# What is the portable bank card reader called where you live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 26, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227 "2018-03-26T21:56:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/81 "2018-03-28T19:03:22Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That only works with credit cards, not debit cards since the funds instantly come out of my bank account. Well, at least that’s how it works here and has for eons. Which means that any institution that has this kind of post-receipt tip is running the card as a credit transaction. As is verified by the fact that I’ve never entered a debit card PIN for a restaurant transaction where the card is taken away by the server to the terminal, swiped, and signed later. Trust me. Any debit instrument used in the current US retail environment can be run as a credit transaction, in order to support credit-style transaction protocols. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/82 "2018-03-28T19:06:41Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > YES! > > ETA: Or smart phone. Screw that noise. I’d rather have [full authority over my phone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)), and if that [invalidates it for financial transactions](https://www.howtogeek.com/241012/safetynet-explained-why-android-pay-and-other-apps-dont-work-on-rooted-devices/), whatever. The status quo works well enough. I have come to believe that the fact it puzzles Canadians and Europeans to be a bonus, not a liability. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/83 "2018-03-28T19:51:12Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Screw that noise. I’d rather have [full authority over my phone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)), and if that [invalidates it for financial transactions](https://www.howtogeek.com/241012/safetynet-explained-why-android-pay-and-other-apps-dont-work-on-rooted-devices/), whatever. > > The status quo works well enough. I have come to believe that the fact it puzzles Canadians and Europeans to be a bonus, not a liability. 😃 Paying by smartphone works in Canada through your bank’s secure and guaranteed mobile app. It does not work on rooted phones. The status quo may work fine for you in the US but it puzzles us because it’s different from what we’re used to. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/84 "2018-03-28T19:52:46Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Mentioned here: > [Home - Interac](http://interac.ca/en/co-badged-cards.html) Thanks for that information. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/85 "2018-03-28T21:21:42Z")
I have a square mag stripe reader in a drawer somewhere. When it was first introduced one of the target markets was being able to accept credit/debit payments from your friends (e.g. to “square up” after a group night out). The reader was free and the fees are somewhat reasonable for that purpose (I recall 2.75% of a swiped transaction). I don’t think I’ve ever used it. The EMV/tap reader was something like $10 so I passed. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/86 "2018-03-28T22:19:23Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > The only time I’ve ever encountered them was on a trip to Canada. They don’t seem to have made it here in the States yet, not that I’ve seen. So I think you guys get naming dibs! Seconded. I didn’t like that they stand there watching while you choose a tip. Here you get the receipt back and add the tip in private. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/87 "2018-03-28T23:10:50Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Seconded. I didn’t like that they stand there watching while you choose a tip. Here you get the receipt back and add the tip in private. I’m not sure why that would bother you. No one is twisting your arm. Tip according to the service with a clean conscience. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/88 "2018-03-29T00:06:12Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Seconded. I didn’t like that they stand there watching while you choose a tip. Here you get the receipt back and add the tip in private. While the waiter making 5.65 an hour took a picture of the front and back of your card for later hijinks… ---
**Author:** ![Sofrito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sofrito/32/510_2.png) [@Sofrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofrito)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227/89 "2018-03-29T21:29:05Z")
In Mexico they are called “terminal”, short for “terminal de punto de venta”, or “point of sale terminal”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-portable-bank-card-reader-called-where-you-live/811227.md?page=4)