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Verifone VX 520 Review
The vx520 countertop terminal offers secure payment processing at fast speeds. The terminal connects via dialup or high-speed Ethernet connection but a model with optional 3G connectivity may be available. An optional battery and rugged design ensure both portability and durability. Additionally, the vx520 allows multiple users, ensuring that each has access to the functions they need. Here’s a brief overview video from Verifone:
Acceptable Payment Types
The good news is that the Verifone vx520 takes just about every imaginable payment type your customers may want to use: traditional magstripe major credit cards (including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners’ Club), PIN-based debit cards, gift and loyalty cards, EBT cards, EMV chip cards, and new NFC payment technology. The vx520 supports contactless payments, including MasterCard PayPass, Visa payWave, Discover Zip, and American Express ExpressPay. Contactless (NFC) payments allow your customers to use the Tap & Pay option with stored cards in their mobile wallet.
The machine has a magstripe reader to the side, and an EMV slot along the bottom edge, both pictured.
VX520 Features
Countertop credit card machines don’t have as many features as full point of sale systems, but still offer plenty of convenient options.
Payments
The ”sale” screen on the vx 520 lets you quickly enter the total transaction amount and run your customer’s card.
In addition to taking payments, you or your staff can easily process returns, refunds, or voids directly from the terminal.
If you have trouble swiping a card, you can use a manual entry option so that you can still make the sale. Using the Verifone vx520 in a location where customers may want to leave a tip? No problem – enable gratuity options and customers can add the tip when they pay.
Security
The terminal is PCI PED 2.0 approved for PIN security, and PCI PTS 3.x approved. End-to-end encryption is offered through VeriShield
Protect. The terminal is also EMV Levels 1 and 2 approved.
Store and Forward Mode
The vx 520 includes a ”store and forward” mode designed to allow you to continue taking payments even if you don’t have a connection.
The mode can be enabled or disabled easily through the Store and Forward menu, as shown.
VX520 Reporting
Just because it’s not a full POS system doesn’t mean you can’t get important details about your transactions. Reporting options are available directly from the terminal. You can view and print detailed reports for batches, including history, totals, and more, as well as gift card reports and reporting by user.
VX520 Specifications
Looking for just the quick technical specs? The terminal can connect via Ethernet or dialup (unless you choose a 3G capable model) and boasts a large backlit LCD, a durable backlit keypad, generous 160MB of memory, fast built-in thermal printer, and multiple available connections for optional accessories.
Connectivity and Communication
The Verifone vx520 offers quick connections in a variety of ways, including Ethernet or dialup. The terminal offers an Ethernet port, serial port, phone port, and USB ports for ease of connecting no matter what method is needed.
Display
A high-contrast, white backlit display provides enhanced visibility. Generous 128 x 64 anti-glare LCD screen supports up to 8 lines of 21 characters. The display also features a screensaver to help prolong the screen’s life. Main menus boast large, easy-to-read text, as pictured.
Memory
The vx520 offers a generous 160MB, including 128MB of flash memory and 32 MB of SDRAM. The terminal can support up to 500MB of optional additional memory.
Size
As a countertop terminal, the vx520 is intended to be fairly small and light. It measures 8” L x 3.4” W x 3” H and weighs just over 1 pound.
Keypad
The vx520’s durable keypad features blue backlighting for high visibility. The terminal features alphanumeric keys, screen choice keys, and additional function keys. The metal dome keypad is designed for 1 million key presses for long life.
Printer
The built-in printer features a quick-release transparent paper door to easily see when receipt paper is getting low and change it quickly. The machine accepts standard 58mm paper rolls. The printer offers graphics capabilities and fast printing of 24 lines per second in either 24 or 32 columns. The terminal easily allows you to reprint receipts as necessary.
Accessories
For attaching optional accessories such as PIN pads so you don’t have to hand the terminal to customers to enter their PIN, the vx520 includes USB and serial ports for fast connections.
Additional Information
In August 2016, Verifone announced that additional features are available on the Vx 520 contactless model for customers using it with a TSYS processor. Those features include the ability to adjust the total to account for tips after a credit card is run, the ability to bypass entering a PIN for debit transactions, support for MasterCard BIN range starting with the number 2, functionality for opening and closing tabs, and the option to get cash back. While the machine can support these features, you’ll need to check with your processor to ensure that they’re available for your business.
