The post Why the chip and pin machine is the real deal appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

The post Why does your business need a card reader? appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

The post Mobile card payment versus credit card payment appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

The post Advantages of mobile card payment appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

But so is ensuring your customers can pay you as easily as possible.

The market across many sectors is saturated at the moment, whether you are operating purely as an ecommerce outlet or have a bricks and mortar store. To ensure success, you have to go that little bit further than all the rest.

Branding is Vital

Without a clearly identifiable brand that people recognise, you are going to find it difficult to garner any long-term success. It’s not just about your logo or a catchy by-line on your store front or website. Branding is about your personal ethos, what you bring to the world and it’s what consumers are going to like about your business model.

According to The Branding Journal:

“Think of a brand like a person, each individual has their own personality, way of dressing, communicating, their own values, friends, characteristics and story to tell. It is this that makes up who we are and it is also these characteristics which make a brand.”

Pick the Right Marketing Channels

It’s never been easier, or more confusing, to market a business than in today’s climate. You have access to numerous channels including email advertising and social media at a low cost. The trick is to find the approaches that yield a good return on investment, both for your money and your time. Learning how to market effectively on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, for example, should be top of your list of skills to master.

Make it Easy to Pay

While entrepreneurs often put their focus into building brand and marketing, they can sometimes forget about the other end of the spectrum. What happens when the customer wants to pay?

If you haven’t got the flexibility to allow payment through a variety of different methods, you are instantly putting yourself at a disadvantage compared to your competitors. Building a good, strong relationship with a merchant bank in the first place is important. That means you’ll be able to cross boundaries and set up payments in different ways, for example, using a card payment machine in store and allowing ApplePay and Paypal transactions or processing credit and debit card payments online.

Keeping Up with the Joneses

Your competitors are important. They certainly won’t be standing still and you need to keep up with them. In bygone years, people used to pay with cash. Now they can access their bank accounts online and transfer money directly to you. If you’re competitor is making it more flexible for their customers to engage, you have to do that too. The good news is that there are services which can provide a free quote to get the best payment facility in place.

That’s not all, if your competitors are updating their sites and improving their product range, you need to think seriously about how you can keep up. Most businesses that fail, do so because a new competitor comes onto the market and simply does things better. If you want to succeed, regularly checking out the competition is a very good idea.

The post 4 Top Tips to Guarantee the Success of Your New Business appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

Credit and debit cards are growing into some of the most common modes of payments for consumers. This means that any business that does not accept these methods of payment is likely to miss out on sales significantly.

Here are some of the advantages of accepting credit/debit card payments for businesses: 

(1)Increased sales

If your business only accepts cash, you may be locking out a significant chunk of the consumer base. Accepting credit and debit cards allows those customers who prefer not to move around with cash an opportunity to come to your business for goods and services.

(2)Improved cash flow

Unlike cheque payments, credit card transactions take a short time to de settled as they are processed electronically. In most cases, you will find the money in your bank account between one and three days. At the same time, a credit card payment is unlikely to bounce the same way a bad cheque would.

(3)They give your business more credibility

Accepting credit and debit cards contributes to the positive outlook of your business. It gives your business some degree of credibility as these modes of payments have always been associated with the bigger more established businesses. They are also a great way to develop a rapport with your customers.

(4)Impulse buys

It’s not always that consumers purchase according to a well-thought out plan. In many instances, they may be attracted by the products you have on your display and decide to buy there and then. If you accept credit and debit cards, you will be able to take full advantage of those customers who don’t like to carry cash.

(5)Online option

These methods of payments are a great avenue for your business to start selling online. Most issuers of debit and credit cards offer these options for businesses that sell through the internet. With this option, your business has an opportunity to expand to an even larger consumer base.

(6)Fair charges

The expense your business incurs for accepting credit cards is so small that even a small and upcoming business can be able to accommodate the charges. At the same time, the increased business opportunities for accepting credit and debit cards outweigh the expenses incurred by far.

(7)Saves time

In addition to bouncing, cheques also require you to take your time to take them to the bank for processing. Plastic money, on the other hand, is processed electronically without you having to follow up. Any anomalies with cards are detected on the spot while with cheques, you may not notice spelling mistakes and incorrect figures.

(8)Peace of mind

It is not inconceivable to imagine the consequences of robbers walking into your establishment and emptying your cash register. By accepting plastic money, you reduce your chances of being robbed of all your sales. If a lot of your money is locked in credit cards and debit card receipts, the impact will not be as big.

