The Clover Virtual Terminal allows you to process card payments without a physical device — ideal for phone orders, invoices, and situations where the customer is not present.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Log into dashboard.clover.com and navigate to the Virtual Terminal section.
- Ensure Virtual Terminal is enabled on your plan. Contact your processor if you do not see this option.
- To process a payment: enter the transaction amount, then the customer's card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing zip code (for AVS verification).
- Add a description or invoice number for your records.
- Click 'Charge.' The transaction processes as a card-not-present transaction.
- Send the customer a receipt via email directly from the Virtual Terminal interface.
- Store authorization documentation for a minimum of 18 months for dispute protection.
📌 Important Note: Never process a card-not-present transaction without the customer's explicit authorization. Card-not-present transactions carry higher processing rates and higher chargeback risk than in-person transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Clover Virtual Terminal is PCI DSS compliant. Do not store customer card data outside of the Clover system.
Recurring billing requires a third-party app or payment gateway integration. The native Virtual Terminal does not support recurring charges natively.
Card-not-present transactions carry higher interchange rates due to increased fraud risk. Your processor passes this cost to you as a higher processing fee.
Still having trouble?
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