Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mr T on June 26, 2014, 10:50:58 pm

Title: Payment methods
Post by: Mr T on June 26, 2014, 10:50:58 pm
Hi folks, I currently use Nochex for customers to pay me online it's expensive and I'm wondering what other alternatives there are. Do any of you put your bank details on your website or tickets as I might do this but not to sure how secure it would be leaving account and sort code for anyone to see.

Regards

Stephen
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: PoleKing on June 26, 2014, 10:56:35 pm
GoCardLess. It's the future.
I signed up my 112th customer tonight.
All of 'em pay me on the first of the month.
Costs 1% upto a maximum of £2 per transaction.
I only wish i could get all my customers on it!

Email me (in my profile) if you fancy giving it a go. We can both get £50 credit if you get recommended.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: bobplum on June 26, 2014, 11:42:42 pm
putting more and more on gocardless, all new customers especially
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Frankybadboy on June 27, 2014, 06:42:32 am
bank transfer and all free ;)
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: bobplum on June 27, 2014, 07:46:04 am
bank transfer and all free ;)

agree but you still need the customer to make that massive effort to switch the computer on and lift that heavy hand on to the computer and push hard down on the key board and log in and ............or do it for them in a click with Gocardless.....other companies are available your home maybe at risk if you dont keep up with the payments ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: dazmond on June 27, 2014, 08:40:37 am
bank transfer and all free ;)

bang on franky.why add unneccessary costs to your business?

what i do for some customers is i get them to pay 6 months in advance then print them up a statement of account when they next need to pay another 6 months.works well for cheaper accounts.

ive still got a fair few that pay SAE(cheques) and of course good old hard cash. ;)
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: richard groves on June 27, 2014, 08:47:13 am
Hi folks, I currently use Nochex for customers to pay me online it's expensive and I'm wondering what other alternatives there are. Do any of you put your bank details on your website or tickets as I might do this but not to sure how secure it would be leaving account and sort code for anyone to see.

Regards

Stephen
I put bank details on my bill, most pay this way now by bacs or cash at the door.
I believe its pretty secure with my account, but its a secondry current account I had set up just for customers bank transfers, I usually log on every couple of days and transfer it to my main account, I never use the card or make any payments from the account itself, and yes best thing about it is its free  ;)
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Dave Anderson on June 27, 2014, 06:09:14 pm
my bank details are on the 'cleaned cards' and customers just put the money in the bank....been doing this since 2006, never had any issues working this way.

Brilliant way of working and have never had to leave my house to collect money.

cheers
dave.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: gavinb on June 27, 2014, 06:30:00 pm
I use

Cash
Cheque
Bank transfer
Pingit
Paym
Standing order
Sexual favours

No one has paid using sexual favours yet though !
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Mike #1 on June 27, 2014, 07:38:29 pm
Nochex is a bit cheaper than PayPal , I have a few using PayPal BUT GoCardless is defo the way forward not got to many custys signed up yet so really needing to push it but so so simple to do . Mike
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Shane O Neill on June 27, 2014, 07:49:54 pm
Can u ever really eliminate collecting ?  ???
Most of mine are bacs,standing order,PayPal ....But some despite all details on cleaned slips & asking can they chose which of these method suits them best still refuse & I get the feeling off them it's my problem to get the ££ off them no effort from them :-\
(& some of these folks are on computers all day!)

I think need to be more assertive ?!
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: PoleKing on June 27, 2014, 09:11:56 pm
Can u ever really eliminate collecting ?  ???
Most of mine are bacs,standing order,PayPal ....But some despite all details on cleaned slips & asking can they chose which of these method suits them best still refuse & I get the feeling off them it's my problem to get the ££ off them no effort from them :-\
(& some of these folks are on computers all day!)

I think need to be more assertive ?!


Yup.
I've collected one account in the last 2 years.
She's lovely but ditzy is an understatement!

I don't think it's an assertion problem.
I think it's a training the customer problem.
Signed up my 113th GoCardLess customer today.
After the Barclays letter of £1.50 for a cheque the thought crossed my mind that within a few years all of my residential's would be GoCardLess.
Bit pie in the sky ATM but would be nice.
Especially as I collect them all on 1st of the month.
It's as good as salary!
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: jarvy on June 27, 2014, 09:28:38 pm
I had a play with my mates paypal card reader. Connects via Bluetooth to smartphones. Is quite nifty. Thinking of getting one for  myself. About £50 for the reader, no monthly fees but there is a small % per transaction.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Clever Forum Name on June 27, 2014, 09:56:39 pm
I had a play with my mates paypal card reader. Connects via Bluetooth to smartphones. Is quite nifty. Thinking of getting one for  myself. About £50 for the reader, no monthly fees but there is a small % per transaction.

