Paying by credit card

[MikeF00]

Hello. Is it considered unusual or 'a bit off ' to ask a plumber if he would accept a credit card payment before he starts the job.

I'm getting central heating system put in.

Quite a big lucrative job , surely he would insure the 3 or 4 % cost of credit card Payment ?

 

[wazzer]

you will find most plumbers don't have the machine bigger companies will have one but they will charge you more.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

smaller plumbing companies are now starting to get card machines. another alternative to consider is bank transfer directly into their account.

 

[Guest123]

Almost all payments I take from customers now are by debit or credit card. I have a mobile card terminal that works on the GPS network and there is a quarterly charge. It saves customers (especially elderly ones) having large amount of cash lying about the house, plus it both eliminates cheques which I no longer accept and the money is paid into my account with acceptance from the credit card company, so I know then and there if the funds are available from my customer and won't bounce like a cheque can.

Here's the company I use:
Card Machines, Chip & Pin Terminals, Online Payments - CardSave

 

[Orry Clayton]

too much of a risk especially with charge backs...

No one wants to do a job then 10 weeks down line, card company saying Sorry we can't pay this, customer is claiming agaist you...

 

[AWheating]

i prefere to be paid in old copper 2 pence coins......... worth more down the tat yard!

i think bank transfere is a good idea.

 

[Guest123]

too much of a risk especially with charge backs...

No one wants to do a job then 10 weeks down line, card company saying Sorry we can't pay this, customer is claiming agaist you...

So do you expect to be paid cash every time? Practically every goods or services these days involves card payments, so you're talking nonsense. What's the alternative, a bounced cheque? I've never had one single problem, that's because I leave a first class fully guaranteed job, charge backs will only happen if you leave a pigs ear of a job.

 

[AWheating]

So do you expect to be paid cash every time? Practically every goods or services these days involves card payments, so you're talking nonsense. What's the alternative, a bounced cheque? I've never had one single problem, that's because I leave a first class fully guaranteed job, charge backs will only happen if you leave a pigs ear of a job.

had to charge back an on line butchers once, asked for a delivery of quality pork cuts to make a stock, when it came they had made a right pigs ear of the order!

 

[SimonG]

To the op. If you are just springing the payment by credit card then expect to pay the fees. In this day and age there's no such thing as a lucrative job. Margins are tight.

I know I wouldn't be paying it.

 

[Guest123]

PMSL Mr Wheating go get your coat!

 

[Roger Welton]

Am considering a card machine at the moment, how do you find card save system?

 

[Guest123]

Am considering a card machine at the moment, how do you find card save system?

Excellent mate, I would highly recommend them.

 

[Barry98]

Mine are with payment sense , customers love them all them necta points

 

[lbp plg & htg]

Personally I would never expect someone to do a job in my home home then expect them to accept payment by card. There again thats my opinion.

 

[Guest123]

Personally I would never expect someone to do a job in my home home then expect them to accept payment by card. There again thats my opinion.

So how do you expect to be paid? I don't want my customers carrying the risk of having thousands of pounds lying around their house just to pay me! Cheques are worse and I feel insulted being offered one. Come on its the 21st Century and card payments have been around since the 1960's. Besides customers love the convenience.

 

[nicro3]

100 pounds a quarter robbery

 

[nicro3]

A fool and his money are easily parted

 

[Guest123]

100 pounds a quarter robbery

I don't pay that.

The charge is offset against all your customers payments for that quarter. If all you do is 50 quid repairs, then card payments are not for you. However if your order value is high and in the thousands it's perfect. As soon as the card is inserted in the machine a credit check is made on it and you know then and there if the customer has enough cash in their account to pay you. You can't do that with a cheque.

 

[Barry98]

A cheque can also be cancelled , once card pavement has been accepted its 99.5 % guaranteed

 

[Guest123]

A fool and his money are easily parted

Next time you pay for your shopping in the supermarket, I hope you remember that. A fool doesn't get real and move with the times, or offer his customers alternative means of payment.
I can also take payments over the telephone with mine and have no worries over cash flow now. Can you say that?

 

[nicro3]

Why pay a third party, can you not get what you are owed. ie cheque, cash and transfer.

 

[nicro3]

Never had a problem from fifty, to a few thosand

 

[Guest123]

Why pay a third party, can you not get what you are owed. ie cheque, cash and transfer.

I've explained all that above. Cheques are archaic, can be dishonoured and at point of sale in someone's home, cannot be credit checked. I don't expect my customers to have thousands of pounds in their home when they can pay me by card, and as for bank transfer I have to wait (and sometimes remind them) to pay it. Ok I'm paying for a service, but I get paid immediately without sending out reminders and cost of doing so. Cash flow is no longer a problem.

 

[Guest123]

Never had a problem from fifty, to a few thosand

You will and many forum members already have. My average order value is 4 grand plus, so I don't expect or want any payment problems.

