Does Square accept credit cards that require pins?

[babcc]

I (naively) assumed that Square would prompt for a PIN for any credit card issuer that requires it. We received notice of a dispute involving a credit card with a PIN and clearly we were not in compliance. I can't find any direct answers to the question on the forums. 

Does anyone know if Square properly prompts for a PIN if a credit card issuer requires it?

[Summer2024 · Accepted solution]

Hi, @babcc ! 

In the U.S., Square’s hardware doesn’t actually support PIN entry for credit card transactions, even if the card issuer normally requires a PIN. Most credit cards here are chip-and-signature, so Square just runs them that way by default.

Debit cards are different though. Square does handle PIN debit transactions. So if someone inserts their debit card, they’ll get prompted for a PIN if needed. But for a true chip-and-PIN credit card, Square still treats it like a signature transaction, which can sometimes cause issues if the card issuer expects a PIN.

It’s frustrating, I know. The only real workaround is to have the customer use a different card or payment method if they’re trying to use a credit card that’s PIN-only. Or just be aware that there’s a bit of extra risk of a dispute in those rare cases.

I hope this helps.