--- title: "Credit Card Readers: 6 Things to Avoid" description: In the market for credit card readers? Get familiar with these six things to absolutely avoid. image: https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-readers.svg --- [tel:1-800-601-0230](tel:1-800-601-0230) 800-601-0230 - Features - Solutions - Developers - [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) - Resources [See a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/tour-payjunction) Features - EXPLORE PRODUCTS [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) - ACCEPT PAYMENTS [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH Electronic Checks](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - EXPLORE CAPABILITIES [Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integration Marketplace](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Remote Signature](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) Solutions - [Veterinary Streamline payment workflows and get paid faster with up-front deposits and payment schedules for high-cost procedures. 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Despite looking similar, they vary greatly in features, business benefits and cost. Before investing in credit card readers, you should have a thorough understanding of them. Most importantly, you should be aware of the red flags to look for when shopping to ensure you’re purchasing readers that will be a long-term investment for your business. Below, we discuss six things to absolutely avoid when shopping for credit card readers. ## Credit Card Readers: Red Flags to Look For 1. **No EMV certification**: With the majority of cardholders now having EMV-chip cards in their wallets, you’d imagine that non-EMV certified credit card readers would be a rarity, right? Wrong. Non-EMV certified readers is still a reality for many providers in the payments space. [EMV certification](https://blog.payjunction.com/emv-terminal-certification-explained/) is a must, as it enables your business to properly process chip cards and protects your business from [bank-initiated chargebacks](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-chargeback-banks/). 2. **Middleware and native software**: If the credit card reader you’re eyeing communicates with a point-of-sale (POS) system, ensure the POS doesn’t run on native software nor requires middleware to communicate with it. These types of softwares put your business within [PCI scope](https://blog.payjunction.com/pci-scope-defined/), subjecting your business to annual PCI audits and quarterly software scans, which can cost your business a pretty penny. 3. **Slow EMV processing**: Proper EMV acceptance eliminates the issues mentioned above, but if it’s a slow system, it creates another problem: [bottleneck](https://blog.payjunction.com/bottleneck-effect-in-business/). The [type of software](https://blog.payjunction.com/emv-middleware-slows-processing-speeds/) used can contribute to slow EMV processing speeds, but the quality of engineering behind the credit card readers can also contribute to the lag time. [Compare processing speeds](https://blog.payjunction.com/card-reader-speeds-emv/) when vetting credit card reader options for your business. 4. **Cashier facing**: There are [five good reasons](https://blog.payjunction.com/customer-facing-terminal-benefits/) to avoid a cashier-facing credit card reader, and they mostly tie into the future of payments. With chip and PIN on the rise, it’ll only be a matter of time until you are forced to upgrade your equipment or required to add a PIN pad to your payment system. Invest in a customer-facing terminal today so you’re prepared for the future and can save money in the process. 5. **Strict signature options**: [Historically](https://blog.payjunction.com/evolution-credit-card-authorization/), signatures have been critical to processing credit cards. Now, with the introduction of EMV and advanced technologies, a hard requirement for a signature doesn’t always apply. But eliminating the option to get a signature isn’t quite the way to go, either. Avoid credit card readers with limited signature options, as a signature will still be needed in [certain payment scenarios](https://blog.payjunction.com/process-credit-card-payments-signature/). 6. **Limited acceptance**: Not only is EMV acceptance a must with credit card readers, but so is the ability to process NFC mobile payments with devices like iPhones, Apple Watches and even [Fitbits](https://blog.payjunction.com/fitbit-pay/). Projections show NFC mobile payments only increasing, and by 2020, it’s anticipated that in-store mobile payments in the U.S. will [surpass $314 billion](https://www.statista.com/statistics/461512/nfc-mobile-payment-users-worldwide/). Failing to allow customers to pay with NFC devices can limit business and success with modern customers and in the coming years. Shopping for credit card readers shouldn’t be a single-day task. Make use of buyer guides and demonstrations to determine the best reader for your business. Consult professionals for second opinions and verification of payment-industry related information you may not understand. Making a choice on credit card readers shouldn’t be taken lightly as it can have serious implications for your business’s success and security if done quickly without thorough scrutiny. ## Want more advice on credit card readers? [![READ OUR BUYER'S GUIDE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/635739/2701b433-f0d7-4a8e-837d-c58c1b3e834e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/635739/2701b433-f0d7-4a8e-837d-c58c1b3e834e) Do your credit card readers have any of the red flags we’ve listed above? Tell us how these issues have impacted your business in the comments section below. *Editor's Note: This post was originally published in June 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.* [EMV](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/emv) [NFC](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/nfc) [Enterprise Business](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/enterprise-business) --- ##### [![Visa Requires Online Refunds](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/visa-online-refunds.svg) Visa Requires Online Refunds](https://blog.payjunction.com/visa-online-refunds) ##### [![Understanding Retailer Credit Card Processing and How It Can Help Your Business](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/retailer-credit-card-processing.svg) Understanding Retailer Credit Card Processing and How It Can Help Your Business](https://blog.payjunction.com/retailer-credit-card-processing) ###### About Author ![Picture of Ursula Librizzi](https://blog.payjunction.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ursula_Librizzi.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=Ursula_Librizzi.jpg) ### Ursula Librizzi Ursula is the sales and marketing operations manager for PayJunction. She oversees daily marketing tasks and liaises between the sales and marketing departments. ###### Related Posts ## [![POS Credit Card Terminal: The Advanced Shopping Guide](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-terminal-guide.svg) POS Credit Card Terminal: The Advanced Shopping Guide Investing in a POS credit card terminal carries obvious benefits. A combined 75 percent of consumers prefer to shop with a credit or debit card, so accepting credit cards opens your business up to a wider market than businesses that only accept cash. Some modern credit card terminals can also process alternative forms of payment, such as mobile payments. One downside is that researching credit card processing terminals can be daunting. What do you really need to know about EMV, NFC and PCI DSS?](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-terminal-guide) ## [![Best Credit Card Machine: 5 Features to Meet Your Needs](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/best-credit-card-machine.svg) Best Credit Card Machine: 5 Features to Meet Your Needs With so many credit card machines on the market, choosing an option that will work best for your needs may seem like a tough task. From security features that reduce the risk of fraud and costly chargebacks to Smart Terminals that accept a variety of payment types and may be more environmentally friendly to boot, there’s a lot for businesses to sort through to find the best credit card machine.](https://blog.payjunction.com/best-credit-card-machine) ## [![How to Make Your Veterinary Checkout Process a Breeze](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/veterinary-checkout-process.svg) How to Make Your Veterinary Checkout Process a Breeze Managing the front office of a veterinary clinic can quickly turn into a zoo (pun intended). You may have clients and patients waiting to check in, some waiting to be seen, and others wishing to check out after a checkup or procedure.](https://blog.payjunction.com/veterinary-checkout-process) ## Meet a Payment System You’ll Love - ###### FEATURES [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) - [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) [Remote Signatures](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) - ###### RESOURCES [Product Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Blog](https://blog.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Support](https://support.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) - [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) - ###### RESOURCES [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) ##### 800-601-0230 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER  Become a better advocate for your business. 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