Credit card processing

[C2 RIBS]

Can anyone suggest a value for money credit card processing company either using fixed office unit or a mobile machine. I have received many quotes and all offer similar services with monthly charges and fees for transactions , so looking to those who are happy with their supplier or for someone who has found the best alround deal.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to everyone.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Can anyone suggest a value for money credit card processing company either using fixed office unit or a mobile machine. I have received many quotes and all offer similar services with monthly charges and fees for transactions , so looking to those who are happy with their supplier or for someone who has found the best alround deal.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to everyone.

C2 - i am in a different market from you - but we have recently added credit card payment to our options. We ended up with Paypal's virtual terminal service. I can't say how good or bad they are - there were a few hoops to jump through first in terms of privacy policies etc - but actually not too bad.

It should cost £20/month but is free at the moment. That offer is due to end at end of Jan - not sure if they will extend - as actually can't see why they have a fixed cost its not like they are hiring you a box. Their per transaction fees are possibly not great - but that wasn't a major concern for us as the volume and value of transactions will be relatively low.

If you expect to do a lot of transactions where the cardholder IS present then an actual terminal might be better.

I think worldpay were offering something similar but I got sucked in by Paypal's no monthly charges offer.

[Bigmuz7]

Interesting .. so its all a web service ? As all my transactions are cardholder not present, this could save me a bob or two ? and do away with a card machine rental

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Interesting .. so its all a web service ? As all my transactions are cardholder not present, this could save me a bob or two ? and do away with a card machine rental

yes - not sure how it compares in terms of effort etc, or transaction prices. https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/we...t-fees-outside the equivalent worldpay service is: called MOTO - http://www.worldpay.com/business/con...=pricing2&c=UK

[MikeCC]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Can anyone suggest a value for money credit card processing company either using fixed office unit or a mobile machine. I have received many quotes and all offer similar services with monthly charges and fees for transactions , so looking to those who are happy with their supplier or for someone who has found the best alround deal.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to everyone.

There's two aspects to this - one is the merchant account which lets you take payments. They will usually offer a payment terminal, either landline or mobile but they aren't necessarily a good deal. However, you'll need a merchant account regardless - that's the bit that sets what percentage you pay on credit card payments.

The other part is the payment 'gateway' which some merchant accounts offer as well. There's a service called MobilePOS which operates from a phone if you're out and about and also gives you a web interface for phone payments. Setup charge, plus monthly minimum charge plus pence per transaction. However, the mobile bit doesn't allow for chip & PIN, so you need to get a signature as well. They do have a mobile chip & PIN terminal offer as well.

Alternatively, once you have the merchant account set up, buy a chip & PIN mobile terminal and use it for everything. OK, unless you have website orders as well. You can get secondhand terminals for £150-250 but check the model will work with your merchant account!

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Can anyone suggest a value for money credit card processing company either using fixed office unit or a mobile machine. I have received many quotes and all offer similar services with monthly charges and fees for transactions , so looking to those who are happy with their supplier or for someone who has found the best alround deal.
Cheers and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Hi Ian, merry Christmas to you too.

We have used HSBC for ages and have a really good rate, it is cheaper for us to take a card than to bank cash.

[C2 RIBS]

Cheers for all the ideas, I know a couple who use the paypal angle and may work for me. My commercial bank are presently quoting and hoped they are under pressure for business so needed a few up my sleeve to balance against them. Will see what comes up from bank and then do some bartering and then see if they want the business. I think we are in strong position to barter for best offers.

[Tim M]

Ian, I looked into this last year. From memory, HSBC came up with the most attractive package for me. In the end I didn't bother as I deemed it to be too much hassle, although it would be very handy.

[Doug Stormforce]

Without trying to offend those that use it I don't personally dont think Paypal looks very professional.

I group it into the same catogry as business that have hotmail or yahoo domain email addresses, are not VAT registered and run from home.

Asides from that Paypal is very expensive if you have decent turn over going through.

As said above there are 2 sides, the merchant account, we use Lloyds Cardnet, but does not mean they are the best and the gateway.

Different Gateways are effective for different businesse, its all related to your card turnover, value of sale, diversity of value etc. Where one compnay may have lots of low level transactiosn, another mayhave afew high value transactions and therfore require a different package.

[Ian Sharlot]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Without trying to offend those that use it I don't personally dont think Paypal looks very professional.

I group it into the same catogry as business that have hotmail or yahoo domain email addresses, are not VAT registered and run from home.

Asides from that Paypal is very expensive if you have decent turn over going through.

As said above there are 2 sides, the merchant account, we use Lloyds Cardnet, but does not mean they are the best and the gateway.

Different Gateways are effective for different businesse, its all related to your card turnover, value of sale, diversity of value etc. Where one compnay may have lots of low level transactiosn, another mayhave afew high value transactions and therfore require a different package.

I have to agree with Doug, When I see that a business accepts paypal, it leaves me thinking of e bay shops and people working from home.

I looked in to a terminal myself around 6 months ago and, as Tim M said, at that time HSBC offered the best deal , but I think HSBC were going through another company.