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Looking for help with PayPal Here Card Reader v.2 ?

How to use PayPal Here videos

Pairing the card reader via Bluetooth

How to connect the PayPal Here card reader with your mobile device using Bluetooth

Taking Chip and PIN payments (iPhone)

Start accepting payments using the PayPal Here reader and your iPhone

Taking Chip and PIN payments (Android phone)

How to take payments with your Android phone

Taking Chip and PIN payments (iPad)

How to take accept payments with your iPad

Taking Chip and PIN payments (Android tablet)

How to take payments with your Android tablet

Getting started

It's easy to get started with PayPal Here, all you'll need is the PayPal Here app, a mobile phone or tablet with 3G or WIFI connection (see below for device compatibility ) and the PayPal Here Chip and PIN card reader.

Sign up for PayPal Here online or simply download the free PayPal Here app and set up your account – you can order the card reader at the same time.

Please note that PayPal Here is only available for UK residents. Use of the PayPal Here card reader is subject to application approval. See full terms and conditions.

You can order your card reader online now or by tapping the menu icon in your app > Card Readers > Order a New Reader.

Once you've purchased the reader, it should take 2-3 working days to arrive. You can return your reader free of charge within 30 days if you’re not satisfied. New readers have a one year warranty period.

Terms and conditions

new readers one year warranty
device image your card reader
Ordering your card reader through the app

You can login to your account using your email address and password or you can set up a PIN and login using your mobile number.

On the Iogin screen, tap on the settings icon to select your preferred login method.

To set a PIN for mobile number login, go to your PayPal account online, then “Profile & Settings”. Then, in ‘Phone’ settings, choose ‘Update’, and you can set or change your PIN.

device image login screen

The PayPal Here app is available for iPhone, iPad and selected Android tablets and phones. To process transactions, your device must be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or by mobile data.

  • iOS devices (iPhone 3GS and later) running iOS version 7.0 and later

  • iPad devices running iOS version 7.0 and later

  • Android devices running 4.0 or later, Bluetooth 2.0 (or higher) and support both capturing devices and peripheral card readers via Serial Port profile (SPP).

At the moment the card reader is NOT compatible with the following Android devices.


PayPal Here is currently not available for Windows devices.

Please note that PayPal cannot guarantee that all PayPal Here card reader features will work with all phone models. This is because changes to settings and protocols made by phone manufacturers and mobile carriers are outside of PayPal’s control.

About the card reader

The PayPal Here Chip and PIN card reader is an easy to use, quick and secure way to process payments on the go.

To switch the card reader on, press the ON/Off (power) button located on the left-hand side of the reader, once. A solid green light indicates it’s on.

To switch the card reader off, press and hold the power button for three seconds. Once off, the card reader will not react to any key presses (except the power button).

To place the card reader on stand-by mode, first minimise the app, then press the power button once. In stand-by mode, the card reader's power consumption is very low and its Bluetooth connection is off.

To wake the card reader from sleep mode, press any key on thekeypad. The card reader will be ready to use within a few seconds.

old device image

The card reader is fitted with an internal rechargeable battery that cannot be removed or replaced.

Before using your card reader for the first time, we recommend you charge its battery for at least 3 hours. You can do this by connecting a USB cable from the micro-USB port on the side of the card reader to your computer or any USB plug adaptor.

When charging the device by connecting it with a laptop via the USB cable, make sure that the laptop is connected to a power source, otherwise the device will not charge.

Once fully charged, your reader should last up to 7 days (on standby) or up to 100 transactions.

charging card reader

There are 2 ways of checking the battery life of the card reader:

If the card reader's triangular light is permanently red, the card reader has a low battery and should be charged as soon as possible.

checking battery life

When you are not taking payments, save battery by placing the app on standy.

Here’s how:

When you’re ready to take payments again, open up the app then press any button on the card reader - it should reconnect within seconds.

If you are not planning to use the card reader for a while, we recommend you to turn it off. You can turn off the card reader completely by pressing the power button for 5 seconds.

To pair your PayPal Here card reader with your mobile device for the first time, follow these steps:

TIP: To ensure auto-connect works, make sure the card reader is on and the Bluetooth light is on before you open the app.

faring care mobile tipBluetooth not picking up card reader?
  • Hold down the SYNC button until the Bluetooth light is blinking quickly

  • Make sure the reader is charged by connecting the USB cable

  • Go into your Bluetooth settings and remove the card reader from your list. Then run through steps 1-4 again.

Taking payments

With PayPal Here, you can offer customers more ways to pay. Accept debit and credit cards.

