Test users

It is possible to go through any of the checkouts on the site as a test user which will allow you to use a test credit card or PayPal account

• Go to https://support.theguardian.com/test-users (requires you to be signed in with your Guardian Gmail account) - this will set a cookie called _test_username which will put the site into test mode for the next 48hrs (or until you delete the cookie).

In order for users you create to be recognised as test users in other systems (such as members-data-api or manage.theguardian.com) you will also need to checkout with particular details described below, if you are only testing support.theguardian.com you can safely ignore these instructions.

On the test user page you should see a test user key which will look something like r2aIEKAaWmPpxaVndcc

• Go to the checkout you want to test and enter the following details:

  first name - [test user key eg. r2aIEKAaWmPpxaVndcc]
  last name - [test user key eg. r2aIEKAaWmPpxaVndcc] 
  email address - either [email protected] if you don't want to receive thank you emails or [email protected] if you do.
  

• Now checkout using one of the following...

  • Credit Card

    Card Number: 4242 4242 4242 4242
    Expiry: any future date
    CVC: any three digit number
    

    there are numerous other test cards at https://stripe.com/docs/testing#cards

  • Direct Debit (UK only currently)

    Account Name: anything
    Account Number: 55779911
    Sort Code: 200000
    

    ref: https://developer.gocardless.com/getting-started/developer-tools/test-bank-details/

  • PayPal

    Username: [email protected]
    

    for password view parameter value here (AWS membership access required): https://eu-west-1.console.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/parameters/payPalTestUserPassword