In this month of October, I have lost THREE boiler replacement jobs simply because customers say they can't afford to pay cash but are willing to pay me by Credit Card. (Yesterday I lost another one in Bromly). I have never been tempted to accept credit card payments, but am beginning to wonder if taking credit card payments is the way forward?
- Thread starter village idiot
- Start date
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T
tamz
You have to move with the times and most people can't afford big purchaces without some kind of credit.
I bought one of those payleven things from screwfix for about £50 but there are a couple of others out there. It bluetooths to your phone and is easy to use Does the job and the money is in your bank a couple of days later. Takes a few days to set up as they have to run a couple of checks and send you a nominal amount and you tell them how much it was etc.
The charges vary from 2.75% to 1.5% depending on how much you put through it in a month. I add on 2.5% if they pay by card and just explain it like if they book a holiday on the internet the card charges are added. Nobody has moaned about it.
I bought one of those payleven things from screwfix for about £50 but there are a couple of others out there. It bluetooths to your phone and is easy to use Does the job and the money is in your bank a couple of days later. Takes a few days to set up as they have to run a couple of checks and send you a nominal amount and you tell them how much it was etc.
The charges vary from 2.75% to 1.5% depending on how much you put through it in a month. I add on 2.5% if they pay by card and just explain it like if they book a holiday on the internet the card charges are added. Nobody has moaned about it.
Thanks Tamz, but I'm not so sure I want to go down the CC route while I'm still a 1-man band outfit. I think hammers reasoning are the way I see it for the moment. For now, I will let the CC jobs slip through my fingers.
When given the 3 options I reckon it`s around ......
10% pay cash
15% pay with cheque
75% pay with card
Bills are between £100 to £750.
10% pay cash
15% pay with cheque
75% pay with card
Bills are between £100 to £750.
N
newcastle phill
I use worldpay zinc. Very similar to payleven and i zettle.
There are no standing charges and it is easy to set up. They merely take a commision per sale of 2.75% (last time I checked).
The customer pays that as i add it on.
Never had any drama and other than keeping the batteries topped up works as it should
Well, 90% of my receipts from customers are direct bank transfers (method I recomend and encourage them to use) with all materials being paid in advance of work being done except for small jobs. I even ask CP12 payments to be transfered directly to my bank account.
5-7% pay by cheque and only a small minority pay by cash. I will always ask that a bank transfer is made as it shows an ''audit trail''. Failing that I will take cheque. I only accept cash as a last resort. I will not refuse to accept payment if customer says all they have is cash.
Where labour is over £500, I request payment in stages
R
Ray Stafford
It depends. If you still have plenty of work without these three boiler changes, then you can afford to stick to your current policy.
However, if you are losing money because of it, a wise man would reconsider his position.
There's nothing inherently good or bad about one method of payment over another.
J
julesverne
Credit cards are easy i get them to pay using paypal and add the charge on. Although as with any credit card you have to be wary of chargebacks.
M
Masood
Why? Seriously, interested in your reasoning. I'm a one-man band and been taking cards for a couple of years. Customers love it as it's convenient. I don't take cheques any more.
- May 23, 2015
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T
tamz
Cash is king but you spend it on shyte ........as not to leave an audit trail lol
T
tamz
The wee card terminals work through an app too so yer halfway there. Its just another string to your bow and the 50 quid cost of it is well covered on the 1st job.
- May 23, 2015
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- May 23, 2015
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- 14,996
- 113
- Member Type
- Heating Engineer (Has GSR)
- May 23, 2015
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- 14,996
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- Member Type
- Heating Engineer (Has GSR)
T
tamz
T
tamz
She never asks for nothing......just plants seeds until i think its my idea
- May 23, 2015
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R
Ray Stafford
- May 23, 2015
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What about gold, diamonds and sheep do you take these as these certainly can't bounce
T
tamz
I once had a Coutts cheque from an old dear in Edinburgh. She was well posh but very good with the tea and home baking.
T
tamz
I'm open to barter too. I'll take anything except ***** cos i'm off the strange stuff.
Last edited by a moderator:
T
tamz
I had a near 5k cheque from an older woman i do regular work for. She is not really internetted up so gave me a cheque and her bank bounced it even though she had the money in the account as she didn't use her cheque book much.
She could work the card machine though.
She could work the card machine though.
- May 23, 2015
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- May 23, 2015
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Tbh I don't know why they still send chq books out unless your using them they keep sending me 3 a year
L
LPC
I've got an iZettle machine. Just sits in the van and doesn't cost me anything apart from the £50 or so I paid for the machine a couple of years ago. Only used it about 3 times, all boiler jobs. Customer just pays the 2.75% on top to cover the fees, and the money is in my bank in a couple of days.
I think anyone working for themselves should have a credit card machine.
It's actually my preferred method of payment on all small jobs and service work.
I can't believe knocking back work due to not having the facility.
The other good thin is that you can get accredit card no. off someone prior to starting small jobs, so that you can process payment upon completion.
I know of some companies that won't book a service call unless they have a credit card no. up front
It's actually my preferred method of payment on all small jobs and service work.
I can't believe knocking back work due to not having the facility.
The other good thin is that you can get accredit card no. off someone prior to starting small jobs, so that you can process payment upon completion.
I know of some companies that won't book a service call unless they have a credit card no. up front
M
Masood
I keep meaning to sort a machine out, it's just another job on the to do list. Having said that I rarely get asked if they can pay by card, most of my customers seem happy to do a bank transfer. Still get a couple of cheques a month though, mainly from older people.
Sure this has been discussed elsewhere but are they mostly just an outright payment to but then a percentage? Also guess would depend on Internet connection, it can be a bit patchy round here.
Sure this has been discussed elsewhere but are they mostly just an outright payment to but then a percentage? Also guess would depend on Internet connection, it can be a bit patchy round here.
Times are changing so if you're not accepting credit cards now you will be reconsidering in the future. Its flexible for the customer and most other things can be bought on credit cards. Also they get some form of protection with Section 75.
I am in the same boat in fairness , not as yet needed one besides i have android and don't even know what system supports that.
I've got the World pay zinc, cost £40 new from ebay
Haven't used it yet, but when I do it'll be well worth it
Custard pays the 2.75% charge, not you
Can't understand why anyone wouldn't have one TBH
Haven't used it yet, but when I do it'll be well worth it
Custard pays the 2.75% charge, not you
Can't understand why anyone wouldn't have one TBH
Surprised with the comments about cheques. Never use a cheque myself but most payments I receive are by cheque. From big national companies to small five minute jobs.
I get the odd customer ask about credit cards but theyre happy to pay by bacs.
Had a Paypal payment the other week. Im sure it cost me about 5%
I get the odd customer ask about credit cards but theyre happy to pay by bacs.
Had a Paypal payment the other week. Im sure it cost me about 5%
Next time tell them and they could send it to "friend" which wouldn`t cost either of you a %
- May 23, 2015
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Sometimes its easier if they get the boiler flue just give them the product codes they look online anyway and get same deal as us .
They get interest free creed card you get paid cash for your side and you stay away from VAT.
Have had my mobile chip and pin machine for 3 years now, and to be fair that is pretty much all I use now, except cash obviously and the very occasional cheque.
Costs me £22.50 a month, 0.2% fee on debit cards and 1.5% on credit cards. Has a roaming sim so has never struggled with picking up signal.
For me it was a no brainer, but not for everyone
Costs me £22.50 a month, 0.2% fee on debit cards and 1.5% on credit cards. Has a roaming sim so has never struggled with picking up signal.
For me it was a no brainer, but not for everyone
Are those % figures based on a minimum usage per month / year?, 0.2% & 1.5% sounds good.
Who cares if they pay on a credit card? I have a Worldpay mobile card terminal. Insert the card - They punch in there pin. It says pin accepted and the sale goes through there and then.
As long as its accepted there is no trouble. You would have more aggro with a cheque bouncing.
As long as its accepted there is no trouble. You would have more aggro with a cheque bouncing.
J
JCSPLUMBING
I'm about to buy a machine, which is the best rated. When I ask for a transfer I always get that feeling of will they/wont they when I get home as they never do it there and then. I'm happy to get rid of that stress. I once had a guy I worked for on a Thursday and he said he would pay later that evening and he never paid until Monday morning and wouldn't answer the phone all weekend. It was about £1500 too.
N
newcastle phill
They all seem much of a muchness to be honest but i opted for worldpay...why ???
Helpline is 24hr and based in gateshead. Tyne and wear so no foreign call centres.
The brand is probably the most established and recognised so when a customer sees it they feel assured but i am also confident other brands are just as good.
I can do payments via over the phone ( customer not present) which some others do not.
DO NOT go with paypals option unless you want the usual paypal chargebacks - yes you can get hammered just like ebay with chargebacks pmsl.....and they want to be taken seriously.....
Helpline is 24hr and based in gateshead. Tyne and wear so no foreign call centres.
The brand is probably the most established and recognised so when a customer sees it they feel assured but i am also confident other brands are just as good.
I can do payments via over the phone ( customer not present) which some others do not.
DO NOT go with paypals option unless you want the usual paypal chargebacks - yes you can get hammered just like ebay with chargebacks pmsl.....and they want to be taken seriously.....
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