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Remote Payments Made Easy: SwipeX Pay’s Solution for Online & Phone Orders 

Remote payments are no longer “nice to have” add-ons—they’re the backbone of revenue for many UK businesses taking online and phone orders. Whether you’re a retailer with click-and-collect, a restaurant handling call-in deliveries, or a service firm billing remotely, remote payments let customers pay from anywhere while you get paid quickly and securely.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how SwipeX Pay helps UK businesses accept remote payments across ecommerce checkouts, payment links, invoices, and MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order)—with airtight security, clear reporting, and simple, scalable setup.

What Are Remote Payments? (And Why They Matter in 2025)

Remote payments are transactions where the cardholder and card are not physically present. Typical examples include ecommerce checkouts, pay-by-link, online invoices, and MOTO (phone orders). For UK businesses, they’re essential because customers expect to buy instantly—without visiting your store or reception desk.

Industry data shows the UK continues to shift to digital ways to pay, with online shopping and card-not-present transactions forming a major share of consumer spend. (According to UK Finance’s UK Payment Markets 2024 industry summary: https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/system/files/2024-07/Summary%20UK%20Payment%20Markets%202024.pdf).

Remote payments let you accept orders at any time, reduce paperwork, and speed up cash flow—while your customers get a clean, familiar checkout flow.

All the Ways to Take Remote Payments with SwipeX Pay

SwipeX Pay gives you multiple remote payment tools so you can pick what suits each sales scenario—no over-engineering, no fuss.

Online Checkout

Our online checkout connects to your website or app and supports major cards, wallets, and recurring billing as needed. It’s quick to load, optimised for mobile, and designed for higher approval rates.

  • Clean, secure payment page
  • 3-D Secure (3DS) to help authenticate where required
  • Tokenisation for returning customers and subscriptions
  • Clear error messaging to prevent abandonment

→ Ready to add a checkout that’s fast and secure? Explore SwipeX Pay Online Checkout: https://swipexpay.com/online-checkout/

Need to take payment without a full web checkout? Send a one-time, secure link by email, text, chat or invoice. Your customer clicks, pays, and you both receive confirmation instantly.

  • Great for quotes, deposits, advance orders, and late invoice settlement
  • No dev work—just generate a link in seconds
  • Optional expiry dates and usage limits

Click-to-Pay Invoices

Prefer invoices? Add a “Pay Now” button. Customers settle online by card or wallet, and reconciliation happens in the background.

  • Faster settlement than bank transfers
  • Automatic receipts and better tracking
  • Works well for service businesses and B2B orders

MOTO (Phone Payments)

For customers who prefer calling, MOTO payments let your staff accept card details over the phone using a secure virtual terminal. These are card-not-present transactions, so they’re handled with specialist controls.

  • Role-based access and audit trails
  • Masked entry and restricted viewing of sensitive fields
  • Optional AVS/CVV checks and velocity controls
  • Segregated MOTO processing for clean compliance workflows

Note: MOTO flows are treated differently from ecommerce SCA requirements; firms should still follow regulator expectations and industry guidance to protect customers and reduce fraud. (See FCA guidance on Strong Customer Authentication: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/strong-customer-authentication and UK Finance industry guidance on SCA: https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/pdf/UK%20Finance%20SCA%20Guidance%20Document%20-%20December%202020.pdf).

Security & Compliance: SCA, 3DS, PCI & MOTO Controls

Security is built in from day one. SwipeX Pay provides the policies, tooling, and technical guardrails you need:

  • SCA & 3-D Secure: Where Strong Customer Authentication applies (e.g., most ecommerce card payments), we trigger 3DS and handle exemptions where appropriate, reducing friction while staying within regulatory expectations. (FCA SCA overview: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/strong-customer-authentication).
  • MOTO Segregation: Card details taken by phone are processed under MOTO—a distinct channel with tailored checks and permissions. Industry guidance explains different authentication requirements and applicable exemptions. (See UK Finance SCA guidance: https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/pdf/UK%20Finance%20SCA%20Guidance%20Document%20-%20December%202020.pdf).
  • PCI DSS Support: We minimise your exposure to card data via hosted fields, tokenisation, and secure storage, helping you keep your PCI scope lean.
  • Data Protection: We follow best practices for retention, access controls, and auditability so finance teams can investigate without exposing sensitive data.

