Originally Posted By: mzwerin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Just wondering… Do you take credit cards? If so, are you content with the Merchant Services company you use? What do they charge in % rates and per-transactions fees? Monthly, Annual? Cancellation fees?
My lil' company is looking to take CCs, however, we don't want a long contract, lots of fees or big monthly minimums...
Can you recommend a credit card processor that you like?
Originally Posted By: jhorton This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Cheapest method I have found to take Credit Cards is Pay Pal. People have to have an internet connection and sign up for Pay Pal. But it is free for for them. I forget the rate for us but it was the best deal.
The downside is that people and contest their payment with their credit card company and you have to waste time defending yourself. So I am tending to stay away for them now. We had a big discussion on the Appraiser Board and seems someone had a dispute and the Card Co. Assumed they were wrong. I don't remember if he ever got that straight with them or not.
-- Jeff <*\\><
The man who tells the truth doesn't have to remember what he said.
Originally Posted By: mzwerin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
As much as I also would like to know how many Inspection companies take CCs versus how many (by choice) do NOT take them, I can’t change the poll. I quote: “if people have already placed votes only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it.”
So far, http://MerchantExpress.com looks like a very good account provider. Am awaiting an answer to a very detailed set of question sent onto them. Looked at LOTS of Merchant Account Providers out there and most have way too much in fees or some other big problems. Also, sent the same set of questions to http://www.cardservice.com Let's see what they both have to say.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe H.
Ok, I was not too thrilled about the $500 software fee. I was thinking the rest did not sound all that bad, right up until the point you stated a $5 batch fee. Did you post that correctly? Or was it supposed to be .50 cents? That is a real deal killer for me.
About a year ago I came across Quickbooks version of cerdit card processing. It did not sound too bad at all. Like $13 a month with good discount rates and no other fees. I think if I do start taking them I am going to try their service and see what happens. One big plus is that I already use the accounting software and it does it automatically without any extra steps.
Quickbooks makes it easy and cheap to accept credit cards. If you use the wells fargo merchant services they sell you a card reader and decrease the discount rate to 1.89% which is pretty good. Sounds like a good overall deal if you are thinking of accepting CC's.
Originally Posted By: mzwerin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It looks like Costco offers it’s Executive members ($100 annually, includes a 2% rebate on all costco purchases) the best prices on accepting CCs. Their fees are as follows:
1.57% + .21 transaction fee -- Swiped cards
2.04% + .28 transaction fee -- Mailorder/Telephone order
Zero re-programming fee
Zero statement fee
Zero batch processing fee
Zero application fee
Zero monthly fee
Zero annual fee
$20 monthly minimum
The only downside is they require a 3-year service contract and have a $95 cancellation fee if you break the contract. Apparently many other Merchant Account companies charge LOTS more than that to break.
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I would have responded to the poll, but I don’t take credit cards.
At the advice of my attorneys, I do not accept credit cards. The reason is that if the customer is dissatisfied with the home inspection in any way, they do not have to come talk to me or even notify me that they are dissatisfied in any way. They can simply refuse to pay the credit card company and then the credit card company takes the money back out of my account until things are resolved.
I'd rather keep all those transaction fees for myself and keep the Client's money in my account while we discuss whatever it is the Client is dissatisfied with. Fortunately, I've only had four callbacks in 700 inspections in two years, all resolved without any loss of income, hurt feelings, etc.
I let my prospective Clients know far in advance of the inspection exactly what the rate is and how we get paid. No one has ever complained about me not taking credit cards. Actually [pause] . . . I keep very good records, so I just went to look up if I had received any requests for me to take credit cards: three.
All the companies that I have checked with (because I keep considering taking them)--Costco, the credit union, Bank of America, etc.--charge a monthly fee if I don't do enough credit card business. Another dinger. I deem it just not worth the trouble.
This is the only job I've ever had where I get paid in advance or I don't do the work. I really like that. My previous company waited for six months sometimes before the check arrived.
Originally Posted By: jremas This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I only accept credit cards through the internet using PayPal. I did not have any at all, then I ended up with 2 just last week. I am not thrilled about the charges. It was a convenience because the people were from out of town and could not be there & there was not enough time to get a check in the mail. It is nice to get paid immediately but it sucks with the charges. I only offer this if asked or if they are a client from out of town.
JMO
–
Jeff Remas
REMAS Inspections, Inc.
Northeastern PA & the Poconos
www.NEPAinspector.com
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
My out of town clients come in two classes:
(1) Those who find me on the Internet. If they find me on the Internet then they contact me and I tell them my conditions of employment. Never a problem. If they are from out of town, typically they are not rushing to close escrow anyway so there always is time for them to overnight a check to me. Usually things are so laid-back that I get it by regular mail a few days later.
(2) Those who are using a local Realtor. The nice thing about California is that our Business and Professions Code allows a Realtor to sign my home inspection agreement and make payment on behalf of their Client. I point this out to Realtors. A lot of them already know it because they are relocation specialists who have been in business many years. None of them have a problem signing my agreement and making payment.
As my attorney told me when I started this business, "This is your business. Make your Clients hire you on your terms. Then you'll never be dissatisfied with your business." He was right.
Originally Posted By: jhorton This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I have to agree Russel. I take credit cards on my web site through PayPal but I have had serious second thoughts. I have heard that PayPal was tougher about people having a dispute than most card companies though.
I had to have some AOL charges removed from my card because they will not cancel my trial account it has had me thinking. It was so simple to do that it concerns me about taking cards. I have only taken one it was a out of state transaction and was convenient. But it's to easy for them to back out and I may remove this from my web site very soon.
-- Jeff <*\\><
The man who tells the truth doesn't have to remember what he said.
Originally Posted By: ecrofutt This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I don’t accept credit cards and probably never will.
Maybe one request for it in the last year.
As far as out of town goes:
I'll schedule and do the inspection, but no report issued until payment received. This allows plenty of time for them to get the check to me via overnight or even regular mail. Occasionally, the agent will pay for the inspection and get reimbursed from the client. So far this has only happened twice and I prefer not to do it. I can then mail, e-mail, or fax the report, or drop it off at the agent's office depending on the clients preference. Some (very few) clients, I've never met, just set it up and reviewed it with them over the phone.
I read the mention of credit card disputes being easy for the customer, but remember that so is a stop payment order on the check. Of course, it costs them to do a stop payment. Don't know about cost on CC dispute.
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
If you do daily deposits of your checks like I do, the check has cleared way, way before the Client has read the whole report, moved into the home, and discovers that he has any sort of issue with the inspection.