Please read the PayPal Here Agreement

To enter a new sale:

iPhone and Android

To review items in your cart, tap the total amount and you will see an itemised list plus any applied tax or discounts.

iPad users only

device image calculated item
Entering an amount
item order number
Entering item from product list

To save an item to your product list, tap the menu icon, then tap Manage Items. Tap the + sign to add a new item

To add a new product from the cart screen, you can tap the edit icon then tap the + sign

You can enter the item's price and description, add an optional picture and/or an associated VAT rate

creating product list

Accept Chip and PIN payments anywhere with your PayPal Here card reader and app. Make sure you’ve paired your card reader with your mobile device and you’re ready to take payments.

Here’s how to process a Chip and PIN card payment:

If you are unsure whether or not a payment has gone through, tap the menu icon then tap Sales Activity. You will see a list of recent transactions, or you can tap Sales History to see older transactions.

Customers with signature-only cards can make a payment by providing their signature on the screen of your device.

Here's how to process a signature payment:

Note: There is a charge of 3.40% + 20p for card payments made by swiping the magnetic stripe

takepayments-swipe

You can add or create new items by using the iPad’s camera to scan barcodes.

takepayments-barcode

PayPal Here provides an easy way to keep track of any cash or cheque payments your customers make.

Here's how to record a cash or cheque payment with your PayPal Here app:

Note: PayPal does not process cash or cheque payments - the PayPal Here app only provides a facility for recording your cash or cheque payments. There is no fee for recording these types of payments. You will need to independently process any cheques with your bank.

takepayments-cash

PayPal Here lets you issue invoices straight from the app - anywhere you do business.

Here's how to issue an invoice with your PayPal Here app:

Note: the fees applied depend on how your customer pays the invoice.

PayPal Here lets you send receipts to your customers by email or SMS for all sales, refunds and cancelled sales. If your customer has lost their receipt, you can easily reissue a receipt at any time.

Here's how to reissue a receipt:

You'll be shown an option to Save customer information. This information will display in your Sales history.

PayPal Here is also compatible with selected printers to enable you to print reciepts. View list of compatible printers

takepayments-receipt

You can issue full or partial refunds for any card or PayPal check-in payment.

Here's how to issue a refund:

Note: Fees apply to refund transactions where there is an additional PayPal fee.

takepayments-refunds

If you plan to offer discounts on any of your products or services, PayPal Here can make the calculations automatically.

To get started, you'll need to turn on the discounts feature:

[For iPhone and Android users] Tap the menu icon then tap Settings and turn Discount ON. Now you can apply a discount to any sale.

Here's how:

[iPad users only] Tap the Settings icon and turn Discount ON. Now you can apply a discount to any sale by tapping Discount on the cart details screen.

PayPal Here enables you to accept tips as a percentage or a flat amount as part of the payment process.

Here's how to get started:

Now when your customers check out, they’ll be prompted to enter a tip before completing payment. Customers can choose a pre-set tip amount or tap Other to specify their own amount. PayPal Here automatically adjusts the purchase total based on the tip amount.

takepayments accepting tips

You can configure PayPal Here to calculate tax on all sales.

Here's how:

takepayments-taxes

Managing your account

Once you've successfully signed up for PayPal Here, you'll have access to business tools online and in the app. Customise your business profile to control how you want it displayed in receipts and to the public, view your daily sales or run full sales reports at the tap of a button. You can also create sub-users for your business.

Basic information about your business appears on your customer receipts and in the "Local" tab of customers' PayPal app. This means potentially thousands of PayPal customers can locate your business from their mobile device and then check-in to pay with PayPal – no cards required.

It’s important to add a business logo and to use the correct business name (i.e. not the name of the business owner)and address as these will help your customers find you in their PayPal app.

To edit the displayed information, sign in to your account online from a computer and select My Business Details. From there you can edit your business address, URL, email address and phone number. You can also add your VAT Registration Number.

Under the Returns Policy section, you have the option to customise the text that will show in your customer reciepts eg. information about your returns policy or opening hours.

updating-business-information

You can allow multiple users to carry out sales activities on behalf of your PayPal Here account.

Here’s how:

Please note that a card reader can only be paired to one mobile device at any one time.

You can use PayPal Here to view your entire sales history on one screen.

Here’s how:

You can also log in to your PayPal account online to see your sales history and to generate sales reports.

reviewing sales history

Our logos and banners are a great way to let your customers know that you choose PayPal to process their payments. PayPal offers hosted banners, buttons, and payment option graphics that you can use on your homepage and in your checkout.

Visit our Logo Centre for branded banner options.

PayPal Here is certified by Visa® and MasterCard® and complies with the highest security standards: PCI PTS S-RED 3.0, UKCC, EMV Level 1 and 2. End-to-end encryption and Chip and PIN technology is backed by our world-class risk and fraud management systems, so you and your customers can get on with doing business, knowing that all financial information is handled securely.

