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imaginator · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:48 am Post subject: other than paypal...

...do any of you know an inexpensive way to accept credit card payment? (i've found several expensive ways...)

i have a client whose company does not want to use paypal, has an impossibly complicated process for issuing checks (90 days same as cash), and keeps suggesting direct credit card payment as the simplest way for us to continue doing business.

a search of this board brought up no previous posts, but i thought i had read the discussion before.

checking local bank options looks like it would cost me more than it is worth to set something up, since i rarely use this method of billing.

any other ideas?

(thanks in advance.)
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

Rowell,

Do they understand they can pay you with a credit card through PayPal and if they do, there's no need for them to have a PayPal account at all? You just send them a PayPal request for money via email. They click through, enter their credit card information, and in mere moments, the money appears in your account.
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CarynClark · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:54 am Post subject:

As you've found, it would totally not be worth setting up a merchant services account to accept credit card payments. The fees can get out of hand.

Is their reason for not wanting to use PayPal b/c they don't want to pay via the web?

I found this article, but all the options are web-based:
http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/creditcards.shtml

I also found this, but again, it's web-based:
http://www.charge.com/
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:17 am Post subject:

here's what i got from my contact at the company (who, i get the impression, is caught in the middle of all this):

"Paypal was working well when we could use it,
however it did not have the tracking mechanisms our company requires. If
you want fast payments, you need to accept credit cards directly. Please
let me know if you can make this possible because I can see that this
check request process may not be the best for you if you want fast
payments."

Caryn: thanks for the link. all the other choices merely seem to make paypal look that much better, don't they?
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mcm · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

If their reluctance to use Paypal is indeed due to security concerns, and if their credit card happens to be issued by Citicard, there might be a solution: Citicard has a system where they can give you one-use numbers, for users who are concerned about security of internet payments. Maybe other credit card issuers will do this too.

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

Rowell,

Given what you've just posted, it would seem you're stuck with accepting the arduous and complicated check request process and waiting 90 days for your money...or not taking the business.

(edited to fix typo)
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Brett Mason · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

.........or else...................

ricevoice · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:36 am Post subject:

For my wife's quilting business she uses an online company called ProPay to accept and process credit card payments. They have different plans depending on how much you want to pay.

http://www.propay.com/
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davidmonteath · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

or you could try Nochex
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

thanks all for the suggestions so far. i'm continually amazed (though i shouldn't be) at the speed with which information is shared around here.

looks like propay is good, but may have the same troubles (from client's viewpoint) as paypal.

i looked at the nochex site. is it for UK residents only?

brett's solution is also looking more and more attractive, given the long drawn-out efforts to collect on this job so far.

again...many thanks for the ideas.
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ccpetersen · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:33 am Post subject:

Ummm... I pay for things using my credit card through PayPal (when I have to) and I get the same info on my statement that I would for any other credit transaction. For example, I bought a book through a third-party seller using the "Pay with credit through Paypal" and on my statement the transaction was with the seller; paypal never showed up.

I think the company needs to do a little more investigating before forcing YOU to stick with less-than-stellar payment methods.
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COURVO · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

'Don't know what sort of accounting software you use, but QuickBooks Pro has an add-on that allows for credit card payments.

Although I don't use it, they market that service pretty aggressively, and I'm guessing they know what they're doing....QB is everywhere.

courVO
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:43 am Post subject:

Costco warehouse stores say the offer a cost effective merchant account program.

B
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imaginator · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:08 am Post subject:

many, MANY thanks for all the helpful ideas.

i've followed up on every one, so far as internet browsing will allow. at present, it looks like i may have to go with bob souer's post and just let the check process take its course for this client. it is the only outfit i deal with which has posed this problem, and all the start-up/ongoing costs of the alternatives to paypal are just too expensive to satisfy one client.

i also admit i have no idea what paypal doesn't offer in tracking ability that this company/client needs.

all that said, i again express my gratitude for anyone taking the time to post. it has saved me many hours in internet search on my own.

what a great resource we all have in VO-BB.
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rowell gormon
www.voices2go.com
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bobsouer · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:38 am Post subject: