A card pool only works if the cards that leave come back. These habits keep the pool honest.
When you need this
Your site hands out access cards, and the Assign Card list runs short, or cards go missing.
| Habit | Why |
|---|---|
| Count the pool at the start and end of each shift | The system shows what it thinks is out; a count shows what is |
| Tick Return card on check-out every time | The box starts unticked and is required while the visit holds a card; it is what puts the card back |
| Leave Automatically return visitor cards when a visit ends on (the default) | Cancelled visits, bulk check-outs and automatic check-outs then return their cards too |
| Name cards so they can be found | “007 - Blue lanyard” is findable in a list; “Card 7” is not |
| Keep separate pools per purpose or location | Contractors, day visitors and VIPs need different access |
| Check Assignment History when a card goes missing | It shows each holder, when it went out and back, and who issued it |
| Mark a card Retired, Lost or Damaged instead of deleting it | Deleting hides its history; a card someone holds cannot be deleted at all |
If it goes wrong
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Assign Card offers nothing | Every card shows Checked-out | Count the pool and return the cards that are really back |
| A returned card still shows Checked-out | It was handed back outside a check-out | Open the card and return it |
| A card does not open a door | The visit has ended, or the card’s visit has no access to that door | Check the visit’s status and its Access Control Events |