Bottom line

Although by accepting credit and debit cards, you will need to spend some time reconciling bank statements, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. If you have not been accepting this option, it may be time to reconsider.

The post Advantages of accepting credit/debit card payment for businesses appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

In the industry terms, there is no such existence as an online credit card terminal. This could be referring to one of two things.

1. The first being a Virtual Terminal this is a web-based system. This system allows you to manually process credit or debit card orders. This arrangement is used when dealing with orders placed via Telephone and where payments needs to be taken for that Order or for orders received by Mail where payment is not received with the order.
2. Secondly when people are talking about an online credit card terminal, this could be an Online Payment Gateway. This will enable you to take safe and secure credit card, debit card payments through your website.

So, online credit card terminal we need to know the way that the order will be taken and, how payments will be made. Through your website, Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) all of these fall under the banner of Cardholder Not Present ( https://acceptcardpayments.com/card-payment-terminology/ ) where the cardholder cannot be physically present.

Taking payments through your website has never been easier and, the same can be said for Telephone orders.

These forms of secure and fast transactions, and helping businesses expand to overseas customers.

If you are still not sure which is the right choice for you then ask these questions:

·        Will you need to manually enter mail order/telephone order (MOTO) if yes then think web-based virtual terminal.

·        Will your customers need to make payment online, if yes then think Payment Gateway.

Give ACP a call on 0333 305 4500 or email hello@acceptcardpayments.com and let us help you find the best Online Credit Card Terminal for your business, and yes we know that an Online Credit Card Terminal is a made up term but let us help you find you right card payment solution suited to your needs. Simply fill out a few details on our free quote page and we will call you straight back.

The post online credit card terminal appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

When you are doing your searches or comparisons, one of the first things you will come across is the term Virtual Terminal, so how does this relate to telephone credit card processing? Well a virtual terminal is basically the web version of a physical credit card terminal.

How do they work:

1. You log in via a web browser to your secure card payment page.
2. Input the card details manually.
3. Click process payment.

If you have decided to look into the telephone credit card processing side of things it must serve your needs. If you are able to accept card payments quickly and easily, it will show a high level of professionalism to the customer on the phone.

Things to consider when thinking about applying for a telephone credit card processing service:

Your telephone credit card processing payments are they one off payments, or do you need to be able to schedule payments for the future?

You will see no contract used a lot when looking into telephone credit card processing. You will need to know which is best option for you, as No Contract can often be placed with higher rates. One very important question is, what do you believe your annual payments will be via the telephone credit card processing side.

Having a good payment process means that you will get paid quicker. Invoices can be paid instantly and securely over the phone via a telephone credit card processing service which can help speed up payments.

With a telephone credit card processing service such as a Virtual Terminal your business can accept credit and debit card payments by phone. This is accessible from a PC, smartphone, tablet or any compatible device.

Make sure that you know the process well because if you are accepting payments over the telephone, you need to make your customers feel secure.

If you use a payment gateway, ensure that the Virtual Terminal will be compatible. If you are unaware of the gateway function please see https://acceptcardpayments.com/card-payment-terminology/. All you need to do is simply enter the card details and cardholder details into a secure card payment form, this will connect to your payment gateway for authorisation. A transaction should only take seconds to process and a response is sent back to you for confirmation. Telephone credit card processing can be that simple.

There are factors that need to be considered when looking at telephone credit card processing. So why not contact ACP today, and see if we can help? We offer a free quote for your telephone credit card processing needs, or if you prefer you can call on 0333 305 4500.

The post Telephone Credit Card Processing appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

It is so important that credit card payments online for small businesses are available. The reason credit card payments online for small business came to mind was due to the fact it is a subject which gets mentioned a lot. Card payments increases the level of impulse buying by customers.

We now expect the same level of service from the small business as we do from the larger ones, and at times even better. But when it come to the subject of credit card payments online for small business, the end customer expects the same card payment options.

It is estimated the that in the UK two thirds small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still not accepting card payments.

Why are small businesses still not accepting card payments?

In some cases, it is the preconception that it will be a hassle and the cost implication that settles the choice to not applying to accept card payments. Why not find out the real costs involved in accept credit card payments online for small business: Simply get a free quote to accept credit card payments online for small business here.

If you are asked if you accept card payments, and you currently don’t accept card payments then there is a possibility you may lose that customer. If you need to take credit card payments online for small business and are unsure about your options, simply speak to us today on 0333 305 4500 for free independent impartial advice today.

Everybody recognises the importance of small businesses to the UK economy, we also recognise that the ability to take credit card payments online for small business is an important part of growth.

