Credit Card Customers, Is It Worth It?

[village idiot]

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?

 

[rocketmanbkk]

Maybe it is for custards if that's the only way they can pay & you want the job

Maybe just use as last resort

 

[hammers4spanner]

If they are paying on a card then i don't want the work off them simples.

 

[rocketmanbkk]

I hear ya

 

[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.

 

[village idiot]

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.

 

[tamz]

Its good to put things through the books now and again

 

[rpm]

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.

 

[newcastle phill]

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.

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

 

[village idiot]

Its good to put things through the books now and again

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