[Simon Gerrard]

Colin,
I think it the best thing we have done for our business in a long time. Like you say, a no brainer!

Simon

[carpetmonsters]

Barclays are offering to take cards not sure how it works £10 per month 3% transacton fees

Steve

[murky]

Have a look at what the FSB deal involves, although I havent done it I am being asked more and more if I take cards.

I see that most of the Franchises take it, my local Safeclean has been doing it for years now.

And regarding a stolen card I think that Jonny scum bag is hardly going to have his carpets cleaned and if you cleaned them in a certain house even I can work out where they might live. Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I  take cash only from EOT carpet cleans, having been bounced in the past, so card would be the way to go.

I think I am talking myself into this now.

As Simon said its a legit business expense and something to put in mind when you look to get extra work or certainly a percentage of it.

Murky

[Adam P]

i suppose you're all right. all it takes is one person not to pay and you could lose say on average £150. that's half the year already paid for.

[Joe H]

I have just been in touch with 123 and as I am a FSB member I get "preferential" rates..... Hmmmmm

For long term contract - that is 36 months - the cost is £25 per month. (no doubt plus VAT at whatever rate it will be after the budget tomorrow).

I can purchase at £450 and then £9.95 pm (a saving of £92 over the 36 months).

Debit cards are 30p per transaction
Credit cards 1.95%

All handled by NAT West so to get to my business bank with A&L will take 3 days.

You can hire for seasonal use (busy periods) say up to 3 months
or for shows etc their are short term rates.

[Adam P]

didn't realise you needed to be in such a long contract to get it at £25 plus vat which makes it quite expensive if it's rarely used.

that's a saving of £92 over the 36 months and then a saving the rest of the time you have it.

[JandS]

Just phoned them.
I'm not a FSB member and my charges would be.
£25 + the dreaded per month.
Debit cards 27p per transaction.
Credit cards 1.7%.
36 month contract.
For a short term try out period £80 per month / 3 months.
Can't decide.
Do the banks run their own, cutting out the middleman.
My business account is with Barclays think I will go see them.

John

[jasonl]

I  use pay pal , if anybody wishes to pay by card . I simply email a pay pal invoice and they can pay there and then ,, pay pal is about 3%  charges.

[Joe H]

J&S
John
Your offer as a non FSB member is better then my offer as a FSB member. Interesting.

[JandS]

Actually little mistake it's £26 per month but
am going to see what Barclays offer.

John

[Simon Gerrard]

When we were looking into this the banks wanted big set up fees and much higher charges. 123send was the best deal by far.

Simon

[mark_roberts]

I know cheques are ending soon but Ive been asked fewer than 5 times in 10 years to pay by card. 

Mark

[Simon Gerrard]

Mark,
Same here. But when you mention you take cards most people take that option and the money is in your account a couple of days later so no need to go to the bank as often, plus once the payment is authorised there's no chance of it bouncing as with cheques.

Simon

[Robert Watson]

I honestly cant remember ever having a cheque bounce on me.
Getting them, that's another story.
Funnily enough, I got asked today if I took Switch.

[elliott cleaning]

Have accepted cards for many years but I don't particularly push them.
Most payments are by debit card or cheque & going into a bank once a week is no great problem for me

Some claim that credit card payers spend more - but without trying to sound arrogant - with the clients I have, it doesn't make a blind bit of difference.