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Taking payments - this may be useful to you

AJB Temple

AJB Temple

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I have just discovered that mobile phones now have an app that turns them into a card reader so people can pay you instantly. It needs to be linked up to a merchant account (which requires no on-line checks or anything as it just uses your existing bank accounts). It took me under 10 minutes to open an account with SumUp (other providers are around) download the app from app store, verify everything, take a £2 test payment, produce an invoice and issue it to the customer who was able to view everything instantly. All details appear on mobile phone and PC (Mac) instantly. You can set VAT rates and customise a simple invoice.

Works by tapping debit or credit card, bumping phones or iWatch and there are methods for partially sighted etc.

Getting the system running is 100% free. You don't need to buy a card reader, pay for the app, sign up for a monthly contract or any of that. No trace on credit file. Does need a reasonably modern smart phone. I think Android versions are available too.

The interface operator fees depend on who you choose. Sum Up charged us 1.4% on the offer I selected. Obviously I would not suggest this for large sums of money when you sell something (it's a payment chain), but for a small operation with relatively small individual transactions this is very convenient as hardly anyone carries much cash nowadays.
 
That's very smart, I didn't know that was possible!
I'd imagine there are people on here who do things like craft fairs where this could be very handy.
 
Most of the companies offering this, such as SumUp pretty much give away the card readers anway. As the husband of a small business owner, it's interesting that people don't think twice about tapping their phone on a card reader but the touching of phones seems a step to far and people often pause. New tech, sure it will do away with the card readers in the long run for small businesses.
 
Not so sure that they give them away Matt. It gets reflected in the commission. I looked into it and although Square appear to do the basic model for £19.99 plus VAT in practice for a business you probably need something more fully featured and the price ramps up quite fast. Once you add teh charger station it is £50 and adding recipt functionality adds a further £100. SumUp is a tad more expensive for the hardware. It is not offering any more functionality than a phone app actually. Many of them actually connect via your phone anyway, but the customer does not see that. The business concerned has poor wi fi so the app is the way to go. A card reader will be there anyway I expect, just because of the slot and the point you mention. So far she has used the app about 140 times to take small payments and no one has demurred.

Anyway, I just posted it as many people might find this helpful for craft fares or charity garden openings or church fetes etc as it is a zero cost hardware solution.
 
On related topic, If you want to collect regular payments by DD, then I can heartily recommend GoCardless. I've been using them for 7 years now and they have not put a foot wrong. Best for larger amounts as the charges are 1% +20p per transaction but max charge is £4 +vat, first 90days free.
The big advantage of DD over SO is that you get informed if the client cancels the DD immediately but with SO you only know when the payment does not show up in your bank.
If this is of interest to anyone message me for a referral link that will benefit us both.

Bob
 
Agree Bob. You recommended this before I think in another thread or maybe a PM - anyway we embraced it then. The notifications and visibility are better than Barclays who are the eventual recipient bank.
 
Our reception used to handle cash until one day a couple of hundred went missing.

Why was it not kept in the safe? Embarrassed silence and red face.

Solution was a YoCo card machine.

Bought one at Makro for ZAR799.00

Links direct to the Estate bank account.

There are no ongoing subscription fees which has since been introduced by YoCo.

There is a 2% commission charge which is claimed back in our tax as bank charges.

Operates via sim-card which is covered by the commission.

The machine is used at our reception and also on the Saturday market days.

Recon done monthly on statement vs excel sheet.

Receipts can be generated.
 
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