Overview
This article describes how to configure a Genius network to apply surcharges to credit card transactions processed with the Card Reader, in accordance with our Credit Surcharge Program.
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Contents |
Genius’s Credit Surcharge Program
The Credit Surcharge Program enables businesses to reduce their credit card processing expenses by applying a surcharge of 3% to purchases made with a credit card (excluding PIN debit, signature debit and prepaid card transactions). Genius has built a smart surcharge feature into our terminal application to automate the process. A small fee is assessed to the business to offset the costs of a surcharge program, but this fee is more than offset by the additional revenue earned by businesses on each purchase. The Credit Surcharge Program benefits merchants by keeping their prices and payment options competitive so they can retain more revenue on purchases.
Location requirements
- Must run Genius for Restaurants version 2.24 or higher.
- Must use XC23 or other Android POS devices.
- Must process credit cards via Heartland Processing.
Limitations
If a location uses the following features or transaction types with Genius, it is not eligible for the surcharge feature:
- iOS POS V1 Internal Surcharge is not supported.. Only Credit Surcharge Program through Heartland can be utilized.
- Pre-authorization transactions and capture transactions are not supported. Customers must use sale and modify transactions to be eligible.
- Partial approval payments are also not currently supported.
For example, if a customer has a transaction total of $10.00, the POS adds a 3% surcharge fee, making the ticket total $10.35. If the customer’s form of payment cannot cover the full total of the $10.35 ticket, then the transaction will be declined (“Insufficient Funds”) and the customer will need to provide another form of payment.
Processing restrictions and requirements
- Genius only allows exactly 3% surcharge to be charged, with no exceptions.
- Surcharges cannot be levied on non-EMV, debit, prepaid, EBT, gift cards, or fall back transactions.
- Surcharging is not allowed in all states. It is currently prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. Also, California requires surcharges to be applied pre-tax, which Heartland does not support.
- Surcharges must apply to all credit transactions and card brands within a single business.
- Surcharges must be shown on the receipt.
- The location must have signage disclosing the surcharge at the points of entry and acceptance. It is the responsibility of the merchant to post this signage.
- The location must have legal agreements signed and returned to Genius RM.
POS on-boarding
Merchants must be processing with Heartland Payments and have an active MID.
- Dealer confirms Genius version supports Surcharging.
- Dealer refers the merchant to certified RM for Surcharging through the Stronger Together program.
- RM discusses fees and waivers with merchants.
- RM submits Surcharge Onboarding documents.
- Maintenance/SIP Support processes Surcharge Onboarding requests and notifies RM that surcharge has been enabled and orders Surcharge kit.
- Hardware deploys Surcharge Kit with signage and collateral for the merchant to display on premise.
- Dealer will access Salesforce and order SKU: SURCHARGE-READER.
- Order Fulfillment will turn on Account Level Surcharge for Genius for Restaurant POS in Admin Portal.
- Dealer must enable Receipt Disclaimer: “A Surcharge of $X.XX may be added to this transaction if you use a credit card.”
- Merchant is now live with Surcharge.
Off-boarding
All off-boarding is completed by Genius Processing. Dealers are only responsible for disabling the Surcharge Clause within the POS.
- Merchant contacts Processing Customer Advocate Team to request Surcharge to be disabled.
- Customer Advocate notifies Maintenance via email to remove Surcharge from the MID.
- Customer Advocate informs Merchant that Surcharge will be disabled within 24-48 hours.
- Merchant/Dealer disables receipt Surcharge disclaimer in the POS.
- Merchant/Dealer can use the Downloader app or utilize the Heartbeat feature to update the file build.
- Surcharge is disabled within the Servicing Site and POS, and the additional Surcharge fees are removed from the MID.
Setup instructions
Before the location can use the surcharge feature, you must configure its customer receipts to include the surcharge clause, a legally required message alerting customers to possible surcharges.
Adding the Surcharge Clause to customer receipts
- In the Admin Console’s Main Menu, click Location Setup, then click Customer Receipt.
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In the Customer Receipt screen, select the Show Surcharge Clause check box.
When you select the Show Surcharge Clause check box, the Credit Surcharge Amount box displays below it. -
If necessary, enter the accurate surcharge percentage amount in the Credit Surcharge Amount box.
If you enter a percentage amount in this box, the POS will use that amount as the “Surcharge fee” that appears in the printed surcharge clause. (Its default amount is 3%.) - Click Save.
The POS will now include a message on all customer receipts alerting customers that a surcharge might be added to the total if they pay with a credit card.
Managing surcharges in the POS
Once the surcharge feature is enabled for your location, the POS will automatically add the surcharge to any ticket paid with a credit card that features an EMV chip. The POS will not add the surcharge to transactions paid with any of the following:
- Debit cards
- Gift cards
- EBT cards
- Credit cards with no EMV chip
Review the Surcharge Clause on customer receipts
- Log into the Genius POS.
- In the Tickets screen, tap an existing open ticket.
OR Tap + New Ticket. - In the Ticket Preview panel, click Print.
The POS prints a customer receipt that includes the required surcharge clause, alerting the customer that a 3% surcharge might be added to any credit card purchases.
If a customer does pay a ticket with a credit card, the POS will include the surcharge amount, clearly labeled as “Surcharge fee”, on the printed receipt.
Check out a ticket with a surcharge
Once the surcharge feature is enabled, the POS displays the surcharge clause and surcharge subtotals in various screens throughout the standard checkout process.
- Access an existing open ticket.
- In the Ticket Preview panel, click Checkout.
The CFD displays the Total Due screen with the text of the surcharge clause. - In the POS, in the Amount Due screen, tap Card.
The CFD displays the Total Due screen with instructions to Insert, Tap, or Swipe a credit card. - Insert, tap, or swipe a credit card.
The CFD prompts you to either complete or cancel the transaction. - Tap Complete Transaction.
The POS then processes the transaction. If it is successful, the CFD displays a "Transaction Approved" message, instructing you to remove the card.
If the POS is configured to prompt customers for a tip, the CFD will display the Tip Selection screen. In this screen, above the tip amount options, the CFD displays the ticket's total, with subtotals for the ticket and surcharge. - In the Tip Selection screen, tap Custom.
The CFD displays the Add Custom Tip screen. Like the previous screen, it includes the ticket's total with subtotals for the ticket and surcharge amounts. - Enter a tip amount (such as "1.00"), then tap Next.
The POS returns to the Tip Selection screen, with the Custom option highlighted. - In the Tip Selection screen, tap View Summary.
The CFD expands the Summary panel, and its Order Details now includes a subtotal for the surcharge. - Tap View Summary again to close the Summary panel.
- In the Tip Selection screen, tap Confirm.
If the POS is configured to prompt customers for a signature, the CFD will display the Signature Capture screen.
In this screen, the CFD displays the ticket's total, with subtotals for the ticket, surcharge, and tip. - Enter a signature in the Please Sign Here box, then tap Confirm.
The CFD will then prompt you to select if and how you want to receive the receipt.
If you choose to receive the receipt, it will include the surcharge amount, clearly labeled as “Surcharge fee”.