Methods of payment esp credit/debit cards

[ERR0R]

I'm trying to work out how to accept payments from clients. I'm currently only able to accept cash/cheques but have had one or two clients arrive expecting to pay by card. I'm sure I have read advice in Healthy Pages somewhere, that there is a co-operative that we can join which will accept credit/debit card payments without having to set up as an individual through the bank which can be expensive per transaction. Have looked through the back posts but can't find anything.
I'd be grateful for any help/advice - thanks.

Marino

 

[Restropjan]

Hi Marino[/align][/align]It is not worth the hassle, not only is it expensive to set up, you lose a percentage of each transaction to boot [/align]

 

[thundercatt9]

Whenever I take a booking I always mention payment is only by cash or cheque. If the client is anything like me they have to find their cheque book as it has been so long since they used it!

We do live in a plastic debit / credit card society now and it may well be expected that we take such payment methods. But unfortunately the banks don't want us small (ie tiny) businesses / sole-traders to have these payment methods, otherwise they would be a lot cheaper. The costs involved are monthly rental, per transaction fee - either a set amount or percentage. And these vary on the type of card used.

If a client is is very keen to pay by card I tell them that they can pre-pay for the treatment using Paypal and that there is a £1 transaction fee that will be added to the treatment cost.

Mat xxx

 

[dmorgan924]

Ooooh... Paul, we'll have to agree to differ [&:]

I listened to all those therapists who told me it's too expensive to get a card facility until I finally bravely applied properly for it and found out just how cheap it is. Like anything else, it's horses for courses. I found that if you go to your bank, they will be able to advise you what is best for yor particular business.