What are offline card payments? How terminals work without a connection
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
An offline card payment is one a terminal accepts without contacting the card issuer at that moment. The terminal stores the payment and sends it for approval once it is back online. This is often called store-and-forward.
How it works
- The terminal can't reach the network, so it switches to offline mode.
- It runs checks it can do on its own, such as reading the card chip.
- It saves the payment and gives the customer a receipt.
- When the connection returns, it sends the saved payments for approval.
The risk
Because the issuer hasn't approved the payment at the time, it can be declined later, for example if the card was blocked or the account was empty. The merchant usually bears that loss. This is why many providers cap offline payments with a floor limit per transaction and a total limit before the terminal must reconnect.
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Where it is used
Offline mode helps at markets, festivals, on trains and planes, and anywhere signal is patchy. Not every provider offers it, and the rules and limits vary, so check with your card machine provider.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay doesn't offer card machines or acquiring. SendPay platforms let you get paid with payment links, invoices and subscriptions, alongside GBP, EUR and USD accounts and branded Visa cards, powered by licensed partners.
How it works
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- 2Choose what it does
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SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
What does a card machine really cost?
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The chip standard that lets cards be checked securely at a terminal.
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Contactless →What is a POS system?
The tills, card readers and software a shop uses to take payments.
POS systems →Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.