7 Advantages of Remote Payments for UK Businesses

  1. More Sales, Fewer Barriers
    Customers can place orders without visiting your store or booking a call-out. Online checkout, payment links, and invoices reduce friction—especially for repeat purchases.
  2. Faster Cash Flow
    Card settlements and instant authorisations speed up the “order-to-cash” cycle. That’s especially helpful for deposits, pre-orders, and on-account clients who historically paid late.
  3. Better Customer Experience
    Clean UI, familiar wallet options, and reliable 3DS flows keep checkout smooth. People finish transactions on the first try, which boosts conversion.
  4. Lower No-Shows & Cancellations
    Taking a deposit by link or invoice can cut last-minute cancellations in hospitality, events, and services.
  5. Flexible Sales Operations
    Phone-first businesses can take payments in the call. Field teams can send a link from anywhere. Admin teams can collect overdue invoices with fewer chasers.
  6. Stronger Fraud Controls
    AVS/CVV, risk rules, and 3DS help stop unauthorised transactions. Industry bodies continue to warn about “remote purchase” fraud trends, so layered defences matter. (See UK Finance data reported in national coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/may/28/remote-purchase-fraud-uk-surges-customers-tricked-passcodes).
  7. Cleaner Reconciliation
    Centralised reporting means finance sees online, link, invoice, and MOTO transactions in one place. That saves hours every month.

How SwipeX Pay Fits Your Stack: POS, Website & Platforms

Remote payments must live neatly inside your wider payment stack—not off to the side. SwipeX Pay is built to slot into what you already use:

  • POS & Card Machines: If you already run countertop, portable, or mobile terminals, keep them—and add remote channels on the same merchant setup for unified reporting. Curious about terminals for your store? See our card machine options: https://swipexpay.com/card-machine/
  • Ecommerce Platforms: Plug-ins and APIs for popular platforms make it quick to launch or switch. Hosted checkout options keep PCI scope light.
  • Custom Builds: Use our gateway & APIs to embed payments in your app or portal, including tokenisation and saved cards for returning customers.
  • Back-Office Tools: Tie payments to order management, accounting, and CRM so finance gets complete visibility.

Pricing Clarity: What to Expect (and How to Keep It Low)

Remote transactions (card-not-present) are priced differently to in-person sales because risk profiles differ. With SwipeX Pay you can expect:

  • Transparent rates for ecommerce, pay-by-link, invoice, and MOTO
  • No surprise add-ons for basic fraud tools and 3DS routing
  • Volume-based discounts as you scale
  • Advice on cost control: optimise authorisation rates, reduce chargebacks, and route more traffic through SCA-friendly flows where it makes sense

If you’d like a tailored quote with projected savings based on your order mix, get in touch with the SwipeX Pay team: https://swipexpay.com/contact-swipex-pay/

Step-by-Step: Get Live with Remote Payments in Days

  1. Scope Your Flows
    Decide which channels you need first: website checkout, pay-by-link, invoices, MOTO—or a combination.
  2. Complete Onboarding
    We’ll set up your merchant profile and risk settings. You’ll get sandbox credentials for testing.
  3. Integrate or Switch On
    • Add Online Checkout to your site or platform.
    • Enable Pay by Link for quick collections.
    • Turn on invoice pay buttons in your billing flow.
    • Assign MOTO permissions to phone-based staff.
  4. Test Real-World Scenarios
    Simulate authorisations, soft declines, 3DS challenges, and refunds. Confirm receipts, exports, and the reconciliation workflow.
  5. Go Live & Train Staff
    Short playbooks help your team operate safely—especially for MOTO security prompts and identifying red flags.
  6. Monitor & Optimise
    Track approval rates, dispute ratios, and basket conversion. Our team helps you tune rules and authentication.

