[mlscontractcleaner]

I have been looking in to mobile credit card terminals and companies such as Streamline; being able to accept credit / debit cards as payment seem like a step forwards.

Does anyone else have any experience with this sort of thing and if so which company would you recommend??

Also, what are the pros and cons in your experience??

[Mark_Jubb]

I've been looking into it with my bank, but to have a fully portable unit is quite costly.
As things stand at the moment, I'll probably stick to cash/cheque only, although the gradual withdrawal of cheques will no doubt force the change eventually.

[mlscontractcleaner]

I was talking to someone today who's with "Streamline" and he said that it costs him £27 per month and around £0.35 per transaction, which didn't sound too bad to me. I do a lot of window cleaning and if it saves me going back to collect 'cause they have no cash on them it's worth considering.

[richy27]

when cheques are done away with i think in 2017 it will become an essential need and am sure the cost will be driven down at the moment its not so essential

[peter maybury]

with elalvon £100 set up charge and £23 month for the monthly charge. We do however have to pay £2.50 per transaction for debit card transactions. I did expect more business from offering the service but things have been pretty slow compared to normal. It is very useful for taking tel payments and some of our commercial customers ( even hotels) pay by card in preference to sending a cheque so it doe help cash flow a little.

Peter Maybury
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com
www.swanseacarpetcleaning.com

[Joe H]

does anyone use PAYPAL or NOCHEX ie internet based systems.

[Mr Dvae]

The outcome of this discussion will be the cheapest way to accept card payments i hope, because on top of the rental of the machine (£27 /mnth) there is usually a set-up fee (£100 - £200) and a minimum service charge each month (£20 -£25) so over the next 3 years having the facility will cost you a minimum of £2000.

Staggering isn't it, not a viable proposition for the self employed i think.



Dave

[robert meldrum]

Why don't you be RADICAL and ask for CASH ................works for me at least 90% of the time. I did a job recently where the customer " retired banker " made a direct payment into my account while I was working.

Mr D is correct .............why add to your costs and in doing so reduce you competetiveness

HOW ABOUT THIS..................An even better one could be to take a little mini laptop with you ( guarantees internet access to customers account ) and get direct payments ! That would be a virtually FREE option with so many using the internet to buy they already have online banking set up.Your only cost being the little " dongle "

You could use your phone but the little computer is small enough to carry around in your vehicle and easy to use.
No cost to you..............no cost to your customer and you will see the completed transaction.

[Colin Day]

I was looking at getting a streamline machine but Robert and Mr Dvae has made some very good points. Don't think I'll bother now!

[robert meldrum]

How was the weekend Colin

[Steve Chapman]

We use paypal through an iphone and is very easy and quick to use, there is no setup fee but the fee per transaction is a bit higher than normal, ( about 2.90 % i think )

Its a good interim way of having the ability to take card payments as and when they arise without having to fork out every month for the rental etc.

We probaly get 2 or 3 customers request it each week so not big numbers but at least it means being paid straight away and makes you look a bit more professional.

I think if we started get loads then maybe then look at streamline etc.


Regards

steve

[Colin Day]

How was the weekend Colin

I didn't make it Robert, the wife took my CCDO funds for what "She" deemed more important.... : Next time I'll keep my money in my underpants, she never looks there

[Paul W Jones]

I used to display a Paypal logo on my website and it generated no interest so I took it off.  In two years one person has paid be by Paypal and nobody else has asked if I take cards.  When cheques are done away with though cards, rather than cash, i would guess will be the main payment method so we'll all have to look into card machines then!  At least a card payment appears straightaway in your account!

[Andy Foster]

When there are no more cheques, then the price of card transactions should drop (one would hope).
This should make it more viable.

Until then, paypal wins for me and think I will get te iPhone app as this sounds great.

Cheers