Find out more about the two payment networks available in New Zealand: Wordline and the Verifone Network. See how you can tell which network your terminal is connected to, the key differences between the two networks, and learn more about payment network compliance.
Payment networks are also referred to as a 'switch' or 'gateway'. Switch is the term given to the physical servers and the software that operates the network, while Gateway refers to the links from the network to the front-end processors or acquiring banks.
There are two payment networks to choose from in New Zealand: Worldline and the Verifone network. Eftpos New Zealand is the only EFTPOS terminal provider that also operates a payment network, the Verifone network. The Verifone Network is the largest in New Zealand, with over 90,000 active EFTPOS terminals connected.
The easiest way to tell which network your Verifone terminal is connected to is to look at your terminal’s 'Idle' screen. If your terminal is connected to the Verifone network, your terminal will show an Eftpos NZ logo on-screen. If your terminal is connected to the Worldline network it will show the main menu on a blue background.
Your terminal might also show an ASB, Westpac or Kiwibank logo if your merchant facility is provided by one of these acquiring banks. If your EFTPOS terminal is connected to a Point of Sale system the screen may be locked, but it will look like one of these screens:
If your Worldline Verifone terminal is connected to your Point of Sale via our Vault solution, it may say Vault on the screen.
The differences between the two networks don’t just stop at the way the terminal screens look. Verifone EFTPOS terminals can connect to the Worldline network, but they are best-suited to transact on the Verifone network. Here are the key differences between the two networks and why your Verifone terminal works best on the Verifone network:
Most changes to terminal functionality and features occur overnight for terminals connected to the Worldline network. But if your Verifone terminal is provided by us and is connected to the Verifone network we can configure changes across both the network and the terminal much faster. Terminal configuration changes can be pulled down from the network or pushed to the terminal instantly. This means faster, more efficient software updates and it also means you can configure your payment solution on demand.
Social call is a Verifone Network feature where the terminal periodically contacts our Terminal Management System to check for newly enabled functionality and updates. This ensures the latest settings, software, and card scheme standards are automatically installed. How often the terminal contacts TMS can be determined based on your needs and scheduled for a convenient time according to your opening hours. This is why we recommend keeping your terminal turned on at all times.
Auto Update is a feature built into the payment application of Verifone terminals connected to the Worldline network, where the terminal periodically checks for updates and downloads them. This ensures the terminal is using the latest EMV kernel and is up to date with Worldline and card scheme standards.
When you have an Eftpos NZ Verifone terminal connected to the Verifone network you only need to call one helpdesk for support for both your terminal and network. Our network is monitored by our 24/7 IT Operations Centre which works closely with our customer technical support helpdesk. This close alignment between our device and network support teams means that on the rare occasion that issues pop up, they are addressed faster and more efficiently.
Worldline also operates a New Zealand-based, 24/7 customer care helpdesk. We work closely with Worldline, so even if your Verifone terminal is connected to the Worldline network we can still provide support and updates should there be a Worldline outage.
We couldn’t write a post about Payment Networks without mentioning speed, right? In general, the speed at which the two networks authorise transactions is roughly the same. It’s difficult to measure the difference between the two networks in terms of processing time. Our testing lab's conditions are different from those of a real retailer, café, or corner dairy. The speed at which your terminal processes transactions will be primarily impacted by how fast your broadband or Wi-Fi is.
EFTPOS compliance upgrades keep our payment ecosystem safe for cardholders and merchants by entering every payment device and software version released into the market into a lifecycle, regardless of which network it is connected to. When the device or software version reaches its sunset date at the end of its lifecycle, it is no longer compliant and cannot connect to a payment network. This process is governed by Payments NZ.
If you are connected to the Worldline network, you'll probably be familiar with Worldline EFTPOS Upgrades. Worldline does not provide terminals to merchants. Worldline only provides a payment network for terminal resellers to connect their customer's terminals to. If you'd like to check the status of your software and device, you can use the Worldline Terminal Checker.
We guarantee the compliance of our customers' payment solutions regardless of which network they are on. If your Verifone EFTPOS terminal is connected to the Verifone network, we can upgrade your software quickly and easily via a Social Call. If your terminal is on Worldline, we can use Auto Update or a swap-out to upgrade your software. We also guarantee the compliance of your EFTPOS device. If your terminal nears its sunset date, we will proactively upgrade you to keep you compliant and able to transact.
Worldline charge an ‘admin fee’ of $18.90 + GST per terminal, per month. We charge a network fee of $15.00 + GST per terminal, per month for connection to the Verifone network. A key benefit of connecting your Verifone terminal to the Verifone network is that your terminal and network services can be bundled, which means one contract and one monthly payment for both your terminal subscription and your network connection.
Need advice on which network suits your business? Want to enquire about switching networks? Our team of EFTPOS specialists can help. They are the experts on all things EFTPOS!