Just had mine delivered today.

Well smart.

Cost me £1 to take a £30 payment over the phone. The time
And energy that have saved me is UNREAL!!
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Shane O Neill on June 27, 2014, 09:57:16 pm


Yup.
I've collected one account in the last 2 years.
She's lovely but ditzy is an understatement!

I don't think it's an assertion problem.
I think it's a training the customer problem.
Signed up my 113th GoCardLess customer today.
After the Barclays letter of £1.50 for a cheque the thought crossed my mind that within a few years all of my residential's would be GoCardLess.
Bit pie in the sky ATM but would be nice.
Especially as I collect them all on 1st of the month.
It's as good as salary!
[/quote]

Well Done pole king ! Can I ask how you have introduce it so successfully to customers as you must have a real gift in making it so easy for Customers to grasp & sign up ?
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: PoleKing on June 27, 2014, 10:35:56 pm


Yup.
I've collected one account in the last 2 years.
She's lovely but ditzy is an understatement!

I don't think it's an assertion problem.
I think it's a training the customer problem.
Signed up my 113th GoCardLess customer today.
After the Barclays letter of £1.50 for a cheque the thought crossed my mind that within a few years all of my residential's would be GoCardLess.
Bit pie in the sky ATM but would be nice.
Especially as I collect them all on 1st of the month.
It's as good as salary!

Well Done pole king ! Can I ask how you have introduce it so successfully to customers as you must have a real gift in making it so easy for Customers to grasp & sign up ?
[/quote]

Cheers Shane.
Errr....I dont thoink i do anything special.
I push it but I'm not pushy-if that makes sense.
It probably helps that I've had some of my customers for over a decade-some of those are the local busybodies. Get on the right side of them and a lot of people feel confident in you.
Ive said my prices are going up but if you wanna move to direct debit they can stay the same for another year.
Its cheaper as you don't have to pay for a stamp to post the cheque
I've been cleaning for x years. Never missed a clean. need not finished my month. whats to worry about?
Saves me banking
The time i save doing your paper work is time i get to spend with my little boys

Loads of little one liners
Seems to work though.
i think its being confident but not cocky re: GoCardLess that sells it. And wanting them to do it but not being desperate. That's never a good look.

Re: signing up.
i ask for every new customers email. I sort it out and send the request. Makes it easy to see who they are too.
And i only take on new customers on DD (since the new year)
If you make it seem like everyone else is doing it, people seem to tag along.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: MWC on June 28, 2014, 12:17:16 am
I had a play with my mates paypal card reader. Connects via Bluetooth to smartphones. Is quite nifty. Thinking of getting one for  myself. About £50 for the reader, no monthly fees but there is a small % per transaction.

You don't actually need the card reader, you can enter the card details manually!
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: CF Facilities on June 28, 2014, 07:59:14 am


Yup.
I've collected one account in the last 2 years.
She's lovely but ditzy is an understatement!

I don't think it's an assertion problem.
I think it's a training the customer problem.
Signed up my 113th GoCardLess customer today.
After the Barclays letter of £1.50 for a cheque the thought crossed my mind that within a few years all of my residential's would be GoCardLess.
Bit pie in the sky ATM but would be nice.
Especially as I collect them all on 1st of the month.
It's as good as salary!

Well Done pole king ! Can I ask how you have introduce it so successfully to customers as you must have a real gift in making it so easy for Customers to grasp & sign up ?

Cheers Shane.
Errr....I dont thoink i do anything special.
I push it but I'm not pushy-if that makes sense.
It probably helps that I've had some of my customers for over a decade-some of those are the local busybodies. Get on the right side of them and a lot of people feel confident in you.
Ive said my prices are going up but if you wanna move to direct debit they can stay the same for another year.
Its cheaper as you don't have to pay for a stamp to post the cheque
I've been cleaning for x years. Never missed a clean. need not finished my month. whats to worry about?
Saves me banking
The time i save doing your paper work is time i get to spend with my little boys

Loads of little one liners
Seems to work though.
i think its being confident but not cocky re: GoCardLess that sells it. And wanting them to do it but not being desperate. That's never a good look.

Re: signing up.
i ask for every new customers email. I sort it out and send the request. Makes it easy to see who they are too.
And i only take on new customers on DD (since the new year)
If you make it seem like everyone else is doing it, people seem to tag along.
[/quote]

So poleking  I guess all your customers are monthly but what happens if you are behind bad weather etc would they get two cleans the next month?
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: PoleKing on June 28, 2014, 08:22:43 am


Yup.
I've collected one account in the last 2 years.
She's lovely but ditzy is an understatement!