So, if you are one of the business who don’t take payment online contact ACP and let’s see if we can help. If you have a process in place for taking credit card payments online for small business, then contact ACP and let us find the best price and best supplier for merchant services for your business.

The post Credit Card Payments Online for Small Business appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

Card ownership and use

As of October 2016, there were a total of 100.1 million contactless cards in issue in the UK. Of these, 31.5 million were credit/charge cards.¹⁴

68.7 million contactless debit cards were in circulation as of October 2016, accounting for 69% of total debit cards in issue and up from 53% the previous year.²

In September 2015, the UK Cards Association increased the cap on tap-and-go contactless payments to £30. This new limit continues to fuel the use of cards.¹

100.1 million debit cards were in circulation in the UK as of October 2016, down from 100.3 million in September 2016, but up from 98.4 million in October 2015.²

The number of contactless debit cards in circulation increased from 74.5 million to 97 million between August 2015 and August 2016.⁴

Borrowing and spending

Annual growth in high street banks’ credit card borrowing was 6.2% in March 2016, exceeding growth in the wider (all issuers) credit card market which grew at an annual rate of 5.7%.⁹

There were 223 million credit card purchases in March 2016, with a total value of £12.6 billion. This spending volume was 2% higher than in March 2015, with an aggregate value 1% lower.⁹

About 60 million credit cards were in issue as of March 2016, relating to 50 million accounts. About 67% of these were active at the end of March (i.e. carrying a balance relating to card spending and extended credit). About 42% of all balances in aggregate incur no interest at all.⁹

Debit card spending

During October 2016 domestic spending on debit amounted to £39.2 billion, a 0.8% increase on the month before. This was the lowest growth rate since May 2016.²

The growth in the number of purchases made on debit in the UK in October 2016 also slowed to a six-month low of 971 million. This subdued growth could be explained, in part, by the high level of uncertainty in the UK’s economic performance following the Brexit vote earlier in 2016, contributing to a fall in consumer confidence.²

The domestic average transaction value (ATV) for debit cards fell by 8p between September and October 2016, to £40.36, the lowest level since May 2003. This measure has declined notably since peaking at £48.69 in June 2010, mainly driven by growing adoption of contactless cards, changing consumer shopping habits coupled with continuing supermarket price wars.²

International ATV, meanwhile, increased for the first time in three months to £27.00. The average monthly spend per card reached the highest level on record, at £428, and the average monthly number of purchases per card also reached a record high at 11.04 during that month.²

In October 2016, each debit card was used to make on average 9.7 payments, while the average monthly spend per card increased by £4 to £392.²

International debit card transactional activity continued to grow at a faster rate than domestic spending, albeit from a much lower base. The number of international purchases rose in October 2016 by 1.9% to reach 133 million compared to 131 million in September 2016 and 122 in October 2015.²

Each debit card was used to make 1.33 international purchases in October 2016, compared with 1.24 in October 2015, while the average spend per card was £35.92, compared to £33.15 in October 2015.²

General card spending

Payment card spending in Q3 2016 amounted to £163 billion generated from a record 3.7 billion transactions. Card spending accounted for 77.1% of national retail sales by the end of Q3 2016. ATV registered a quarter-on-quarter increase for the first time since 2013, driven by foreign-issued credit card activity in Q3 2016.⁶

Payment card spending amounted to £54.7 billion in September 2016, up by 0.6% on August.³

In September 2016, there were 1.3 billion card transactions, 157 million of which were online purchases. Spending online amounted to £12.7 billion.³

Growth in card spending continued to slow down in September 2016 with an annual rate of 4.0% – more than twice lower than September 2015 (8.3%). Slower growth in card spending could be linked to an uptick in the annual consumer price inflation rate to a 22-month high, along with lower consumer confidence after the Brexit vote.³

There was a slight decrease in the average transaction value (ATV) on all payment cards, which fell by 4p to £43.45 in September 2016, well below the level in September 2015 (£45.51).³

Contactless card spending

£2,903.2 million was spent in the UK in November 2016 using a contactless card. This is an increase of 3.6% on the previous month and an increase of 183.5% on the previous year. The value is split between debit (£2,553.9 million) and credit / charge cards (£349.3 million).¹⁴

324.5m contactless transactions were made in November 2016. This is an increase of 3.8% on the previous month and 154.5% over the year. The volume is split between debit (286.1 million) and credit/charge cards (38.5 million).¹⁴

As of November 2016, 439,623 bank-owned terminals are available in the UK where contactless cardholders can make a contactless transaction. This is an increase of 2.3% on the previous month and 44.5% over the year.¹⁴

