What is a manual card entry?¶

Manual card entry occurs when card details are keyed into a terminal or payment system rather than read automatically from the chip, stripe or contactless interface.

Avoid this assumption: Manual entry proves either that the physical card was absent or that the merchant acted improperly.

A merchant may enter details manually where the card cannot be read, during telephone orders or under a permitted fallback process.

The transaction may use the card number, expiry date and other verification information.

Relevant records may show the entry mode, merchant, terminal, amount, time, authorisation result and whether security checks were completed.

Manual entry can increase risk because copied card details may be used without presenting the genuine card.

But the record alone does not show how the merchant obtained the details or who supplied them.

Ask the merchant why manual entry was used, who processed the payment and what supporting order, receipt or customer records exist.

Ask the issuer or processor what verification checks applied and whether the activity differed from the cardholder’s normal pattern.

Preserve the entry-mode indicator, transaction reference, merchant and terminal identifiers, verification results and any associated invoice or order number.

Compare the payment with communications, CCTV, delivery information and device or account evidence.

Do not confuse manual terminal entry with an ordinary online card payment. The systems may classify them differently.

When reporting, state that card details were manually entered into the payment process unless the evidence establishes the reason and user.

Operational takeaway¶

Treat manual card entry as evidence of how the details were submitted, and investigate who supplied them, why manual entry was used and what was obtained.