Credit Card Processing

[Bump]

I am about to go commercial and have been researching the best way to process the inevitable credit card payment. Merchant services, sale or rental? Third party processors? Paypal/Worlbank? There must be an easier way than having to have a machine at £35 per month plus calls or £700 for purchase.

Any advice from UK locksmiths gratefully received.

[toomush2drink]

I have a portable credit card machine from barclays via vodafone. It works on the vodafone network so is totally portable. do date ive done hardly any transactions on it as the battery is always losing its charge and it appears to be like the old mobile phones technology. this is actualy working out to my advantage as when the customer asks if i take cards i can answer yes but when i go to use it the flipping battery is dead and most say " dont worry i can write you a cheque". This means lower charges on the banking and i can advertise that i accept them. Before you all go thats not right etc i do have the option of plugging it in to the mains but i only do this if the customer doesnt offer any other means of paying.
It costs £30 a month leasing but i may just payup for a new one at the end of the year as the new chip and pin system is making my one defunct

[fixer]

The best place to talk to someone is your bank. Most banks offer all sorts of business services and may have an option for card processing. Perhaps they can bundle this in with the business account that you should open

In the US here, I use a computer based solution that phones the merchant services provider. If I am out in the field, I have a manual machine and CC slips that the customer signs. I also usually ask for some form of ID that has their name/address on it, plus record their licience tag if it is a vehicle lockout.

[kodierer]

give them your bill, and then have instructions for them to pay you online using paypal. This will add some convenience.

[noorudeenshakur]

Do yahoo shops or paypal. Convienient and affoardable

[Grudge]

Paypal is starting a new service (in beta) called Virtual Terminal. It allows you to accept payment over the phone or fax and enter the info into a web form. Haven't used it, but sounds handy.