The average contactless transaction was for £8.95 in November 2016. This is split by £8.93 on a debit card and £9.08 on a credit/charge card.¹⁴

£9.3 billion was spent using contactless between January and June 2016, more than the total 2015 contactless spend of £7.8 billion.¹⁵

Debt

Total credit card debt in November 2016 was £66.7 billion. Per household this is £2,469.⁸

Gross lending averaged £15.3 billion per month in Q3 2016, up from £15.1 billion in Q2 and £14.7 billion the year before. Net lending also increased slightly, averaging £443 million per month, up from £440 million in the previous quarter of 2016 and £361 million the year before.⁶

At the end of Q3 2016 credit card outstandings stood at £65.7 billion, up by £0.6 billion on the previous quarter. Around 43% of this total was non-interest bearing. This total accounted for 4.4% of total personal sector outstandings (£1,503 billion), compared to a peak of around 6%, recorded in 2002.⁶

Total lending to individuals increased by £4.9 billion in October 2016, compared to an average monthly increase of £4.2 billion over the previous six months. The three-month annualised and 12-month growth rates were 3.9% and 4.0% respectively.⁵

Within consumer credit, credit card lending increased by £0.6 billion in October 2016, broadly in line with the average over the previous six months. Other loans and advances increased by £1.0 billion, broadly in line with the average over the previous six months.⁵

As of March 2016, net borrowing through personal loans was rising at an annual rate of over 5%, according to the BBA.⁹

People in the UK owed £1.508 trillion at the end of October 2016. This is up from £1.455 trillion at the end of October 2015 – an extra £1,041.23 per UK adult.⁸

The average total debt per household – including mortgages – was £55,982 in November 2016, up from £55,856 the month before. Per adult in the UK, that is an average debt of £29,930 – around 113.2% of average earnings.⁸

Based on November 2016 trends, the UK’s total interest repayments on personal debt over a 12-month period would have been £50.574 billion. That’s an average of £139 million per day. This means that households in the UK would have paid an average of £1,873 in annual interest repayments. Per person that’s £1,001 – 3.79% of average earnings.⁸

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s November 2016 forecast, household debt is predicted to reach £2.294 trillion in Q1 2022.⁸

Outstanding consumer credit lending was £192.19 billion at the end of November 2016. This is up from £178.3 billion at the end of November 2015, and is an increase of £275.54 for every adult in the UK.⁸

Average consumer credit debt per household was £7,118 in November, up from a revised £7,047 in October – and £515.37 extra per household over the year.⁸

Average consumer credit borrowing stood at £3,806 per UK adult in November 2016. This is up from a revised £3,768 in October.⁸

Total credit card debt in November 2016 was £66.7 billion. Per household this is £2,469 – for a credit card bearing the average interest, it would take 25 years and 6 months to repay if you made only the minimum repayment each month.⁸

Total net lending to individuals by UK banks and building societies rose by £5.1 billion in November 2016 – or £170 million a day. Net mortgage lending rose by £3.2 billion in the month; net consumer credit lending rose by £1.9 billion.⁸

Identity theft and fraud

In terms of overall losses, payment card gross fraud showed a slight increase of 1% to £249.9 million in the six months to June 2015, compared with the same period in 2014. However, this period also saw a substantial growth in overall card spending which means card fraud as a proportion of purchases fell to 6.9p for every £100 spent, the lowest level since 2011.¹

Losses on purchases made using a card remotely – online, over the phone or by mail order – stayed flat at £174.4 million in the first half of 2015, but the number of incidents of remote purchase fraud fell by 5% during this period. E-commerce card fraud totalled an estimated £109.9 million, relatively unchanged since 2014.¹

Online card spending increased by 14.3% to £67.4 billion in the first six months of 2015, up from £59.0 billion in the same period of 2014. At the same time, card fraud losses in the UK fell by 4% to £167.5 million, while overseas losses rose by 14% to £82.4 million.¹

Banks successfully prevented £355.4 million of payment card fraud in the first half of 2015.¹

The UK saw Europe’s largest annual jump in card fraud losses for 2015, according to analysts at FICO. Card fraud rose in 10 of the 19 countries studied, with Greece, Denmark, France and Russia posting the highest rises after the UK.⁷

Most of the 18% rise in losses in 2015 came from online transactions, reflecting the growth in this channel, the ease of accessibility to funds and lower risk for criminals and the theft of personal data through cybercrime.⁷

