[Steve Weatherley]

Does anyone take payment by credit card? If so who is the card services provider and what are the costs involved?

[feldon]

I should imagine everyone will want to know this with the demise of cheques being iminiment.

[Simon Gerrard]

Since we started taking cards about six months ago and around 85% of people pay that way. I think it also frees people up to have more done because they can put the cost on their credit card. The money goes directly into your bank account so you don't have to keep going to the bank with cheques and  card payments can't bounce.. We are paying £25 per month for hire of the machine and the charges. It's a good deal as I have heard of people paying a lot more than that.

Simon

[justin brown]

hi simon,

who supplies this at that cost?

[richy27]

Since we started taking cards about six months ago and around 85% of people pay that way. I think it also frees people up to have more done because they can put the cost on their credit card. The money goes directly into your bank account so you don't have to keep going to the bank with cheques and  card payments can't bounce.. We are paying £25 per month for hire of the machine and the charges. It's a good deal as I have heard of people paying a lot more than that.

Simon

simon

any chance you could let me know who does that for you as i have been looking around and cant find anything at that price.

regards

Richard

info@pt-cleaningservices.co.uk

[Mark Lawrence]

We do card payments and pay £19 a month for the terminal + % charges of each payment (standard stuff).

It was £25 but we haggled them down

Mark

[slioch]

I use Send 123.  Best rates when I got it about a year ago.

[Simon Gerrard]

That's who we are using 123Send. £25 per month plus card charges but the charges are a lot lower than than banks charge if you get their machines.

Simon

[Colin Day]

That's who we are using 123Send. £25 per month plus card charges but the charges are a lot lower than than banks charge if you get their machines.

Simon

And.... "Do you get more work as a result?"

[SteveAllan]

I am gonna get one of these. had 2 cheques bounce this week so will not be taking cheques from now on. these not a very nice persons need flogged for expecting you to do the work then stopping cheque.

[Adam P]

£19/25 plus % is a little high though for small businesses. can't imagine the machine would cost more then £150 to buy so i'd rather do that so i can forget the monthly fee and then pay % on all transactions.

are the prices people are paying through fsb as i know you can get it much cheaper with them

[wynne jones]

Sounds like you can easily make the £25 up though. Mention it on your advertising, tell them when you start talking add ons. And then there's the convenience for you.

Will look into this.

I've had a few pay by paypal in advance, I think you can also set up your iphone to do this on the day.

[Adam P]

true but still £25 is a lot when you may not need it for a while. last week only one customer paid by cheque, all others cash and the cheque was no problem for me as it was a trusted customer. so that's one week with no use, could easily be the same for the next which is the only reason i haven't got one.

as you say though it's more convenience for me and for the customer if they'd like to pay that way.

do you get tied into a 12 month contract with these machines?

[Colin Day]

Simon.... Do you get more work as a result of using a machine?

[wynne jones]

true but still £25 is a lot when you may not need it for a while. last week only one customer paid by cheque, all others cash and the cheque was no problem for me as it was a trusted customer. so that's one week with no use, could easily be the same for the next which is the only reason i haven't got one.

as you say though it's more convenience for me and for the customer if they'd like to pay that way.

do you get tied into a 12 month contract with these machines?

Let's just suppose.

You get a few extra customers from your adverts because you mention paying by card and they want something done now but pay day is a week off.

You go in to do a lounge and upsell them on HSL but despite the fact they want it they only have the cash for the lounge in the house.

You meet the 1 in 10 who will buy anything so long as they can pay for it tomorrow.

If £25 is a lot of money to risk then fair enough but I can't help feeling it's a better return than a crappy advert in a local rag.   

[clinton]

Nice reply wynne

[wynne jones]

I've just had a look on the site and I can't help feeling it's going to cost a lot more than £25

[hotsteam]

How many days does it take for the money to go into your account ?  also if its a stolen card you do'nt get paid !     have fun 

[Simon Gerrard]

Colin,
Yes, I think you do get more work as a result, you certainly get a lot more bookings because of it.
Anyone thinking of buying a unit  to save the £25 rental cost - forget it. It would be a false economy because if you drop it or break it you have to pay to have it repaired. If you've got your own and just want a merchant account with a bank then you'll be paying more in transaction charges too.
This is a legitimate business expenses, why filly-faddle around trying to save a few pence.  ???We searched out the best deal and went with it and for what it costs per month we get so much more in return - that's business, guy's

Simon

[Colin Day]

Thank you Simon, seems like a no brainer.