POS (point of sale) systems, have been extremely relevant when it comes to technological advancements in FinTech. The reason being the large scale adoption of cash alternatives, most especially for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) whose customers transact with small and relatively large sums.
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With current cloud features, POS systems have become relatively easy to use for both merchants and consumers. Buying and selling of goods and services have never been easier; whether you’re at parks, eateries, restaurants, boutiques, gyms, consultation appointments, or even your corner stores.
Despite all the progress made on this front, we still have situations where we have issues.
They’re still prone to fraud, theft, and Payment disputes. Other issues such as reclaiming guarantee on products purchased or services acquired, debit without alerts due to network issues between the terminal and acquiring server.
Because of these, anyone would have good reason to track the Location, POS owners’ name, time of transactions, and items purchased.
So how do you go about this?
How to Track POS Transactions – The Steps
Step 1: Visit your bank or contact your bank customer care.
For the majority of fraud-related issues, it is best to contact your Bank rather than unknown third party entities, as this ensures the safety and protection of your information. Other people may take advantage of the situation to either mislead you, dupe you, erase proof or lead you further down the line.
Step 2: Explain the context of the situation.
Be entirely truthful about how the entire transaction or charge came to be. If it was an overcharge on a product, being charged twice for the same product, if you never purchased anything but got charged anyways, or if you suspect that it may be a fraudulent transaction.
Step 3: Provide proof (of payment or charge).
Often, if enabled, for every charge on your debit/credit card you get some form of feedback, either via mail or text, usually automated. This mail or text contains solid information as to when, where, and how the transaction took place.
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Step 4: Tracked through debit details.
These details, as highlighted above, in this particular format;
Amount (3000) deducted at “AvivaI Restaurant” and the balance amount is (11,490) or something close.
Other times, it may come in this format;
Acct no: 1XXXXXXXXXX1
DT:11/11/2020:4:22:00PM (Indicating date and time of the transaction)
MC Loc POS Prch-605108078181–E-SET (POS identification number and location)
DR Amt:3,000.00 (Amount debited)
Bal:11,490
REF:1190882962 (Transaction reference number)
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Use this as proof if the transaction was done without your authorization, but it is important to know that whoever carried out this transaction knew what your PIN was, so the perpetrator may be closer to home than you think.
This can be used to track down wherever it was done, and whoever did it, if the merchant kept proper records.
If it’s for an overcharge or refund, you can get your money back as long as you have the receipt and have a genuine reason.
Read also: Zenith Bank POS Agent: How to Become One
Step 5: Bank contacts merchant.
For POS systems, the payment gateway works bank to bank. Also, each POS is associated with a registered company. It requires account transfer (To and Fro) and server validation. This way, data such as time, date, transaction number, phone numbers, email address, transfer location.
The bank or issuing card authority can then reverse the payment based on the card holder’s request if the request is a valid one.
For merchants.
Most POS systems are assumed to have met global industry standards before use.
Examples of such standards are: Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA DSS); Payment Card Industry Pin Entry Device (PCI PED); Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard PCI DSS; Data Encryption Standards (Triple DES).
Also, the hardware and infrastructure must comply with the minimum EMV requirements. The reason for this?
Fraud can be easily curbed or traced. Also serves as an efficiency check.
It is important as a merchant to realize that you will be held accountable for fraud with the card (transactions) arising from its negligence, collaboration with fraudsters, among others.
So, it is highly important for both the hardware and software to undergo routine checks for lapses or irregularities. Examples of issues to look out for are connectivity issues, inaccurate reporting and documentation, and security.
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