The rise in UK card fraud in 2015 equates to an additional £88.5 million lost. About 75% (£66.7 million) of that increase was in card not present (CNP) fraud, and £42.4 million of CNP fraud came from e-commerce. The UK contributed about 43% of the total card fraud losses across the 19 European countries studied.⁷

Total financial fraud losses across payment cards, remote banking and cheques in the first half of 2016 increased by 25% to £399.5 million, enabled by scams and online attacks. During the same period in 2015, total fraud losses were £320.3 million.¹¹

Banks’ security systems continued to prevent the majority of fraud from taking place in the first half of 2016, with prevented fraud totalling £678.7 million.¹¹

Losses on payment cards – which includes remote purchase fraud, lost and stolen cards, card not received, counterfeit card and card ID theft – stood at £321.5 million in the first half of 2016, compared to £244.6 million in the first half of 2015, an increase of 31%. The prevented loss for cards stood at £475.7 million.¹¹

Remote purchase fraud increased by 31% to £224.1 million between January and June 2016, compared to £171.7 million in the same period of 2015. Intelligence suggests fraudsters are using card details obtained with malware and data breaches, while there are more opportunities to commit such crimes because of the growing number of e-commerce sites.¹¹

There was a slight increase in remote banking losses in the first half of 2016, up from £66.2 million in the first half of 2015, to £70.6 million, with a prevented loss of £103.2 million. Scams continue to drive remote banking fraud, with criminals tricking victims into handing over their money or banking details.¹¹

Fraud on contactless cards remains very low, with £2.8 million of losses over 2015 compared with total spending of £7.75 billion. This represents just 3.6p in every £100 spent on contactless.¹⁰

Online and mobile use

In September 2016, online spending accounted for 23% of total card spending, with the number of e-commerce payments accounting for 13% of the total number of card payments.³

Spending online amounted to £12.7 billion, while the number of online purchases rose to 157 million during September 2016.³

The value of online retail sales grew 18.9% year-on-year (YoY) in October 2016. This was building on a comparatively low rate in October 2015 (when growth was 8.7%), but it still represents the highest YoY growth rate in any month since November 2014, when Black Friday had a huge impact on pre-Christmas shopping patterns.¹²

Growth for online retail sales was at 15.1% from January to September 2016 against the same period in 2015, 37.3% ahead of the original start-of-year forecast of 11%.¹⁷

The total estimated spend on online retail sites on Black Friday 2016 was £1.23 billion – a 12.2% increase on the £1.1 billion spent on the same day in 2015 and almost a quarter lower than the original forecast growth of 16%. An estimated £6.45 billion was spent over the Black Friday peak period (Monday 21 – Monday 28 November 2016).¹⁸

Across mobile channels, tablets made a resurgence in October 2016, with sales completed on the device up 6.0% YoY. In the lead-up to Black Friday, it may be the ease of browsing multiple sites and products on the device that has boosted their use over smartphones which offer smaller display screens.¹²

Bankruptcy

264 people a day are declared insolvent or bankrupt as of November 2016.⁸

There are 2,102 consumer county court judgments (CCJs) issued every day as of November 2016, with an average value of £2,030.⁸

More than 300,000 people in the UK are too poor to go bankrupt because they cannot afford the £525 fee, and 8 million British households have no savings — one of the lowest savings rates in the EU.¹⁶

The number of people who became insolvent in England and Wales was 24,251 in Q3 2016, a 6.0% increase on the previous quarter, and 19.3% higher than the same quarter in 2015. There were 13,917 individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) in Q3 2016, which was 10.9% higher compared to Q2 2016 and 28.8% higher compared to the same period in 2015.¹⁹

The number of debt relief orders (DROs) decreased on the quarter in Q3 2016, but increased on the year. There were 6,490 DROs, which was a 3.7% decrease compared to Q2, but 15.3% higher when compared to the same period in 2015.¹⁹

There were 3,844 bankruptcy orders in Q3 2016, an increase of 7.0% compared with last quarter, but 1.5% lower than Q3 2015. The number of bankruptcies resulting from debtor applications increased by 12.0% compared with the last quarter, while bankruptcies following a creditor petition fell by 3.7%.¹⁹

The rate of insolvency increased in the 12 months ending Q3 2016, as 1 in 515 adults (0.19% of the adult population) became insolvent.¹⁹

Around 8.8 million people would benefit from debt advice but only one in six seek help.¹⁶

Customer satisfaction

Between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, the Financial Ombudsman answered 1,631,955 enquiries from consumers – over 5,000 each working day. Of these, one in five was taken on for a more detailed investigation – a total of 340,899 new complaints. A total of 438,802 complaints were resolved.¹³