**Special thanks to PayHub Payments for the Verifone vx 520 terminal used in this review.
Product Features
Universal
Credit Card Machines
- Dial-Up
- Dual/Comm
- Wireless
- Wifi
- Contactless
- EMV/ Smartcard
- Built in Contactless Reader
- NFC Capable
- Internal PIN Pad
- Store & Forward
- Multiple merchant support
- Multi application support
- Encrypted
Verifone VX 520 Q&A
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Please cal customer service and they can walk you through switching to Dial from IP.
Thanks
Team TSYS
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Yes this terminal can accept a chip card with a pin number.?
Thanks
Team TSYS
PayHub Payments answer:
For the majority of credit card processing platforms Verifone has not yet released a software update to allow the processing of EMV PIN debit transactions on the Vx520. ?We are hoping to be able to roll the update out to Payhub clients by the end of Q1 2017.
Dan Robbins
PayHub Payments
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
You will need to call into your processor's?customer service and have them program your terminal and then cycle the update for the terminal to accept the new functions.
Thanks
Team TSYS
Payment Depot by Stax answer:
You will need to contact your merchant processor to remove the tip line.?
Dharma Merchant Services answer:
You'll have to reach out to your current provider so that they can edit your terminal file.
Dharma Merchant Services answer:
You'll need to reach out to your current provider to edit the file that's in your device. Or, if you switch to a new provider, you can ensure that shifts are added into a fresh file build when they update your terminal.
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Please contact your merchant services customer service & they will be able to assist.?
Thanks,
TSYS Team
Dharma Merchant Services answer:
There are very few WiFi-enabled Vx520s on the market, and typically, the setup is very cumbersome and hard to complete. In our experience, this feature was not meant for mass-utilization, and likely isn't worth exploring. Verifone has essentially abandoned WiFi processing for the Vx520 moving forward.
PayHub Payments answer:
The Verifone Vx520 terminal comes in a few versions and most are not equipped with Wi-Fi capability. I don't have the model number for the Wi-Fi terminals as they are rare but the most common versions of the Vx520 available are M252-753-03-NAA and M252-653-AD-NAA which are not equipped with Wi-Fi.
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
- Press 'F2' for 'Sale'.
- Enter the total sale amount and push the green enter button.
- Press 'F1' to confirm the sale total.
- Swipe a magnetic strip card, insert an EMV chip card, or hold an NFC card/device near the terminal.
- Press the green button to dismiss the 'Return Terminal to Clerk' screen.
Thanks TSYS Team?
Dharma Merchant Services answer:
Start a sale like normal, and at the "insert/swipe card" screen, you'll start manually keying the credit card number. Follow all additional prompts.
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Each processor supports their own font size. Please reach out to your merchant services provider to change the font size.?
Thanks
TSYS Team?
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
There are no email notifications sent from this terminal.
Thanks
Team TSYS
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
No ink is used, the terminal prints everything?on thermal paper.?
Thanks
Team TSYS
PayHub Payments answer:
The Vx520 is equipped with a thermal printer so there is no ink. The terminal does require thermal paper as well.
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Vx520 uses an outlet source for power, not a battery.?
Thanks
Team TSYS
PayHub Payments answer:
Some versions of the Vx520 are equipped with a battery although they are reletively rare. The model number for the units equipped with a battery in the US market is M252-773-13-USA-2.
Dharma Merchant Services answer:
Yes! You can use the integrated PIN pad to accept PIN numbers on the Vx520, or you can opt to use an external PinPad, like the Vx805.
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
This terminal does not store card holder data.
Thanks
Team TSYS
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
Yes this card can be accepted thought this terminal as long as your processor is set up to accept the card type.
Thanks
Team TSYS
Heartland Payment Systems answer:
You can call your processor and have them turn on the long report for the daily batch to have the numbers you are lookin for.
Thanks
Team TSYS
PayHub Payments answer:
Only some versions of the Vx520 are able to process contactless transaction and the model number is M252-653-A3-NAA-3. If you have this model number than you will need to contact your current merchant account provider to have them enable this option.
Verifone VX 520 Reviews ( 2)
Slow, bulky and crashes constantly. Worst terminal I have ever used.
The Verifone vx520 is a reasonably priced countertop machine for businesses that are looking to make the switch to an EMV-capable terminal. The vx520 can also accept NFC (contactless) payments.
