Interac Debit, explained
Debit is the cheapest card a Canadian barbershop can take. Interac says the merchant fee is “low, often flat” and set by the acquirer, where a credit card costs a percentage of the sale; Stripe, for one, lists Interac at CA$0.15 per transaction on its terminals against 2.7% plus CA$0.05 for cards. Interac says 98% of Canadians hold a debit card, so a shop that cannot take Interac turns away the most common card in the country.
The tap limit is the part clients ask about. Interac’s own FAQ sets contactless at up to $250 per transaction, and each bank also sets a cumulative tap limit after which the terminal asks for the chip and PIN once. A $45 cut taps; a $300 family booking or a gift card over the limit is a chip-and-PIN sale, which is why a barbershop that only takes taps still needs a reader with a PIN pad.
The mistake shops make most is assuming Tap to Pay on a phone excludes debit. Since July 2024, Interac Debit contactless has worked on Tap to Pay on iPhone through Adyen, Moneris, Square and Stripe. Interac e-Transfer is a different product, a bank-to-bank transfer by email or phone, and has nothing to do with the terminal.
Tap to Pay on iPhone in BarberFlow accepts Interac Flash along with contactless credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, so most cuts clear on the barber’s own phone. Anything over the tap limit, or a client whose bank wants a PIN, goes through the BarberFlow Reader for chip and PIN. Every method closes the same ticket, so debit and credit land in the same reports.
See Tap to PayFrequently asked questions
Why does Interac Debit cost a barbershop less than credit?
Interac charges a flat per-transaction fee set by the acquirer rather than a percentage of the sale, and there is no interchange paid to a card issuer. On a $42 haircut that is cents rather than a dollar or more.
Why did the terminal ask for a PIN on a tap?
Contactless Interac is capped at $250 per transaction, and each bank sets a cumulative tap limit; once the client passes it, the terminal asks for the chip and PIN once to reset the counter.
Can a barber take Interac Debit on an iPhone?
Yes. Since July 2024, Interac Debit contactless works on Tap to Pay on iPhone with Adyen, Moneris, Square and Stripe. Chip-and-PIN sales above the tap limit still need a reader.