 

[MarkAqua]

You wouldn't go to a supermarket and ask to bank transfer them

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

how much is the monthly fee for machine rental or whatever they charge you for?

 

[MarkAqua]

It's true though - you HAVE to move along with times. Card payments aren't even the future, they're the past. But The amount of tradesmen that don't hold this facility are losing out. And if you cant make enough profit to cover the £150 a year cost then your doing something terribly wrong

 

[nicro3]

I would love to see a major builder punch their number into a machine.

 

[Guest123]

I would love to see a major builder punch their number into a machine.

No difference there either, they have to pay suppliers on many ocasions with several company credit cards as they also do with hotel bills and entertaining prospective clients with business lunches.

When I did my council contract, all of their materials were purchased by credit cards.

As I said above I can also take payments over the phone, as do millions of businesses worldwide do as well.

Many retailers have a 2.5% surcharge on card payments (I don't) to cover the charges.

Do you really expect people to have to go to the bank in this day and age and have the hassle of withdrawing thousands just to pay you.

 

[MarkAqua]

Totally agree with system. Doesn't matter how big the company. It's all the same and they still use card machines and pay by card

 

[Guest123]

how much is the monthly fee for machine rental or whatever they charge you for?

That's negotiable with whatever payment plan is best suited to you. Bit like a monthly phone contract! Why not arrange a meeting with their local rep and find out? No obligation and you have nothing to lose.

 

[nicro3]

System we will agree to disagree.

 

[Guest123]

System we will agree to disagree.

Some day when you get bumped for thousands you might consider moving into the 21st Century. Plus you're not offering your customers the benefit of having a convenient and alternative payment method than "going to a bank".

 

[Guest123]

One alternative to credit/debit card payments is to set up a business Paypal account and get paid that way. Be aware though that Paypal's fees are much higher than card machines, but either way you get paid.

 

[nicro3]

Done it and didnt want to pay, besides still live in the 20th century where trust is a two way thing. And as I say will always collect

 

[Ray Stafford]

I must admit to being surprised at the debate. As a merchant, our preference would be in this order:

Debit card
Credit card
Cash
Invoice on account, paid by BACS
Invoice on account, paid by cheque
Cheque (on the spot)

I appreciate that our business processes are a bit different, but charge backs on cards are trivially small in comparison to bounced cheques, late or unpaid invoices. Large amounts of cash are a pain in the @ss.

Having said that, I would not be surprised if a tradesman didn't want to take a card - and if I wanted to pay that way, I would expect to check before the job started. However, if at the end of the job, he whipped out a card machine and offered to let me pay by card, I would be impressed.

 

[Guest123]

Thank you Ray, exactly what my point is. As for payment methods I've completely eliminated the last 3 methods on your list as I expect to (fairly) and promptly paid for my services upon completion of works.

Sadly Nicro3 "Done it and didnt want to pay, besides still live in the 20th century where trust is a two way thing. And as I say will always collect" may well prove to be your downfall one day when you get bumped for a large 4 figure sum.

 

[nicro3]

Semi retired can afford to have this attitude been there done it and got the t shirt

 

[Guest123]

Semi retired can afford to have this attitude been there done it and got the t shirt

You're lucky then. most of the forum members are either starting out or having problems getting work/paid.

 

[TBServices]

I'd love to have this, but hate being charged! How dear is it?

 

[Guest123]

I'll contact my local Cardsave rep and if enough of you guys are interested, Ill secure a good discount for forum members.

 

[nicro3]

Luck has nothing to do with it. Have worked hard and now work as and when

 

[Guest123]

I'd love to have this, but hate being charged! How dear is it?

As above, contact your local area rep, arrange a meeting and work out an affordable package that suits you, your business and your budget.

 

[SimonG]

I'll contact my local Cardsave rep and if enough of you guys are interested, Ill secure a good discount for forum members.

Interested.

 

[TBServices]

Interested.

Ditto

 

[Guest123]

Luck has nothing to do with it. Have worked hard and now work as and when

"Lucky" as in your semi retired and you're in the position that you don't have the cash flow worries many other plumbers have. Not meant luck as how hard you've worked. I've worked hard all my life as well but I consider myself both lucky and fortunate to be in the position I am in now.

 

[Guest123]

I'll contact my local Cardsave rep and if enough of you guys are interested, Ill secure a good discount for forum members.

All members interested PM me your email/contact details and I'll contact Cardsave. If we get enough names to get their interest, I'm certain I'll get a good discount, but the final package is the one that YOU chose.

There is also the company that Lee/Bod deals with as well but I know little of them.

 

[nicro3]

Not lucky have worked towards it. PLEASE READ POST

 

[Guest123]

Not lucky have worked towards it. PLEASE READ POST

I meant lucky as in fortunate. PLEASE READ POST.

Swings and Roundabouts this, and off topic and I'm not getting drawn into a terminology debate, which is detracting from the helpful post I've offered above about those wanting a card machine. Please leave it alone and let it rest.

 

[nicro3]

I think card save give tenner per introduction or may be more