Accepting Credit Cards for Payment

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Is there a cheap alternative to accepting credit cards? I've looked into this before but always ended up in a situation where it was $400 for the machine in the truck, maintenance fees and a percentage for each transaction.

I've tried to get people to pay me through paypal to simplify things and they look at me like I'm trying to scam them. Even if I describe it on the phone.....most of it goes right over their head.

My largest hesitation is the fact that those who pay by credit card can refute/stop payment within 60 days of the transaction period and can possibly stop the wheels from turning so to speak. If for whatever reason the stop payment is legit....by all means use it. I'm talking of those who abuse the system and try to cheat others out of services in such a way.

I lost 2 calls in 4 days due to my inability to not take credit cards. The people calling were in emergency status and it didn't matter what someone charged.....they want it put on the credit card. I somehow need to incorporate the charges for services rendered somehow when someone springs at the last minute a credit card so I don't take the amount already calculated and lose the percentage fees out of it. That'll dip right into the profit margin for sure.

Somebody I'm friends with in FLA told me to wait till next year; there is a device called "Treo" that is coming out that will allow me to process cc# in mobile status....similar to blackberry and other devices.

In total, I've probably lost about 12 service calls for the year (9.3 months total) due to my unableness to take the card. Not exactly a huge loss but friday I could of landed a $500 job for yesterday morning. That hurt like a gunshot victim with no medical care.

[Lancaster]

The way I read it,you want to add a surcharge for people who want to use credit cards,so that they are paying the credit card fee instead of you.I think the credit card company would take a dim view of that.

Their thinking is that you pay a fee to accept their card,thus bringing you additional business that offsets that fee.I will have to research this,but I think there is a prohibition against surcharges.If anybody knows for sure,let us know.

What I think you can do,and not step on anybody's toes,is to raise your prices across the board by the 1 or 3 or 5 percent (as applies) fee,and then offer a discount for paying cash.This would achieve the same goal and still keep the credit card company or bank happy.

[hj]

Many places put a 5% or more surcharge for credit card sales. I don't accept them and haven't lost any sales because of it.

[master plumber mark]

Credit cards are what makes the world go around....

You absolutely got to get one,,,,

dont be a tight ass about the fees.....

the fees are no big deal,
and once you get used to paying them
its like the price of doing lots of business.....

and I mean LOTS and LOTS of extra of business.....

Remember that no one has the money these days
....but they got the plastic
and they want it done NOW.....TODAY...ASAP

They do not want to wait till pay day and they will
find the next plumber who will take plastic for maybe
double what you were going to charge them!!!




so what if you got to pay 2.75 on every hundred dollars
if the bill is $1200, and you would not have gotten the job
unless you took plastic...... how much had you screwed yourself out of??

We have done over 18,000 in one month on credit cards and
I dont think it would have been half that if I took cash only.

I average about $7000 per month, and my fees work out to
27 dollars per thousand.....I consider it cost of doing business..



I got a machine in my office only, I rent it from the bank I do
business with for only 10 bucks month......

If you want to get fancy and get one of those cell
phone--swipey kinda of things you can get one of those too....


I have NEVER been screwed badly by a credit card....
maybe on one or two over the years amounting to squat.

I NEVER call in the card to see if it is good or not, I usually
just take down the numbers on my bill and get around to
running the card through that night or over the nxt few days....


Occasionally I have had a declined one... but it always worked out

Now on my wall right now I got two 500 plus bounced checks
that are good for nothing...

I got an old post about credit cards but I dont now how to find it.....


If you got the credit cards in your yellow page add,
you will see a dramatic rise in sales



the only thing I dont take is American Express.

[Duane Smith]

I would check into the fee for using credit cards. I once was told that this was illegal. Another option is to open up a Paypal account. Most everyone has internet and most everyone has heard of ****/paypal.

[jimbo]

I hate pay pal. I also hate the you-know-what bay, but this is all personal. I would not use the pal and would not use it in commerce , either send or receive.

As far as I know, it is not illegal to charge fees for credit card use, but the card companies will suspend your privileges if they find out.

Out here, the Arco gas station brand is a low-cost brand. For a long time, they were cash-only. But for some time, they have been on board with card readers at the pump, accepting all major credit and debit cards. Recentlty, I noticed that they will accept credit cards for mid grade and premium, but not regular! Regular requires a debit card or cash!