Fraud Prevention: Practical Checks That Actually Work

Remote channels carry higher risk than chip-and-PIN, so a layered approach is essential:

  • 3-D Secure with Data Enrichment
    Enables step-up authentication where required and smooth exemption routing where appropriate—reducing false declines. (See FCA’s SCA page for overview and updates: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/strong-customer-authentication).
  • CVV & AVS
    Simple checks that still stop a chunk of low-effort attacks.
  • Velocity & Behaviour Rules
    Block bursts of tries, repeated card attempts, and unusual order patterns.
  • Device & Geo Checks
    Spot high-risk signals—odd IP ranges, known emulators, or mismatched billing/shipping.
  • Clear Staff Training for MOTO
    If a caller is evasive, rushes the process, or can’t confirm basic details, slow down. For high-value phone orders, call back on a verified number or switch to a pay-by-link so the customer authenticates themselves online.

UK Finance has repeatedly highlighted the scale of remote purchase fraud and the importance of layered protection and customer awareness (see widely cited 2024 data: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/may/28/remote-purchase-fraud-uk-surges-customers-tricked-passcodes). Combined with regulator expectations around SCA, the direction of travel is clear: strong controls plus smart exemptions keep checkout smooth and safe.

Use Cases: Retail, Hospitality, Services & B2B

Retail & Click-and-Collect

  • Take payment online, prepare the order, and hand over on arrival.
  • If stock is limited, send a pay-by-link to secure the item immediately.

Hospitality & Takeaway

  • Offer online ordering with card-on-file for repeat customers.
  • For call-in orders, use MOTO securely or send a link during the call.

Trades & Field Services

  • Send quotes with a Pay Now link for deposits.
  • Take final payment before leaving site—no chasing, no bank transfer delays.

Clinics, Salons & Appointments

  • Reduce no-shows with deposit links.
  • Accept advance payments for packages or memberships via invoice.

B2B & Professional Services

  • Add click-to-pay to invoices and save days in the collections cycle.
  • Enable account managers to generate links for bespoke orders without waiting on finance.

How SwipeX Pay Keeps Remote Payments Simple

  • Fast setup: choose the channels you need, go live in days
  • Clean UX: modern checkout and links customers trust
  • Strong security: 3DS where required, MOTO safeguards, PCI-conscious design
  • Unified reporting: online, link, invoice, and MOTO in one view
  • UK-ready: built around UK compliance expectations and customer habits
  • Scalable: start small, add channels and features as you grow

Want to see how the pieces fit for your business model? Book a free consultation with SwipeX Pay: https://swipexpay.com/contact-swipex-pay/

FAQs

What’s the difference between online checkout and pay-by-link?
Checkout is embedded on your site or app; pay-by-link is a secure URL you share with customers to pay on a hosted page—no development needed.

Is MOTO allowed without SCA?
MOTO (phone/mail orders) is treated differently from ecommerce transactions. While SCA rules focus on electronic remote payments, MOTO transactions follow separate handling and controls. Always follow current regulator expectations and industry guidance to keep customers protected. (Useful overviews: FCA SCA page and UK Finance guidance noted above.)

Can I take instalments or subscriptions?
Yes—use tokenisation for returning customers and recurring billing. For subscriptions, apply the right setup so repeat charges process smoothly.

How do I reduce chargebacks on remote payments?
Use clear descriptor text, robust 3DS flows, order verification, timely dispatch updates, and refund policies customers can find easily. Add friction only where risk justifies it.

How quickly do I get paid?
Most card payouts land on the standard settlement timeline once you’re live and processing. We’ll confirm specifics during onboarding.

Can I connect this to my existing POS and accounting?
Yes. Keep your card machines for in-store sales and add remote channels under the same umbrella. Reporting exports and integrations make reconciliation straightforward.

Next Steps

For broader industry context on UK payment habits and authentication expectations, you can also review:

Remote Payments

Remote payments help you sell beyond your physical premises, collect faster, and protect revenue with modern controls. With SwipeX Pay, you can turn on the right mix—online checkout, pay-by-link, invoice pay buttons, and MOTO—and keep operations simple for your team and effortless for your customers.