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Introduction to PIN Pads (UK and Ireland)

Niall Palmer
Niall Palmer
  • Updated

PIN Pads (also known as Chip & PIN machines or PEDs/peds) are devices that enable you to take payment by Credit and Debit Card in the box office.

This article offers an overview of how PIN Pads work with Spektrix and helps you purchase them for your organisation.

Finally, you’ll find links to Support Centre articles to help you set up, install and configure PIN Pads, as well as information on where to look for troubleshooting help.

This article is for users in the UK and Ireland. Users in the US should refer to our Introduction to Chip Readers (US Only). Canadian clients do not currently use integrated PIN Pads/Chip Readers with Spektrix.

 

How PIN Pads work with Spektrix

PIN Pads connect to Spektrix through the Spektrix Box Office App. The Box Office App is a piece of software which allows Spektrix to communicate with hardware such as PIN Pads and Ticket Printers.

You’ll need to install the Box Office App on every PC to which you plan to connect a PIN Pad.

Spektrix only works with integrated PIN Pads. These differ from some PIN Pads you may use elsewhere in your organisation.

Integrated payments are processed directly through Spektrix and sent to your MyOpayo portal (formerly MySagePay). These are then forwarded automatically to your merchant bank account. This differs from other payment methods (e.g. cash, cheque, BACS etc) which are not integrated and are processed outside of Spektrix.

In practical terms, this means that you need to use a specific type of PIN Pad with Spektrix.

Spektrix currently integrates with the Verifone P400 and VX820 PIN Pad models using Opayo (formerly SagePay) as the Payment Service Provider (PSP).

WARNING: The Verifone VX820 PIN Pad can still be used but is no longer available to purchase. It will cease to be PCI compliant after the 31st December 2025. You can continue to use VX820 PIN Pads but you must replace them with the Verifone P400 before 31st Dec 2025 to meet PCI Compliance requirements.

 

How to order a PIN Pad

Spektrix uses the Verifone P400 integrated PIN Pad, provided by Opayo (formerly Sagepay).

For more information on the Verifone P400, including how to order these PIN Pads, read Ordering a PIN Pad (UK and Ireland).

 

How to set up a PIN Pad

PIN Pads need to be set up and configured before they can be used to take payments. This involves downloading and installing software to each PC to which you’ll connect your PIN Pad.

For full details of how to set up a P400 or VX820, including where to find the required software, read the following articles:

 

Troubleshooting PIN Pads

If you encounter any difficulty setting up or using your PIN Pad, you’ll find help in the following articles:

 

Further information

You may find these other hardware articles helpful: