Credit Card/Token Machine not reading cards

[Sequoia]

I have an American AC2007 credit card to token machine. I was in the equipment room today and heard someone starting to beat on the machine, and to shorten the story I quickly learned that this machine will no longer properly read a credit card. Until now it has been rock solid.

I consistently get a message like "Unable to read card, please re-insert." Any ideas on a fix for this?

On a side note, normally I'd offer a free wash in this situation. But, with a furious Russian dude pounding on my machine and then calling the equipment and the car wash every 4 letter name known, I decided it was best to let him drive off. Well, he did, burning rubber and all ...

 

[jprb]

Take the credit card reader out and check for anything blocking the card/reader path. I have and AC8001 paystation w/ CC reader. I have found small pieces of paper in the deepest part of the reader. There is a sensor there that sees that the card is completely inserted. Removed it and the reader works fine.

JPRB

 

[washnvac]

Run a cleaning card through it several times. If that does not work, you will need to call American Changer to get an exchange. They send you a refurb, and you send in your old one. I think it is about $225. Or you can keep the old one and buy a new one for $700.

 

[Sequoia]

CC reader

I took it apart intending to examine it and give it a good cleaning. To do this, I had to remove the metal shroud covering it, and when I did a large quantity of nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters, and a few of my $1 tokens came out. Sigh. Some moron has been putting coins in the CC slot.

No matter what I tried to do, or any cleaning method-- none of them worked. I ordered a new unit from American-- but the total cost including shipping, with no trade-in, was $225. Eddy at American said they don't require the old units to be returned and they don't refurb them??

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Yeah, it didn't take me long to figure out that the bottom of the CC reader cover has to be cut out. I don't know why the mfr. doesn't make it that way. I was constantly getting coins and tokens in there. Cut out the bottom of the cover and they will just fall harmlessly into the machine. It's amazing that people that stupid can pilot a two ton missle.

 

[bneckrock]

You will probably need a new reader. American Changer sells them for $170. I bought a couple from the OEM (Magtek, I think) for a fraction of that price. Let me know if you want more info, I'd be happy to share. I am looking for a source for the print-head for the AC2007.

 

[Sequoia]

Reader

I'd appreciate the info on the source for the reader. I probably will want to stock a spare at the wash ....

 

[MEP001]

Try mouser.com - they sell a lot of different credit card readers, and their prices are very good.

 

[Ric]

The problem I have with my AC2007 is with people sticking stuff (probably their credit card) in the receipt printer slot. It then wads up the receipt paper which then jams up. I'd like to see some sort of shroud made to prevent that...any ideas?

 

[bneckrock]

Here's the scoop. The card reader is made by Magtek. You can contact them via www.magtek,com and hit the "contact us" button. Choose your state and note the "OEM Specialist" , that is the person to contact. The part number for the replacement card reader is 21065106. If you do a search on the p/n, it will return a pdf that gives you way more info than you need. The reader is part of the MT-215 family of readers.

Anyway, I bought two last summer for $130.40 including shipping.

Hope that helps. I'll try moser.com looking for the print head.

Regards and Good Luck.

 

[Ric]

Here's the scoop. The card reader is made by Magtek. You can contact them via www.magtek,com and hit the "contact us" button. Choose your state and note the "OEM Specialist" , that is the person to contact. The part number for the replacement card reader is 21065106. If you do a search on the p/n, it will return a pdf that gives you way more info than you need. The reader is part of the MT-215 family of readers.

Anyway, I bought two last summer for $130.40 including shipping.

Hope that helps. I'll try moser.com looking for the print head.

Regards and Good Luck.

Is it "plug and play"?

 

[bneckrock]

Yep. Nothing to convert, just plug it in.