Credit cards payments -help

[rollinsonstar]

Hi. Can anyone suggest the best and most cost effective way to take credit cards. I need to be able to take credit cards over the phone and at markets and fairs.

I obvioulsy want to keep the set up costs to a minimum and just don't know which way to go.

[friendlybaby]

I use PayPal Virtual Terminal. It costs £20 per month to have the facility available, plus you pay transaction fees each time you use it (which get lower the more you use it). It means that you don't have to pay for any specific equipment which can prove quite costly.

[chris]

I use Paypal Pro as well and found it to be good for what I needed and easy to use.

[Chiggs]

I use paypal pro, too- I use it to take c/card payments over the phone for trade orders, and find it really useful- worth the £20 a month (+fees!)

[friendlybaby]

You'll need a merchant account with your bank in order to accept card payments.

I knew I meant to say that that was a major reason I chose PayPal, as I don't have a merchant account.

[antonia]

And, I just checked and I think they have a offer whereby the monthly fee is waived until January if you sign up now

[Miranda]

But with Paypal Pro, whilst its fine for phone transactions you don't get a mobile terminal do you - so you have to use your laptop for fairs and markets, and unless you have a 3G card for your laptop which when I last enquired was the order of about £30-40 a month on a 2 year contract, you wouldn't be able to use it at fairs and markets unless you could find a wifi connection or connect it via your mobile phone. So all in all buying or renting a mobile terminal and having a merchant account might be a cheaper option. Also I think a proper card machine looks a lot more professional than using a laptop (aside from the security risk of loosing your laptop unless it's nailed down with a kensington lock), and is also quicker to use a terminal.

[rollinsonstar]

thanks everyone thats certainly given me a few ideas, quite like the paypal idea.

[feistygal]

You can buy a 3G mobile broadband modem for £30 and use it on a PAYG basis so that with Paypal Pro would be the cheapest option.

There is an organic shop in my village and they use a laptop as their till - it is a lot faster to authorise than a card machine so it seems to be a very viable option.

[babybiz]

What Miranda said sounds good. I only have phone and online at the moment so I have a merchant account that gives me a really good rate and use protx as the processor. I need a terminal when we open the shop so I'm watching this thread with interest.

Tashxx

[willowcat]

As far as keeping the costs down with Paypal Pro for your laptop you could purchase something like this :http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/detail.omp
from only £10.00 a month or PAYG

[rollinsonstar]

I have been looking into this further and a company called Adelante offer systems to be able to use your mobile or laptop they also supply mobile terminals for rent or to buy I have emailed them for further info so I will keep you posted

[musicbugs]

I would feel very nervous about taking my lap top out with me:unsure:

Are you a member of the FSB? (federation of small businesses). You do have to pay a membership fee each year but you then get free business banking for that and then great rates on a merchant account including a hand held terminal. I am not sure just how much it costs but I know it is a lot cheaper.

One of our franchisees is considering it because she struggles to handle all of the enrolements at the end of term and doesn't like to handle too much in the way of cash (for safety reasons). I guess it would be the same if you were running a market stall or similar?

I will ask around and see if I can find out the cost of rental etc via the FSB and report back :)