Credit & debit card machines

[dtr]

hi we are a small local computer repair company, but we also sell items on ebay, we are looking to be able to accept card payments face to face and over the phone, and possible in the next few months via a website.
can anyone suggest a good company without us needed to get tied into a contract and to allow us to use a used machine we currently have been given by a friend.
regards jason

 

[kulture]

I do not know of any company that would let you do this.

First, to take credit cards face to face. You need a merchant provider and a merchant number. They normally provide the machine, and at the very least would want you to get a new machine from an approved supplier. They need to ensure that whatever machine you use properly accepts chip and pin, does not store information it is not meant to, and communicates properly with their systems. All this is much easier if they supply the machine.

Secondly most merchant providers will require you to have a second merchant number for internet card processing. They will want you to be PCI compliant (and that is a whole host of problems for the unwary). It is unlikely that they will allow you to take card numbers from the internet and manually enter them on your machine.

All this will require a contract that lasts at least a year.

Alternatively for the internet use a service like paypal. But for a shop, join a organisation like the Federation of Small Businesses and they have deals which will get you accepting credit cards for a low(ish) fee.

 

[principleweb]

Hi Jason

Have you looked at Paypal Virtual Terminal?

There's more information here: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_vt_hub-outside and pricing details here: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-vt-fees-outside

Kev

 

[Astaroth]

Remember that virtual terminal can only be used for MOTO transactions (mail order and telephone orders) and not if the cardholder is present or online.

 

[stenab]

Yes Paypal Virtual Terminal