Card Machine Out of Order Sign: 3 Free Printable Templates (Download)

Your card machine just died. Customers are queuing. You need a sign — right now.

Here's the truth: a professional-looking "card machine out of order" notice does two things. It stops the frustrating queue of people who've already picked out their goods. And it sets the right expectation before customers reach the till.

Below you'll find three free, print-ready signs — one for a general card machine outage, one for contactless-only failures, and one for cashless payment systems down. Click any sign to open it full size, then print directly from your browser.

How to print: Click a sign to open it full size → Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) → Set paper size to A4 or Letter → Print. No download required — though you can right-click and "Save image as" if you prefer a file.

Template 1 — Card Machine Out of Order (General)

↓ See more templates below

Template 2 — Contactless Payments Unavailable

Template 3 — Cash Only Today

Pro tip: Print 2–3 copies and laminate them so you always have one ready. Store them near the till. When your machine goes down, you're sorted in seconds.

Original Downloadable Signs

Click the links to download: Sign version 1 · Sign version 2

What to Do When the Card Machine Goes Down

A sign buys you time — but you still need to fix the problem. Here's the fastest path back to taking card payments:

1. Restart the terminal first — this fixes the majority of issues in under 2 minutes. See: How to restart Ingenico card machine
2. Check your network — connection issues account for most outages. See: Card machine not connecting guide
3. Call your merchant helpdesk — have your Terminal ID (TID) and Merchant ID (MID) ready (printed on any receipt)
4. Ask about a temporary terminal swap — most acquirers can courier a replacement terminal same- or next-day

FAQ — Card Machine Out of Order Signs

Can I use these signs for free?

Yes — all three printable templates on this page are completely free to use for your business. No attribution required.

What size paper should I print on?

A4 or Letter works well. For maximum visibility near the till, consider printing on A3 if your printer supports it, or take the file to a print shop and ask for a laminated A3 copy.

What do I do if my card machine is down and I can't fix it?

Put up the sign immediately, then call your acquirer's merchant support line. While you wait, try restarting the terminal. Check the most common causes: Ingenico troubleshooting guide.

My machine shows "Pin Pad Out of Order" — is that the same?

Not quite — that's a specific error with its own fix. Check: PIN PAD Out of Order guide.

Is there a "cash only" sign I can use?

Yes — Template 3 above is specifically designed for cash-only situations with a space to write the nearest ATM location.

If you found this page helpful, please share it — another merchant will need it at exactly the wrong moment.

Author: Drasko Georgijev

I'm a financial technology professional with 15+ years of experience in payment cards, eCommerce, POS transaction processing and switching.
From time to time, I'm sharing helpful tips, tactics, and news about Digital Commerce, Payments and Fintech.

Got questions? Ping me on LinkedIn.