ServiceDesk 4.5.27 Update 06/21/11

Y'all can thank Perry at A-1 Appliance, in Pearl, Mississippi, for this one.  Debit cards (as distinguished from "Credit" cards) are becoming increasingly common.  Our Virtual Terminal has been programmed to process sales as Credit-Typetransactions, even if a Debit card is what's actually involved.  In some instances, it's preferable to have the sale configured as Debit-Type instead, and from this release forward you can do that. 

Of course, one of the critical elements in making a Debit-Type transaction fit the definition is that a PIN (Personal Identification Number) must be obtained from the customer.  More than merely obtained, it must be punched in via an accepted PinPad entry machine (in other words, it is not possible to simply punch-in the number on your computer's keyboard; the credit card industry does not permit that).  This means, bottom-line, if you want to run transactions as Debit-Type you must do more than merely update to this release (or later) of ServiceDesk: you also need an appropriate PinPad entry device. 

Which particular device do you need?

In a nutshell, I have done my programming to integrate with a Verifone PINPad 1000SE, with it connecting to the computer via serial port).  So far as I know, it's possible other PinPad devices might also work (at least assuming they also connect via serial port), but I make no guarantee; nor have I any present intent to expand the programming to accommodate other machines.  Regardless, you may obtain the Verifone model in question direct from Merchant Warehouse at a reasonable price ($79). 

Once you have your device, you'll need to determine what port number it's connecting on.  With that number in mind, click on the Virtual Terminal's new Setup button:

That will open the new Setup frame, where you can set that port number accordingly. 

With the above done, you should be ready to do Debit transactions.  At this point, we've not provided a special button for the purpose.  Instead, please signify you're choosing the Debit (as opposed to Credit) method by choosing to Right-Click on the Execute Sale button, as opposed to the standard Left-Click.  If you float your mousepointer over, a tooltip will remind you: 

Please note that you cannot run a keyed-in transaction as Debit-Type.  It requires a swipe.