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Mobile Card Reader - Setup and Use
Mobile Card Reader - Setup and Use

Follow these simple steps to setup and use your card reader in the field.

Randy Soderman avatar
Written by Randy Soderman
Updated over 7 months ago

Enjoying even lower rates when you use the Servgrow card reader to accept debit and credit payments in person.

Current fees using the card reader are 2.7% +.5 cents a transaction

The Servgrow card reader allows you to quickly, easily, and securely take cards in person using the mobile app. Since this is a card-present transaction, we are able to lower fees for the transactions you process through Servgrow Payments using the card reader. The card reader accepts credit cards (swipe, tap, and chip), Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

The card reader pairs with the Servgrow app and can be used to collect invoice payments.

All cards processed through Servgrow and Stripe undergo disk encryption using AES-256. The corresponding decryption keys are maintained on an independent device. Consequently, the moment a customer's card is scanned through the Servgrow mobile app or entered into the Servgrow web portal, it becomes safeguarded and inaccessible to the user.

A Stripe M2 Card Reader is required and must be ordered via Stripe. If you have not ordered your card reader, you'll need to do that first. Go here for more information on ordering your Stripe M2 Card Reader.

Part 1: Setting up and Using the Servgrow Mobile Card Reader

When you first receive your mobile card reader:

  1. Fully charge the card reader: Connect the charging cable to the reader and charge it for two hours before initial use. Please use the charging cable provided in the reader box.

  2. Update your card reader’s firmware (if needed): This will happen after 1st attempting to take payment in the field. See taking a payment in the field steps.

Note: Do NOT connect the card reader through the phone’s bluetooth settings, instead please connect through your Servgrow app.

Taking a payment in the field

  1. Press the power button to turn on the reader. You will see the first LED light turn on, indicating the reader is ready for payment.

  2. Tap the Pay button on the invoice detail page.

  3. Select ‘credit card’ as payment type.

  4. Tap the Card Reader button. The system will immediately begin to search for the card reader. When prompted, please click `Pair`

Run the Card: You will then be prompted to swipe, insert, or tap the card using the reader.

  • If your customer would like to pay using a phone app (i.e. Apple Pay, Chase Pay, etc.), have them hold their phone close to the reader and their payment app should pop up and allow them to proceed with that payment method.

  • If you’ve inserted the card to the reader, wait to remove the card until the app prompts you to do so.

Once payment is complete, you will see the green Payment Complete screen confirming!

If you have any further questions or are experiencing any issues with a payment going through, please chat in through the blue bubble and we can help troubleshoot!

Additionally, you can read our FAQ article for common error messages you may see.

*Please note, the card reader is only available in the US. It is not available to our Canadian pros.

Part 2: Card Reader - What do the lights mean?

Get familiar with the various lights on your card reader and what they indicate.

When your Bluetooth card reader is powered on, the LED lights situated on its top display the current status of the reader.

Status Indicators

Each time the M2 Card Reader is activated, the LED lights on its top reflect the reader's ongoing status with Servgrow.

Light

Meaning

None

The reader is off

First LED ON

Ready for payment

LEDs ON in consecutive order

Reading card information

4 LEDs ON + “BEEP”

Card read successful

First LED flashing

Reader is in standby mode

Battery Lights

Part 3: Card Reader - How to Troubleshoot

If you've inadvertently connected your card reader through your device's Bluetooth settings, use these instructions to correct the issue.

The proper method and only way you will ever need to connect your card reader to your phone involves selecting ‘Pay’, then ‘Use Card Reader’, and finally ‘Pair’ when processing a payment on an invoice within the Servgrow mobile app.

You DO NOT connect the readers via your phone’s Bluetooth settings.

Ensure everyone in your company with a card reader is informed not to use the device’s Bluetooth settings for connections to avoid potential problems.

If you have mistakenly paired via your device’s Bluetooth, here's how to remedy the situation:

  1. Access your mobile device’s Bluetooth settings.

  2. From the list of paired Bluetooth devices, identify the reader you've synced with.

  3. Tap the [i] icon found on the same line, to the right.

  4. Choose 'Forget This Device'.

  5. Confirm by selecting 'Forget This Device' again when the pop-up appears at the bottom.

Next, launch the Servgrow app:

  1. Open any invoice.

  2. Select 'Pay'.

  3. Choose 'Credit card'.

  4. Pick 'Use Card Reader'.

  5. Tap ‘Pair’ and wait for the reader to establish the connection.

NOTE: Allow up to 30 seconds for the reader to connect. Once a connection is established and it prompts for the card, you may cancel the process unless you want to proceed with the payment.

If you're facing challenges setting up your Card Reader on iOS, head to your device settings, find the Servgrow app, and make sure the Bluetooth toggle is active. Then, try the card reader once more.

After executing the above steps, your connection should be smooth and swift. If the issue persists, please reach out to our chat support for additional guidance.

Part 4: Card Reader FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding the Servgrow card readers.

How can I obtain my own card reader?

Go here for more information on ordering your Stripe M2 Card Reader.

Does the card reader support iPads?

Absolutely! The card readers are compatible with iOS.

Can I use the reader with my Android phone or Android Tablet?

Certainly! Card readers are designed to work with Android devices.

I'm based in Canada, is the card reader compatible here?

Currently, card readers are not available for use in Canada.

Is it possible to use one card reader with both my iPhone/iPad and Android device?

Yes, indeed! The card reader functions seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices.

How durable is the card reader's battery?

We advise charging your card reader fully before its first use. When charged completely, it should sustain up to a thousand swipes or chip reads. The device will automatically power down after remaining inactive for some time. However, we do recommend regular charging to ensure it's always ready for use. It's always good to be prepared!

I got a BBPOS or M2 card reader from another vendor; can I use it with Servgrow?

At the moment, only card readers procured through Servgrow are compatible with our app.

I can't find the card reader button. Where is it?

If you can't locate the 'Use Card Reader' option in the mobile app, please get in touch via the chat widget.

Still have questions? Start a Chat!

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