Of the new complaints, 56% were about the sale of payment protection insurance (PPI). Excluding PPI, two-thirds of complaints were resolved within three months.¹³

Complaints about packaged bank accounts more than doubled – while complaints about credit broking fell by more than half.¹³

More than half of the total number of complaints involved four banking groups – while 4,076 financial businesses accounted for just 3% of complaints.¹³

Of the total complaints resolved, 8,200 (3.5%) were about credit cards, a fall of 3% on the previous year, while 460 were about store cards, up 2% from the previous year.¹³

Sources:

1. UK Cards Association Annual Report 2016

2. UK Cards Association Debit Card Report October 2016

3. UK Cards Association Card Expenditure Statistics September 2016

4. UK Cards Association News November 2016

5. Bank of England Money and Credit October 2016

6. The UK Cards Association summary of key statistics for Q3 2016

7. FICO News August 2016

8. The Money Charity Statistics January 2017

9. BBA Monthly Statistics Release March 2016

10. Financial Fraud Action Annual Review 2016

11. Financial Fraud Action News October 2016

12. Cap Gemini report, November 2016

13. Financial Ombudsman Service Annual Review 2015-16

14. The UK Cards Association Contactless Cards Statistics November 2016

15. BBA Report: The Benefits of Banking October 2016

16. Centre for Social Justice report July 2014

17. Cap Gemini Report November 2016

18.  IMRG Report: Black Friday 2016 sales

19. The Insolvency Service: Insolvency Statistics July to September 2016 (Q3 2016)

Updated: 1 March 2017

Source: UK credit and debit card statistics

The post UK credit and debit card statistics appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

Countertop

If you run a business that involves face-to-face contact with your customers, such as a retail shop or a restaurant and, you deal exclusively in face-to-face, “card-present” transactions. (the cardholder and card are physically present at the time of the sale.) Your best terminal option may be a countertop point-of-sale model.

A portable card machine

Portable card machines are ideal for businesses that need to move around the premises to take payments. You can connect your portable card machine through WiFi for great coverage

• Ideal for Restaurants and cafes
• No need for the customer to queue at till you can simply take the card terminal to the customer
• Large showrooms where you can pick up the card machine and take it around your premises

Mobile Card Machine

If you are involved in Shows, festivals or market stalls, the Mobile Card Machine may be your best option. This helps with your customers feeling comfortable when making purchases away from a shop also, Home deliveries, as you have the reassurance that goods are paid for by the right person and gives you the opportunity to arrange a pay when delivered solution
Taxi drivers and mini when customers may not have cash and if your business has to travel to where the customers are so ideal for salespeople who are on the road.

Virtual Terminal?

It is becoming important for small businesses to be able to accept manual payments. Manual payments are transactions that are completed without the card holder present, for example if you take orders over the telephone…
Simply put, a virtual terminal is a computer software program that allows you to take money safely and securely from your customer’s debit or credit card and put it in your account.

1. Ensure you are connected to the internet and then log on to your virtual terminal. (You will need to set up an account with your payment processing provider first).
2. Enter the details as prompted by the program while the customer is on the phone
3. Click on the “submit” (or similarly named) button.

Internet tills and online payments pages

The terminals listed above are physical pieces of hardware that are used to accept card transactions.
when merchants are with their customers face to face – or used to manually key in the card details for a card-not-present transaction.
With an internet ‘till’ merchants do not use a standard, physical terminal to process their transactions. A merchant will use a virtual terminal or payment page provided by a payment service provider on their websites.

Finding the right payment provider can be difficult and confusing…

If you are new to accepting card payments and are just not sure what type of merchant account you need, let ACP help you find the right solution. Even if you currently accept card payments, ACP can help you find a better rates, better service and overall better deal! Whether you want to accept card payments in person, online, by phone or even out and about, ACP can help you get the right payment solution for the right price.
We offer independent impartial advice, helping you find the bespoke payment solution that is right for your business.
Get your FREE quote today by simply visiting www.acceptcardpayments.com or call and speak to an ACP specialist on 0333 305 4500

The post What is the best Terminal for your Business appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

There are several advantages to accepting card payments

• Potential increase in profits
• Gives your business more credibility
• Easier for your customers
• Less cash on the premises
• Detailed statements
• Internet and phone payments

There are 5 steps to ensure the business understands what they are doing, how it is done and gets working as soon as possible.

1. Getting set up with a Merchant Account
2. The processing equipment
3. Finding an online processor which works according needs
4. Having a good understanding of the fees and rates involved
5. Understanding the various rules which cover the usage of card payments and business

How Is All This Done?

