a pin, it's usually because of the bank and their security settings.

You can give your bank a call since you tested your own card and ask them if a pin is enabled/required for the payments with us to be processed.

It's possible the banks there could of changed their regulations for card payments as well to require them but could vary bank to bank. 

Additional verification is usually requested when it's done by tap with credit. 

[TPD]

I spoke with SquareUp Customer Support, in part this seem's normal and my account isn't flagged. Unfortunately this in some cases would lead me to "manually" enter the card and process it that way as at times the Card Owner isn't around, but have entrusted their card to Family or a Friend to make the payment for the services.

I personally don't mind this, as it's no different than most standard Wireless POS Terminals used by other companies. 

As far as tap goes, I don't sadly have anything that's under $100 CAD, as such card can't be tapped. 

Out of curiosity can Square process Debit Master Card or Debit Cards with the Contactless reader? Since it's asking for PIN it should be able to charge funds from Debit Master Card.

Since if customer bill comes up to $500 for example, tapping Debit 5 cards is annoying plus I will have to keep re-entering the data into the App. 

[ashc]

@TPD Unfortunately debit cards of all brands can only be tapped still on the Contactless + Chip reader which would mean they'd have a $100 limit so that wouldn't work for your business.

Our new Terminal we offer in Canada does have full Interac acceptance with no limits though for debit if you're ever looking to upgrade. 

[TPD]

Yeah. The Tap won't work on Credit Cards or Debit Credit Cards over $100. 

Also, are you referring to this: https://squareup.com/shop/hardware/ca/en/products/terminal-credit-card-machine-ca

Since I operate "on the go" business and go to the customers. My only option would boil down to creating a Mobile Hotspot on my iPhone 6S and then using the Terminal? Or does the Terminal have Bluetooth connectivity option similar to how this one works: https://squareup.com/shop/hardware/ca/en/products/chip-card-reader-with-nfc-ca

Would you be able to give me some more info on the Terminal? Since the current Shop page has rather vague information. 

Does the new Terminal operate like every other POS out there that's used by Contractors to Pizza Delivery? So it's going to accept Debits and charge the Debit up-to the customers predefined daily debit transaction limit. Is that the correct idea?

[ashc]

@TPD You're correct. The Terminal would require a hotspot or some sort of internet connection to process chipped cards. 

The Terminal has the same Point of Sale app built into it that you're used to! It doesn't have capabilities for our additional services on it such as Appointments though.

It has full acceptance for credit and debit cards so you can insert the debit cards into it instead of tap and doesn't have that $100 limit. It would have Square's normal limit of $50,000 per transaction.