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alison
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 07 9:39 pm    Post subject: credit card facilities Reply with quote
    

I am sure these have been discussed before, but does anyone use them, and who do you use.

We have had quite a few no shows recently, mainly due to the weather, and we are getting fed up with the "tough" attitude.

If people were going abroad they would have to pay, if they changed their minds, so they should here too.

What do you think about cc charges?

What do you think about cancellation charges?

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 07 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think a non-refundable payment to secure a booking (credited against the final bill) is eminently reasonable.

Sorry but I don't have any up to date info on "merchant charges", however generally they aren't cheap - especially if you aren't doing lots and lots of transactions.
Nevertheless, people nowadays have the expectation of being able to pay by 'plastic'. You just have to factor the cost in as any other business cost.

judyofthewoods



Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 804
Location: Pembrokeshire
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 07 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think a non-refundable deposit is more than reasonable. If they leave you in the lurch, they should pay, after all you may have lost out on another booking. That is the whole idea about deposits.
As for payment methods, what about PayPal, fees are not too steep?

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What happened to that paypal version of merchant banking that they released lately? One of the things you could do is take card payments over the phone but they seem to have gone a bit quiet about it

When my mum ran a B&B their booking wan't secure until she'd receieved a cheque for the deposit.

Helen_A



Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 1548
Location: MK, Bucks.
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'm using the paypal 'scheme' - its actually rather good, and is working out a *lot* cheaper than the 'bank' version would, and a little cheaper than my previous deal with Streamline (which had a machine living in my house and the nasty insurance nightmare that that was).

Its just about covering the £20 a month that I would be paying atm if I hadn't got it during the special offer period. But its a bit 'up and down' during the day, so I tend to collect all the phone orders together and do them all in a bunch in the evening. It wouldn't be so helpful if you were in a shop, from that point of view, although I've come accross peeps using it at shows etc. when the venue has 'net access, and they hire a handheld to authorise the pin side of things for that show only. (pins are checked against info held on the strip on the card, so aren't any more protective in a show situation than that, and so far no issues, as far as they say, with getting names/addresses from people anyway. Having a match against card no for house no. postcode and 3 digit is probably more indicative of 'safety of payment' than relying on the PIN system :-* )

Helen_A

Beckyess



Joined: 08 Jan 2006
Posts: 1076
Location: Worcestershire
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I take a £200 non returnable deposit for my puppies. To me it makes people really think about whether they really want to do it. I'm booking clerk for the Village Hall as well and we are going to introduce a 20% at least non returnable deposit as well because people don't bother turning up.
Becky

alison
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey

I usually take the first nights stay, in cheque, when they book, but if they book yesterday,m for today, then you cannot do that.

In this instance , that prompted this request, people hadn't arrived at 10.30pm although they said they hoped to be here about 3.00pm. 10.50 they rang, and they finally arrived at 12.20 this morning!

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 3:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Alison, one of the problems you'll face is that what you are actually seeking is a "customer not present" card facility.
That's even more difficult/expensive. ('cos they think you must be a mail order scammer...)

I'd suggest setting up an ordinary paypal account (even if you have one already it might be a good idea to have a purely 'business' one) so that there is some ability to email money to you.
Doing that is really easy. But it does require the client to have access to email and a paypal account.

It only gets technical if you want to take money from your website without human involvement, but that requires on-line availability info as well.

However, rather than that, Paypal can provide you with an ability to accept credit/debit cards, in person or by phone. For 3.4%... and zero standing charge, equipment rental, etc. Just the percentage.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_vt_hub-outside

How much would you gain (or lose) by saying 20% (or first night, whatever) up front, no refunds, and no payment means no reservation?

Be careful with the T's&C's, and that you have an incontrovertible acknowledgment that the reservation fee is not refundable. (Maybe an answering machine with a call recording facility to record their details and acknowledgment of non-refundability?) I'm thinking of preventing any "chargeback"s. (If you don't know the word, Google it - for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback )

Green Man



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 5272
Location: Rural Scotland.
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I saw and advert in the NFU magazine for a moblie credit card machine that does 'chip and pin' and 'customer not present' via the mobile network

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The caravan and camping club took a £25 deposit on when I booked our tent pitch for our holiday in the Lakes. So it's common practice, even for tent camping.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 5:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

alison wrote:
Stacey

I usually take the first nights stay, in cheque, when they book, but if they book yesterday,m for today, then you cannot do that.

In this instance , that prompted this request, people hadn't arrived at 10.30pm although they said they hoped to be here about 3.00pm. 10.50 they rang, and they finally arrived at 12.20 this morning!


Blimey. I wouldn't have been a happy bunny

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dougal wrote:
Alison, one of the problems you'll face is that what you are actually seeking is a "customer not present" card facility.
That's even more difficult/expensive. ('cos they think you must be a mail order scammer...)

I'd suggest setting up an ordinary paypal account (even if you have one already it might be a good idea to have a purely 'business' one) so that there is some ability to email money to you.
Doing that is really easy. But it does require the client to have access to email and a paypal account.

It only gets technical if you want to take money from your website without human involvement, but that requires on-line availability info as well.

However, rather than that, Paypal can provide you with an ability to accept credit/debit cards, in person or by phone. For 3.4%... and zero standing charge, equipment rental, etc. Just the percentage.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_vt_hub-outside

How much would you gain (or lose) by saying 20% (or first night, whatever) up front, no refunds, and no payment means no reservation?

Be careful with the T's&C's, and that you have an incontrovertible acknowledgment that the reservation fee is not refundable. (Maybe an answering machine with a call recording facility to record their details and acknowledgment of non-refundability?) I'm thinking of preventing any "chargeback"s. (If you don't know the word, Google it - for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback )


Dougal - that virtual terminal is in the US. In the UK they provide a facility to take card payments over the phone etc but it's £20 a month plus the percentage. It's the one that Helen's using.

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yep Stacey, Virtual Terminal *is* £20/month in the UK. After 1st July '07 !
https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-vt-fees-outside

However, seemingly for nothing other than the percentage, you can have a facility to get paid by email by folks with email, but no pre-existing Paypal account.

Paypal's UK sales line is 0800 358 7929 (free)

If there's a cheaper/simpler way of getting into processing 'Customer Not Present' transactions, then lets hear it! Please!

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 07 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dougal wrote:
Yep Stacey, Virtual Terminal *is* £20/month in the UK. After 1st July '07 !
https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-vt-fees-outside



And it's now 28th Your point? You said there was zero standing charge when it actualy costs £20 a month. And Helen and I had both mentioned it earlier in the thread.

Maxwell Smart



Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town
PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Depending on the amount you expect to put through on the terminal you could consider joining the Federation of Small Bussinesses and get one through them.

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