Card Saver

Card Saver: card terminals and payment processing for UK businesses

Card Saver is a UK-based provider of card payment services aimed at small and medium businesses. Its model centres on buying the terminal outright rather than renting it: the company advertises a card machine for £89 with no monthly terminal rental, a monthly rolling agreement instead of a long-term contract, and next-day settlement of takings. The company states it has served more than 10,000 businesses since 2014.

Terminal pricing and transaction costs

The published offer combines a one-off terminal cost with per-transaction pricing. According to the site, the terminal costs £89 outright, transaction rates start at 0.89% on personal debit and credit cards, and PCI compliance, authorisation fees and next-day settlement are included at no extra cost. For businesses processing more than £65,000 a year in card turnover, the company says it will beat the 0.89% rate with a bespoke quote.

The agreement is described as monthly rolling, so there is no fixed-term terminal contract tying the customer to the provider. The company presents this as a way of retaining clients through pricing and service rather than contractual lock-in.

Card terminals and accepted cards

Card Saver offers portable and countertop terminals, which it describes as fast and reliable, with next-working-day settlement. All terminals accept contactless payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Android Pay, with a £100 contactless limit. They accept UK and international cards carrying the Visa, Mastercard or Maestro logo; American Express can be added by supplying the AMEX MID and Terminal ID to the support team.

Online payments and merchant portal

Beyond physical terminals, the company provides online payment tools: a secure online checkout, payment links and a virtual terminal, all managed from a single merchant portal. These are presented as a way to accept payments around the clock and to centralise the management of card and online transactions.

Flexible business funding

Card Saver also offers a cash advance product for businesses. The published terms describe funding of up to £100,000, repaid automatically as a percentage of each sale rather than through fixed monthly instalments, with a single fixed fee agreed upfront and no interest. The company states that offers can reach up to twice a month's revenue from card or online sales, and that approval can be available in as little as 24 hours.

Onboarding and UK-based support

The sign-up process is set out in four steps: an application form describing the business, standard verification checks (in most cases proof of business), terminal setup once approved, and going live. The company aims to have approved businesses taking payments within 72 hours. Support is handled by a UK-based team reachable by phone, and the company highlights this as one of the points customers mention most. It cites a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from almost 3,000 reviews.

Help desk and troubleshooting

The site includes a support hub with guidance on common terminal issues: powering on the device, loss of connection on phone-line or Ethernet setups, temperature alerts usually linked to drops or liquid damage, and failed batch settlements resolved through end-of-day and reconciliation reports. The company also states that it is not an authorised payment institution and does not itself provide regulated payment services.