I don't think it's an assertion problem.
I think it's a training the customer problem.
Signed up my 113th GoCardLess customer today.
After the Barclays letter of £1.50 for a cheque the thought crossed my mind that within a few years all of my residential's would be GoCardLess.
Bit pie in the sky ATM but would be nice.
Especially as I collect them all on 1st of the month.
It's as good as salary!

Well Done pole king ! Can I ask how you have introduce it so successfully to customers as you must have a real gift in making it so easy for Customers to grasp & sign up ?

Cheers Shane.
Errr....I dont thoink i do anything special.
I push it but I'm not pushy-if that makes sense.
It probably helps that I've had some of my customers for over a decade-some of those are the local busybodies. Get on the right side of them and a lot of people feel confident in you.
Ive said my prices are going up but if you wanna move to direct debit they can stay the same for another year.
Its cheaper as you don't have to pay for a stamp to post the cheque
I've been cleaning for x years. Never missed a clean. need not finished my month. whats to worry about?
Saves me banking
The time i save doing your paper work is time i get to spend with my little boys

Loads of little one liners
Seems to work though.
i think its being confident but not cocky re: GoCardLess that sells it. And wanting them to do it but not being desperate. That's never a good look.

Re: signing up.
i ask for every new customers email. I sort it out and send the request. Makes it easy to see who they are too.
And i only take on new customers on DD (since the new year)
If you make it seem like everyone else is doing it, people seem to tag along.

So poleking  I guess all your customers are monthly but what happens if you are behind bad weather etc would they get two cleans the next month?
[/quote]

No mate. Some are 2 monthly. I divide the price by 2 and make that their monthly payment. The 1st payment on the month they're not cleaned then the 2nd on the month that they are, so they've paid on full before I've cleaned.
I don't get behind. I've never not finished a month.
If, in future, if I was looking like I would get behind, I'd make sure all the GCL customers got done as a priority over the cash payers.
It's a trust thing isn't it. You'd only lose their trust once-you'd rarely ever get it back.
If one was to say monthly, one would have to turn up monthly.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Tony dunmall on June 28, 2014, 08:51:16 am
Question please

With go cardless can you set up as six weekly payments ?
How do you cope with being late ie you've gone away for two weeks or over the Xmas period, I generally stop on before 24- at least first full week in January

Thanks for any comments
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: Mike #1 on June 28, 2014, 08:57:29 am
They don't have to be recurring payments on the same date each month .

Just collect each payment as a one off payment when you done the windows . Mike
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: dazmond on June 28, 2014, 09:02:41 am
sounds like a nightmare to me.over 100 customers on gcl?what happens when you go on holiday for a couple of weeks?or off due to injury/health?

a few years ago i badly sprained my ankle playing football and was on crutches for over 3 weeks.so best part of a month off.what would you do in this instance?

id also hate to have to mess around chopping and changing the order of over 100 customers because they ve already paid when behind with work for whatever reason.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: paul13 on June 28, 2014, 09:32:04 pm
sounds like a nightmare to me.over 100 customers on gcl?what happens when you go on holiday for a couple of weeks?or off due to injury/health?

a few years ago i badly sprained my ankle playing football and was on crutches for over 3 weeks.so best part of a month off.what would you do in this instance?

id also hate to have to mess around chopping and changing the order of over 100 customers because they ve already paid when behind with work for whatever reason.

Its simple to make changes check it out ;)
you can take payments and set payments easily this IMO is the way forward with out a doubt.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: PoleKing on June 28, 2014, 10:02:56 pm
sounds like a nightmare to me.over 100 customers on gcl?what happens when you go on holiday for a couple of weeks?or off due to injury/health?

a few years ago i badly sprained my ankle playing football and was on crutches for over 3 weeks.so best part of a month off.what would you do in this instance?

id also hate to have to mess around chopping and changing the order of over 100 customers because they ve already paid when behind with work for whatever reason.

Like I said Daz, I've never not finished the month.
If it was looking like that may not happen I'd address it as and when.
It's not chopping & changing bud.
All of my customers pay on 1st of the month-regardless when their clean is.
Last month, I finished on 31st. Those that got cleaned on that day, paid the following day for a clean that might not have been carried out for another 30 days.

This isn't the only way though.
You can be authorised then once you've cleaned, take payment that night.
Just log in to the dashboard and click 'take payment' enter amount and job done.
Even easier (from what I've heard) on cleaner planner.

It really is good bud.
And it's cheap. Not free, like BACS, but cheap. And YOU are in control, not the customer.
Title: Re: Payment methods
Post by: supernova77 on June 28, 2014, 11:20:50 pm
GoCardless is brilliant. Been using it for a while now.

All my payment options are here:

www.iconicwindowcleaning.co.uk/payments

Andy  ;)