PayPal also delivers one of the most secure payment platforms in the world. Our dedicated team of security specialists monitor your transactions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, identifying possible suspicious activity and helping protect you from fraudulent transactions.

If a transaction doesn’t go as planned, or you’re worried about anything at all, like fraud or phishing, it’s easy for you to report issues and get help. Visit our Help Centre for more information.

Funds

Whether it’s in person with PayPal Here, online, by invoice or from eBay, all the money goes to your central PayPal account.

Sales made using Chip and PIN or PayPal go into your PayPal account straight away. You can then transfer the funds into your bank account within 2 hours or spend it online direct from your PayPal account*.

You can transfer money from your PayPal balance to a bank account linked to your PayPal account (log in at www.paypal.co.uk to link and confirm your bank account if you have not done so already).

Funds are transferred to your bank account normally within 2 hours*.

transferring-funds

Please note, as a PayPal Here merchant, you may be subject to an Account Reserve, which is a pool of money set aside in your PayPal account to help ensure that you’re able to meet any liabilities that your business might incur.

We will let you know during the sign-up process whether there are any reserves on your account. We'll also send you an email with the specific details of your funds availability, and you'll be able to see these details in your account at any time.

Any reserves placed on your account will be dependent on the characteristics of your business or your account. As with all reserves, we regularly review the reserve settings on all affected PayPal Here accounts. When the reserve is no longer necessary, it will be removed.

More about funds availability

Fees

There are no monthly fees or fixed terms with PayPal Here. The card reader is a one-off purchase and then you simply pay as you go per transaction.Transaction fees for Chip & PIN and contactless payments start at 2.75% and can drop to as low as 1.00% based on your total sales volume processed with PayPal.* Blended rate of 3.40% + 20p, or Interchange Plus rate of Interchange + 3.15% + 20p applies for card payments made by swiping the magnetic strip or manually entering the card details. Amex card payments with Chip & Pin, Chip & Signature, and Contactless functionality are always processed with a rate of 2.75%. Amex card payments made by swiping the magnetic stripe or manually entering the card details are always processed with rate of 3.40% + 20p. Additional fees such as cross-border fees may apply. See our terms for details.

FAQs

Yes. To process transactions, you must be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Your customers won’t need a PayPal account if they want to pay with their debit or credit card, cash or cheque. If they want to use check-in to pay with PayPal, they will need a PayPal account and download the PayPal app to their mobile device.

You can accept debit and credit cards from:

  • Visa

  • MasterCard

  • Maestro

  • American Express

No. There is no cancellation process. If you no longer wish to use the product, you can simply delete the app, and the device, if purchased, is yours to keep.

No, you have to be in the UK to sign up for and use PayPal Here.

Yes, as long as they have a supported card: Visa®, MasterCard®, Maestro or American Express.

PayPal Here supports Chip and PIN, chip and signature, and swipe and signature.

There are two ways to check if the PIN is correct:

  • The PayPal Here app shows a message that the entered PIN is correct or incorrect

  • The triangular PIN status light on the card reader will turn green if the PIN is correct and red if it is incorrect

If you’re having trouble connecting or pairing your card reader, here are a few things you can try:

  • Wake up your card reader

    Your card reader could be idle. Wake it up by pressing any number on the card reader keypad or the power button.

  • Charge the card reader

    If the card reader won’t turn on, connect the USB cable and recharge the battery.

  • Restart the card reader

    Turn off the card reader by holding down the power button then turn it on again.

  • Restart the PayPal Here app

    Close and restart the app and then try to reconnect it to the card reader.

  • Remove the card reader

    Remove the card reader from your mobile’s list of Bluetooth-paired devices and pair it with your mobile device again

Still having problems?


If you’re still having problems, visit our Help Centre for additional support.

Click here for the latest overview of receipt printers that are supported by PayPal Here.

When the reader is connected to the app, you can check its battery by going to the app, tapping the menu icon, then Card Readers. If the battery is 20% charged or less, you will get an alert that your power is low and that you should charge the reader as soon as possible.

To test the battery level when the card reader is not connected to your mobile device, hold down the cancel button (the yellow arrow) for a few seconds. The PIN lights will indicate the battery level. The number of lights represents the remaining battery power. For example, if the battery is at 50%, 3 of the 6 PIN lights will be on.

If the card reader's triangular light is permanently red, the card reader has a low battery and should be charged as soon as possible.

If your customer's card is declined:

If you wish to return the PayPal Here card reader for any reason, and you purchased it from us either online, through the PayPal Here app or directly from PayPal in person, you may return it within 30 days of receipt of delivery. Make sure it’s undamaged, in good working order and in the original packaging.

Visit our Help Centre for instructions on how to return the item. If you purchased a PayPal Here Card Reader from anyone other than us, please see the returns policy of that retailer.

