Testing in sandbox mode

Sandbox mode lets you run the full payment flow without moving real money. There is no time limit on it, and every plugin feature is unlocked in sandbox on the free plan, so test properly rather than rushing to go live.

Log in before you test

From version 2.7, test mode is only shown at checkout to logged-in administrators and shop managers. A customer browsing your store will not see the Scotiabank payment method while the plugin is in sandbox mode, which means nobody can pay in test mode by accident.

The flip side is that if you open your checkout in a private window, or while logged out, the payment method will not be there. That is not a fault. Log in to your WordPress account and it appears.

Set your store currency to USD

The bank’s sandbox platform accepts USD only. Go to WooCommerce, then Settings, then General and set Currency to United States dollar. You can change it back before going live.

Skipping this step produces the most common error merchants hit during testing, which is a currency mismatch that fails the transaction.

Enter your sandbox credentials

Use the sandbox Store ID and Shared Secret issued by Scotiabank. If the bank has not sent them yet, contact us and we will provide testing credentials so you are not blocked.

Make sure Enable Sandbox Mode is ticked in the plugin settings. It is on by default.

Test cards

Use any of these numbers with any future expiry date and any CVV:

• 5204 7400 0000 2745
• 4004 4300 0000 0007
• 5426 0640 0042 4979
• 4147 4630 1111 0059

What to actually test

Running one successful payment is not enough. Before going live, confirm all of the following behave the way you expect:

• A successful payment, and that the order moves to the right status.
• A 3D Secure challenge, so you know what your customers will see.
• A declined payment. From version 2.8 the customer is returned to the payment page with the bank’s reason and their cart intact, so they can try again. Confirm that happens, and that the reason also appears in the order notes.
• A refund, if you have entered sandbox API credentials and enabled Scotia API Features.
• Saved cards and subscription renewals, if you plan to use them. Both work in sandbox on the free plan once Save Payment Methods and Subscription Support are enabled.
• The confirmation email, checked against what Scotiabank requires.

Test-mode orders are marked as such in the orders list and on the order screen, so they are easy to find and clean up later.