First step
To start the process an application must be submitted. Click here to start a merchant account application. Once completed it is simply a matter of time before you may or may not get issued with an account.

Second Step
Once the permission is granted, then the business should consider the type of equipment needed to process the cards. This can be supplied by the company arranging your Merchant Account and ensures that all are comparable. What will make it easier for you and easier for your customer.

Third Step
If the small business uses their own bank account to process, the cards they will have to also impart their own credit card details, no big deal if the credit card comes from that bank. Otherwise, they can apply to use PayPal or one of those types of accounts. Generally, PayPal is possibly the best known and trusted third-party supplier. It is also less-costly in fees and rates.

Fourth Step
Taking card payments for small business is a great way to run a business because of the convenience to customers, but it needs a reasonable understanding of the fees and rates that go with it here may also be additional fees. The best idea is to talk it through make sure that you are getting what is right for your business.

Fifth Step
Although taking card payments for small business is a great help to the business, it pays to understand the laws and rules again your provider can help with this

The post Taking Card Payments for Small Business appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

1. Use a phone next to your credit card processing device.
2. Enter the required information while the customer is on the phone.
3. Follow the prompts for manual input. Ask the customer for their card number and type, if requested by your card server.
4. The system will guide you through the process asking for information such as Ask for the customer’s expiry date, security code. Input all information when requested.
5. Submit the information by using process or “submit” button, might differ depending on system
6. Keep the customer on the phone until the payment is approved.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Customer orders by phone with card
2. Login to your Terminal
3. Enter the necessary details
4. Click ‘Process’
5. The terminal processes the transaction(s)

The post How to Accept Credit Card Payments Over the Phone appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

2010, Worldpay had become the largest merchant acquirer in Europe and one of the largest globally. In late 2010, RBS sold Worldpay to Bain Capital and Advent International. This allowed Worldpay to retain the benefits of our heritage, yet transform the business to become more customer-centric, entrepreneurial and innovative.

Since becoming an independent company, they have invested over £1 billion in their business with approximately £400 million invested in technology. This gives our customers speed, reliability and security as well as rich and easy-to-use functionality.

In June 2013, Worldpay launched Worldpay Zinc, a mobile card processing terminal which connects to smart phones

AcceptCardPayments.com and Worldpay will be working closely together to provide payment services for mail order and Internet retailers, as well as point of sale transactions.

The post AcceptCardPayments.com is happy to announce their partner agreement with Worldpay appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

AIB Merchant Services has extensive operations in Ireland and Britain, and have card processing capabilities throughout continental Europe.
They process millions of payments every day, and deal with every major credit and debit card
In a rapidly transforming industry, they remain at the cutting edge.
With AcceptCardPayments.com consistently providing superior customer service, we feel this will make a perfect partnership with large bank technology and AcceptCardPayments.com level of customer service.

In–store, Online, On the go or over the phone this partnership will have the solution that works.

You can trust us to provide a point of payment solution that’s right for you, at the point of payment, over the phone or online. Our expertise and innovation, together with our partner relationships, are at your service.

Talk to us on 0333 305 4500 or email info@acceptcardpayments.com

The post AcceptCardPayments.com are proud of their Partnership agreement with Allied Irish Bank (AIB) appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

First Data Corporation provides secure and innovative payment technology and services solutions to merchants, including small- and mid-sized businesses, financial institutions and government agencies around the world.

Their success lies in building a richly diverse and inclusive workforce – one that gives voice to new ideas and unique points of view.

Pair that with Accept Card Payments and their customer service and it’s a win win.

We work collaboratively alongside our clients and our partners to ensure that whether In–store, Online, On the go or over the phone this partnership will have the solution that works for you.

Every day, merchants rely on a payment process that will deliver the simple yet sophisticated solution that helps them thrive in the changing world of commerce and make the most of every single transaction.

You can trust us to provide a point of payment solution that’s right for you be it face to face over the phone or online. Our expertise and innovation, together with our partner relationships, are at your service.

Talk to us on 0333 305 4500 or email hello@acceptcardpayments.com

The post AcceptCardPayments.com are proud of their Partnership agreement with First Data appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

Online
Credit and debit card payments let you sell your goods and services online

Point of sale
You can accept debit and credit card payments at the point of sale

Over the phone
You may be able to accept credit card payments over the phone

By mail

You can accept credit and debit card payments by mail.

Whichever method you choose it allows transfer of money to be quick and easy. In this section we will be making a quick introduction to the Point of Sale method Electronic funds transfer at the point of sale (EFTPOS) is a payment system that lets your customers pay directly using an EFTPOS machine using card, such as a bankcard, credit card or debit card.

Some small businesses shy away from using this system as they assume it is expensive. Yes there are service fees and transaction fees in some cases but, this has to be considered against the loss of trade. Not only of that single transaction but also of repeat business. Card payment option is becoming more and more expected as a way of making a payment. From anything from a car to a coffee

How Does a Small Business Go about Obtaining a Machine and which is best for you?
There are a few ways that your business can decide which card processing machine they should use. These vary for

Stationary Credit Card Processing Machines

These machines require a direct, physical connection to a phone line or the Internet. They are also known as a countertop. A Countertop Machine has to be corded and needs to be compatible with the POS (Point of Sale) computer. These are very stable and allow most transactions to be processed quickly. These machines can be set to except the different types of customer present payments such as
Chip & PIN
Chip and signature
Contactless
Magnetic stripe

Wireless Credit Card Processing Machines

The wireless machine does not require a direct connection to a phone line or network, making it ideal for merchants who want to take the machine to the customer. These are perfect for restaurants and cafes where the customers are sitting, allowing them to get up and leave when they wish, instead of having to wait at a transaction point to put their card through. They are very flexible and improved the customer experience.

Costs
There can be a number of fees that will be incurred for the terminal these can vary from the list below.

• Setup fee.
• Monthly rental.
• Payment for service to the unit.
• Perhaps printing costs. The machine will most probably have an internal printer but paper will still be needed for receipts.
• A fee for interchange

Many suppliers will bundle these costs into one, they can and will vary from provider to provider and should be taken into consideration when making your decision on who is the best provider for you. Some providers have yet more charges to add. Then again some suppliers may just charge a set fee for the lease of the machine and forget the set-up fees. Each supplier has their own set-up system ways to

A card payment machine for a small business can be an expense that is not justified. So get the right advice. Set the system that is right for you. Add in the fees charges as well as the transaction rate when making your decision on which card processing solution is best for you.

The post Card Payment Machines appeared first on Accept Card Payments.

In this day and age, every business must make it as easy as possible for people to make payment. We have all seen people walk away because no cash or a copy does not take cards. Arranging for you to be able to accept Card payments has never been easier. Fewer and fewer companies are now cash only sales and, people’s expectations is that they will be able to pay by card and that your business will accept card payments.

Accepting Card payments has never been easier or quicker to arrange.

With a few question about your existing set up and your requirements a system can be put into action that will be quick, easy and affordable

To a customer, having to divulge their bank information for a large purchase is both time consuming and annoying and with changing times not everybody will know there details. If your small business is accepting Card payments, it is better for all concerned, encouraging a customer to return is key, making there transaction quick and easy just adds to the feel of good customer service.

How to Set It Up

If you are not currently accepting Card payments then there is a simple process to follow The process is quick and most financial institutions will approve a basic form of merchant account in a few working days. This will allow the business to accept card payments via cards such as Visa and Mastercard,

When making the application think about the type of service you want to give, how will be you customers, what will the maximum and minimum value of a standard transaction? How many card transaction in an average day.

Think about your customer who they are and what they need

When applying for a merchant account give as much information as possible, give the correct information. Get it right at this stage and the whole process will be quicker and easier. Card payment applications means that the business applying will have to show certain criteria that will help the provider make a decision of the type of business and the risks involved.

What Is Needed To Run The Application?

Depending on your requirement the software and, hardware might differ. This will depend on many different factors such as: Will you be taking payment with the customer present or, will a customer not present process be needed. There can be a mix of both but, take time to think what a realistic percentage of each might be. The percentage does not have to be 100% correct but the more accurate the better and, the percentage might affect the rate you will be charged. If website payments them again there is a different route needed.

The company arranging the merchant account for you will be able to help and give advice. They can also arrange any and all equipment needed to ensure that the payment process can be set up correctly

What Else Can Be Explored in relation to card payments?

Different companies will offer different rates. Don’t just think about the percentage being offered on transaction. Look at the monthly fee charged. Is there a cost per transaction and what the minimal cost of these is and how many transactions are you allowed before you possibly have to pay a higher rate? Equipment charges / rental and length of contact also needs to be taken into consideration
Should the business not wish to go through their direct financial institute, then there are other ways of being able to accept Card payments. That particular business can then apply to use a third-party company, such as PayPal. The forms are much the same, but the terms can be quite different.

The post Is it time for you to start accepting card payments? appeared first on Accept Card Payments.