One year.

We provide the PayPal Here card reader with a 12-month warranty period. If your card reader is faulty, we’ll replace it for you free of charge.

We do not replace lost card readers, but we will be able to disable the card reader remotely. You can then order a replacement online.

If your card reader is lost or broken, please visit our Help Centre for support.

Use of the PayPal Here card reader is subject to application approval. If you purchased a PayPal Here card reader from us either online, through the PayPal Here app or directly from PayPal in person and your application was declined, visit our Help Centre for instructions on how to return the item. We will issue you with a full refund once you have returned the card reader. Make sure it’s undamaged, in good working order and in the original packaging.

PayPal Here is certified by Visa® and MasterCard® and complies with the highest security standards: PCI PTS S-RED 3.0, UKCC, EMV Level 1 and 2. End-to-end encryption and Chip and PIN technology is backed by our world-class risk and fraud management systems, so you and your customers can get on with doing business, knowing that all financial information is handled securely.

PayPal also delivers one of the most secure payment platforms in the world. Our dedicated team of security specialists monitor your transactions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, identifying possible suspicious activity and helping protect you from fraudulent transactions.

If a transaction doesn’t go as planned, or you’re worried about anything at all, like fraud or phishing, it’s easy for you to report issues and get help. Visit our Help Centre for more information.

A chargeback happens when a buyer asks their credit card issuer to reverse a transaction that has already cleared. This can mean that a payment you’ve received in your PayPal account could be reversed, even if you’ve already posted the goods.

PayPal will help you as much as possible if you wish to dispute a chargeback, although the final decision lies with the credit card company.

Contact Us

Check out our Help Centre for more information or visit the PayPal Here community forum to connect with other users.

Get the PayPal Here card reader

Order card reader

Get paid in person with PayPal Here

Merchant Rate

You can apply for the below Merchant Rate if you’ve processed more than £1,500 in total payments through PayPal in the previous calendar month and your account is in good standing (not currently under investigation). We will look at your total payments processed to determine your Merchant Rate on a monthly basis.

Merchant Rate fee table
Your total monthly sales Blended fee Interchange Plus*
Up to £1,500 2.75% IC + 2.5%
£1500.01-£,6000 1.75% IC + 1.5%
£6,000.01 - £15,000 1.5% IC + 1.25%
£15,000.01-£25,000 1.0% IC + 0.75%
£25,000+ Call 0800 358 7929 Call 0800 358 7929

*Actual Interchange costs will vary depending on the type of card used and where it was issued. Interchange fees vary from 0.2% to 2.0%.

There are 2 fee structures available for this solution:

Blended fee structure

The blended fee structure can include two components – a set percentage for each transaction, plus a fixed fee for some transactions. You’ll pay the same rate regardless of the card type used, with PayPal absorbing any fluctuations in the actual cost of performing the transaction. For example, you might be charged 2.75% or 3.40% + 20p depending on the transaction type. You’ll receive the money in your PayPal account as soon as your customer makes the purchase, and that money is usually available immediately to withdraw to a bank account.

The Blended fee structure may be preferred if:

  • Immediate availability of funds on all your transactions is important
  • Predictable transaction costs are essential for planning
  • Quick and simple reconciliation of PayPal and card sales is preferred

Interchange Plus fee structure

The Interchange Plus fee structure can include three components – interchange fees (set by MasterCard and Visa), a set percentage for each transaction, plus a fixed fee for some transactions. Interchange Plus rates apply only to transactions in which your customer has paid you directly with a debit or credit card. Interchange fees may vary depending on the country of issuance, category and type of card used to make the payment. For example, you might be charged interchange + 2.5% or interchange + 3.15% + 20p depending on the transaction type

The Interchange Plus fee structure may be preferred if:

  • The vast majority of your sales are from consumer card types in the UK or from within the European Economic Area where interchange fees are capped.
  • Delay of one to two business days to the availability of your credit and debit card funds is acceptable.
  • Differing settlement times between card sales and PayPal sales doesn’t impact reconciliation.

Maintaining your Merchant Rate
After qualifying for Merchant Rate pricing you need to maintain a payment volume of more than £1,500 per month to remain eligible for Merchant Rates. In the event that a payment volume of more than £1,500 is not maintained in the previous calendar month, or if you have unresolved chargebacks, you will no longer be eligible for Merchant Rate pricing and Standard Rate fees will apply. You don’t need to reapply for Merchant Rate fees if your payment volume drops below £1,500 in the previous calendar month. Merchant Rates will automatically apply again when you reach the qualifying payment volume.

How to apply
If you’re interested in these merchant rates, please log in to your PayPal account and apply via the online application form. If you are declined, please note that you will only be able to reapply in 30 days' time.