Support FAQs for Checarda

About Checarda

Checarda is available for Android, iOS and PCs for physical and virtual cards.

To use Checarda, please check the required compatibility of the operating system as follows:

  • iOS 12.0 or later, iPadOS 12.0 or later, to read virtual smartcards.

  • iPhone 7 model or later, running iOS 13 is required to read physical smartcards.

  • Android 6.0 or later to read physical and virtual smartcards.

  • Windows version 10 or higher to read physical and virtual smartcards.

Getting started

Checarda is available to download from:

Checarda is not compatible with:

  • Any device below iPhone 6 running iOS 12

  • iPhones running on iOS 11 or earlier versions 

  • Android 5 or earlier versions

  • Windows PC earlier than Windows 7.

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Checarda is not available for: 

  • Windows Mobile devices

Try deleting the app from your device and reinstalling it.

Many card issuers supply cards that are compatible with Checarda. To view card types, go to settings and cards within the Checarda app. Alternatively, to find out whether a particular type of card is compatible, contact the card issuer.

If you are reading cards from a mobile device then download the Checarda app.

If you are reading cards using a Windows PC:

  • To read physical cards you will need a USB smartcard reader with the correct drivers installed

  • To read virtual cards you can use either a Handheld QR code scanner or a webcam.

The 'Friendly Device Name' is the device name sent to a virtual cardholder when their card has been read. This helps identify where, and by whom, the card was read.

For a selection of compatible and tested smartcard readers, please visit Smartcard Focus.

This is because you do not have the correct hardware connected, installed or configured to read cards.

For a Windows PC connected smartcard reader, ensure the drivers for the reader are installed, close the App and make sure the reader is plugged into the USB port, and then launch Checarda again.

For a virtual card, ensure you have configured your Handheld QR code reader and have installed the correct drivers for the QR code reader or the Windows PC’s webcam.

Using Checarda

Android and iOS:

  1. Open the Checarda app

  2. Touch the ‘Scan a QR Code’ button

  3. Read the QR code that has been generated using the Vircarda app on the cardholder's device (your camera will scan the QR code, remember to position your smartphone approx. 10cm away from the cardholder's device)

  4. Checarda will check whether there are any updates before displaying the data

  5. An image of the card will appear on your screen (you should check the photo shown is that of the cardholder)

  6. Touch the card image to view the back of the card

  7. Touch the ‘Core Data’ tab to view the information stored including card issuer, scheme number, start and expiry dates, longitude/latitude coordinates

  8. Touch the 'Other Data' tab to view supplementary information held against the cardholder including qualifications, licences and attachments.
     

Windows PC:

  1. You need either a Handheld QR code scanner or webcam connected to your PC

  2. Open the Checarda App

  3. Read the QR code that is generated by the Vircarda App on the cardholder's device

  4. Checarda will check whether there are any updates before displaying the data

  5. An image of the card and the cardholder’s data will appear on the screen.

Android and iOS:

  1. Ensure that NFC functionality is enabled

  2. Open the Checarda app and select 'Read a Physical Card'

  3. Hold the smartcard to the back of your device or over the smartcard reader (note: the ‘sweet spot’ for scanning will depend on your device). For Android devices, the NFC is always at the back of the smartphone and usually towards the top of the device. For iOS devices the NFC is located near the top of the smartphone, reads can be done by placing the card on the back or front of the device. Once located, ensure that the card is held firmly against this area and kept still whilst it is being read.

  4. Checarda will check whether there are any updates before displaying the data

  5. An image of the card will appear on your screen (you should check the photo shown is that of the cardholder)

  6. Touch the ‘Card Details’ tab to view the information stored including the card issuer, scheme number, start and expiry dates, longitude/latitude coordinates

  7. Touch the card image to view the back of the card

  8. Touch the 'Other Data' tab to view supplementary information held including qualifications, licences and attachments.

Note: Physical smartcards can be read on iPhone 7 models or later running iOS 13 or above.

Windows PC:

  1. Make sure you have a suitable USB smartcard reader and the relevant drivers installed (for a selection of compatible and tested smartcard readers, please visit Smartcard Focus)

  2. Open the Checarda app

  3. Place the smartcard on the smartcard reader

  4. Checarda will check whether there are any updates before displaying the data

  5. An image of the card and the cardholder’s data will appear on your screen.
     

Yes, you can install Checarda on as many devices as you wish.

Download Checarda from the appropriate app store and you are ready to read smartcards from your new device.

Note: If you install Checarda onto another device, all historical data, which has not been exported, will not be retrievable. It is recommended that you export card reads on a regular basis i.e. weekly.

Yes, when a physical card is read offline, Checarda reads the data stored in the card's chip and presents it on screen. 

When a virtual card is read offline, the card is verified as genuine and the rest of the card check is then cached on the reader and automatically completed once connectivity is available.
 

Yes, however you will only be able to read virtual cards. NFC is required to read physical smartcards.

Virtual smartcard:

When the cardholder clicks ‘Read Card’, a short-life QR code is displayed. This QR code can only be read once by Checarda. If you have already read the QR code and wish to read the card again, ask the cardholder to refresh their QR code by swiping down from the top of the screen. This will generate a new QR code, which can now be read in the usual way.

Note: Please be advised that the quality of QR code reading is very much dependant on the capabilities of the device that is being used. If you continue to experience difficulties, please consider installing Checarda on a different device or sourcing a different handheld QR code reader or webcam.

Physical smartcard:

This could be because of the following:

  • The card could be damaged or faulty - if this is the case Checarda will display an error message

  • The card may not be registered against the Scheme - check the cards in the settings to view what schemes you can read

  • The card has not been authenticated - an error message will display relevant instructions

  • The card has been moved or removed from the device before Checarda has finished reading it - an error message will be displayed.

Every NFC enabled smartphone has a ‘sweet-spot’ on the back of the device where card reading is optimised. Locate this area (which is always at the back of the smartphone and usually towards the top of the device). Once located, ensure that you hold the card firmly to this area and keep the card still whilst it is being read.
 

This is a holding area for virtual cards that have been read offline and are awaiting an internet connection to be correctly authenticated.

When an internet connection is established, these card reads will be authenticated and automatically cleared from the 'pending' list. You can also manually select the pending card and force a refresh.

Manual Card Checks

A manual card check allows you to view a cardholder’s information without their card present.

To perform a manual card check:

  • Select the ‘Manual Card Check’ button on the Checarda dashboard

  • Select the scheme you wish to search in

  • Enter the registration number without any spaces. E.g. 23122121

  • Enter the surname and select search

Note: This functionality is only available online.

CourseSight Integration

CourseSight is a comprehensive training booking system. The system allows companies and individuals to search, book and manage courses with confidence.

In Checarda, the CourseSight tab allows you to check what qualifications are obtained from CourseSight. It details the name of the course, the training provider that delivered the course and the date the qualification was achieved.

Please visit https://portal.coursesight.co.uk/. As long as you enter a delegate's scheme card number when you book training on CourseSight, then once they have completed their training the outcome will appear instantly the next time their card is checked with Checarda.

All you need to do is enter your scheme card number in the checkout information when purchasing a course through CourseSight and we do the rest for you. 

Any course that you book on CourseSight will be loaded onto your CourseSight tab in Checarda, just make sure that you enter your card number when booking. To make a booking now, visit: coursesight.co.uk

A training provider is any organisation that delivers training courses.

An approved training provider is an organisation that is accredited by an industry relevant organisation, industry body, exam board or sector regulator (e.g. FIS, Lantra). Approval by a body is displayed against the training provider listing in CourseSight.