BT broadband office

1. At April 24, 2008 1:22 PM, kim wrote:

as a small business in the current climate you certainly need to have a range of payment options, you cant really afford to loose a large order because you dont take plastic.
yes its expensive, but its also quite expensive to bank cash, my bank charges me 57p to bank £100 worth of cash, but only 28p if it was a £100 debit card - so actually the plastic can work at cheaper.
but like everything you can always shop around for a better deal for your credit card processing or even charge the customer a card surcharge

2. At April 24, 2008 1:38 PM, John Emberton wrote:

Bank charges for paying in cash are in proportion to the amount involved (my bank charges 55p per £100), whereas charges for cheques and card payments are per item. It makes sense, therefore, not to take payment by card for items below an economic value and not to take cash for large value items.

3. At April 24, 2008 2:06 PM, Zen wrote:

Well Hannah, you're missing a massive part of the picture here. Internet is taking on more and more small business to try and expand their encatchment area so it goes without saying; without credit card internet sales would simply vanish. Yes, cash is profitable, however convenience for the customer is paramount to generate repeat business.

4. At April 24, 2008 2:23 PM, J G Dawson wrote:

Whoooo - Dangerous territory - cash, back pocket, nod nod, wink wink, 'don't tell the tax man 'couse he can't see - what's goin' down twixt thee and me' - At at this rate folk'll be doing real business again...

5. At April 24, 2008 4:31 PM, James wrote:

We are an internet selling business - We have stopped taking Credit Card details over the telephone for security reasons. (Credit Card Fraud etc - We have been done once and the bank grabbed the money back out of our bank account without notice ).

So we NOW issue invoices via the PAYPAL INVOICE system offering payment by Credit/Debit Card etc via PAYPAL, or direct with UK Cheque, UK Postal Order or CASH via Royal Mail Special Delivery or by Direct Debit.

In some parts of the world it is cheaper for the customer to go to their local airport to exchange currency and post it on using recorded or special delivery or to use Western Union etc. !!!

Just use what is best for your customer - We do not ship out goods until we have the Customers money in our bank account.

Taking Credit Card details over the telephone without the customer present can at times be very dodgy. Better to lose a sale - Rather than losing your goods etc. If it goes wrong the bank wont take responsibility for the loss.