Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 14:16

    Good afternoon.  I have a long-standing client who is asking for me to accept credit cards for receipt of consulting services payments.  I have been in business for 20 years and never asked this.  I am finding the fees to business are high...even Pay Pal is 3.5% of amounts of the payment accepted.  Is anyone out there taking credit cards? 

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    Tracy Albee
    tracy@medilegalinc.com
    Tracy, CA United States
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  • 2.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 14:23
    Tracy, I don't know anyone taking credit cards but when you consider how long it takes to collect on many of the invoices, it might be worth 3.5% to receive instant payment.  
     
    Regards,

    Tim Sells
    Sells & Associates, Inc.
    791 University Avenue
    Sacramento, CA 95825
    916-925-0252
    tim@sellsrehab.com

     





  • 3.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 14:40
    I take credit cards. Intuit is around 2.5% for a monthly fee. You can also
    ACH, which costs more, but sometimes if a bank wants your business, you can
    ACH through them for a low cost, you just have so schmooze a bit :)

    Shanna Huber




  • 4.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 17:51
    I only use paypal and no credit cards. the fee is minimal and I can invoice everything right there and it I just print out the receipts for bookkeeping and the accountant. 





  • 5.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 14:59
    Tracy,
    My merchant account bank charges vary, depending on the card used - MC/VISA is 1.99% and AMEX 1.95-2.89%.  
    It's worth every penny, in my humble opinion!
    Mary

    Mary Meinhard RN-BC, BS, JD, CLCP, MSC-C, LNC-C
    Attorney at Law
    Mary Meinhard & Associates Medical Legal Consulting
    (760) 648-1115

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  • 6.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 19:42
    As more and more attorneys were requesting this for their clients, I got an acct. Yes, fee hurts some, but efficiency of processing softens the 'blow.' 
    I agree with Mary. 
    Some of the suggestions for whom to contract w are worth investigating such as PayPal and Intuit. I used Costco for years, but found them expensive. I have been with Merchant Warehouse, but not thrilled with them & plan to do some more research myself. 

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 7.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 19:52


    All, 

    I have not been asked to take a credit card, but I think if I was to go that route, I would consider adding a processing fee to cover the fees charged to me. Does anyone see that as an issue?

    Amy
    ------------------------------
    Amy Johnson
    RN, CLCP
    amy@johnsonclcp.com
    Tyler, TX United States
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  • 8.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 20:13

    Thank you so much for all of the feedback several of you have shared.  I did call Bank of America, where I keep my business accts, and they can do it for 2.3% which is much better than paypal's 3.5%. They will also upgrade my business suite benefits and take away my monthly fees, so in the end; it will cost a little, but also save me a little.  The rep at BOA did tell me that I can consider charging the client a "convenience fee" or "processing fee", but to check with the State's Dept of Treasury, as some states do not allow this as a business practice.  I will be looking into that; however, as several of you who take credit cards already think that the quick turnaround of getting the payment without a hassle may be well worth the fees.  Our office typically has to re-invoice at least once, if not twice, before our money arrives; especially with defense firms.  So it could be a time saver which is often more valuable than saving $5.

    Still thinking about it...so if anyone has a story to share; feel free.
    ------------------------------
    Tracy Albee
    tracy@medilegalinc.com
    Tracy, CA United States
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  • 9.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 20:24

    Besides the actual credit card fees, you also have monthly fees to contend with as well.  We pay around $90 per month to our merchant account provider, Intuit, to use Visa, MC, and AmEx. 

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    Reg Gibbs
    Rocky Mountain Rehab, P.C.
    rgibbs@rmrehab.com
    Billings, MT United States
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  • 10.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 20:32

    FYI, B  of A charges a $99 set up fee, but no monthly fees. It is 2.3% of transaction + $0.25 per transaction. And as I said, they will no longer charge me the $15/month I pay for having my business accts with them and my checks going forward will be free. There are a few other non-monetary benefits too. So those using Intuit or Paypal may want to call around to their own banks handling their business accts to get a better deal. 

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    Tracy Albee
    tracy@medilegalinc.com
    Tracy, CA United States
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  • 11.  RE: Credit card payments

    Posted 05-26-2015 23:55
    I have been told I cannot charge back the cost to client.
    Also, the fee goes up if the client has a a card that gives them points vs standard card

    Sent from my iPhone