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Highlands John

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We discussed this earlier in the year, but now is the time to act.
We're paying far too much for our card processing, 2.7% on credit cards, 25p debit and £25 a month for the machine. I had a cold call from Unit edMerc hantSer vices some months ago, which makes me a bit nervous, but they are quoting me prices less than half of the above, for 4 years, min contract 18 months.
Spoke to them again today (they called me) and I'm on the verge of switching.
Anyone have any experiences of this company ?
I told the guy I wanted 24 hours to think about it, and I was heartened by the fact he didn't try to pressure me into it, instead made an appointment with me to call back tomorrow.
 
Here's how it works here, which doesn't help with that company...they always quote the rate for the plain, vanilla cards. They never quote the rate for the rewards cards. Now, if it works differently over there good for you for getting a way lower rate!
 
Here's how it works here, which doesn't help with that company...they always quote the rate for the plain, vanilla cards. They never quote the rate for the rewards cards. Now, if it works differently over there good for you for getting a way lower rate!.
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
 
When someone presents you with a credit card, or gives you the info on the phone, or enters it online, how do you know whether it is a rewards card or not?
 
When someone presents you with a credit card, or gives you the info on the phone, or enters it online, how do you know whether it is a rewards card or not?.
It states we don't accept them on our website and our machine rejects them.
 
Every card I get here is a rewards card. Every last one of them. Maybe diff there.
 
Here's how it works here, which doesn't help with that company...they always quote the rate for the plain, vanilla cards. They never quote the rate for the rewards cards. Now, if it works differently over there good for you for getting a way lower rate!.
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
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Highlands John said:
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
Are we talking apples to apples here? A reward card being one that offers airline miles or cash money back to the cardholder? Not talking about the cards stores hand out when you do a 'spend $100, get a $50 rewards card in return'.
You can deny taking a rewards card? I'm moving. Tomorrow.
 
we will be going back to Evalon and retail merchant services - ive got a good contact ill send you the info
 
HJ, I would google them for to see if there is anything about them online. And I would do some price comparisons with others like the one Cam is sending and any others you can find as well.
Personally I wouldn't go with a company that makes you sign a contract with a time commitment. Note: that is now, when we first started it was the norm, not now.
I also would like to know how you (or your reader) can tell if a card is a rewards card.
 
Here's how it works here, which doesn't help with that company...they always quote the rate for the plain, vanilla cards. They never quote the rate for the rewards cards. Now, if it works differently over there good for you for getting a way lower rate!.
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
.
Highlands John said:
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
Are we talking apples to apples here? A reward card being one that offers airline miles or cash money back to the cardholder? Not talking about the cards stores hand out when you do a 'spend $100, get a $50 rewards card in return'.
You can deny taking a rewards card? I'm moving. Tomorrow.
.
Madeleine said:
Highlands John said:
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
Are we talking apples to apples here? A reward card being one that offers airline miles or cash money back to the cardholder? Not talking about the cards stores hand out when you do a 'spend $100, get a $50 rewards card in return'.
You can deny taking a rewards card? I'm moving. Tomorrow.
Geez, me too! Just about every single card I take is a rewards card. I was under the impression you can not deny any rewards cards - according to V and M_C rules & regulations.
 
I think the whole industry with corrupt with greed. Sadly, we must "play the game" to do credit card business and - as best as we can - build the "surcharges" (they call it "discount" - even the TERM is corrupted!) into room rates.
I've yet to see a business slap on a credit card usage fee on a purchase (except for those "cash/credit" gas stations) even though it is now deemed legal.
 
I think the whole industry with corrupt with greed. Sadly, we must "play the game" to do credit card business and - as best as we can - build the "surcharges" (they call it "discount" - even the TERM is corrupted!) into room rates.
I've yet to see a business slap on a credit card usage fee on a purchase (except for those "cash/credit" gas stations) even though it is now deemed legal..
There are a few businesses around here that upcharge when you want to pay with a debit card. It costs me 6c a transaction and they want me to agree to pay 75c for using a debit card. End result, I cancel the purchase. But there are a few businesses that offer a cash discount and those... I use. Let's face it, none of the rewards get anywhere close to the 5% cash discount I get offered from time to time to pay with cash.
 
I've taken the plunge and so far I'm delighted with my new supplier. The guy asked me lots of questions on the phone about my business and how we work (deposits, turnover, card types, CNPs, that type of thing), next day emailed me the forms, to checked, signed and return. To my amazement a week later my new machine arrived. Plugged it in and off I go. Absolutely delighted.
The previous company took seven weeks to get my machine to me. Plus I phoned the processing bank this week to cancel my account, they told me I need to contact the company I originally took out the machine with. I phoned them on their customer service number and had to press loads of buttons and wait 15 minutes to get through to a human. They told me they had to put me through to another department and after listening to banal music for 10 minutes I slammed the phone down. I then started their chat facility on their website and was given another number of an account manager, phoned them and was told I have to cancel the rent of the machine and return it first, which is with another company, then they can close my account with the bank.
As if all this wasn't enough to convince me I've made the right decision to move, no-one except the holdings company that rent me the machine has even bothered to ask me why I'm cancelling or offer me a better deal (not that I'd take it now anyway).
 
I think the whole industry with corrupt with greed. Sadly, we must "play the game" to do credit card business and - as best as we can - build the "surcharges" (they call it "discount" - even the TERM is corrupted!) into room rates.
I've yet to see a business slap on a credit card usage fee on a purchase (except for those "cash/credit" gas stations) even though it is now deemed legal..
There are a few businesses around here that upcharge when you want to pay with a debit card. It costs me 6c a transaction and they want me to agree to pay 75c for using a debit card. End result, I cancel the purchase. But there are a few businesses that offer a cash discount and those... I use. Let's face it, none of the rewards get anywhere close to the 5% cash discount I get offered from time to time to pay with cash.
.
Sugar Bear said:
There are a few businesses around here that upcharge when you want to pay with a debit card. It costs me 6c a transaction and they want me to agree to pay 75c for using a debit card. End result, I cancel the purchase. But there are a few businesses that offer a cash discount and those... I use. Let's face it, none of the rewards get anywhere close to the 5% cash discount I get offered from time to time to pay with cash.
I did notice when reading through my contract details of my new machine that I'm not allowed to make an additional charge for debit cards.
I have a note in my guest rooms that basically says we don't charge extra for guests to pay by card, but our processing charge is much lower for debit cards, so if they have the choice a debit card helps keep our processing charges lower. Quite a lot of people comment on that when paying by debit card.
 
I think the whole industry with corrupt with greed. Sadly, we must "play the game" to do credit card business and - as best as we can - build the "surcharges" (they call it "discount" - even the TERM is corrupted!) into room rates.
I've yet to see a business slap on a credit card usage fee on a purchase (except for those "cash/credit" gas stations) even though it is now deemed legal..
There are a few businesses around here that upcharge when you want to pay with a debit card. It costs me 6c a transaction and they want me to agree to pay 75c for using a debit card. End result, I cancel the purchase. But there are a few businesses that offer a cash discount and those... I use. Let's face it, none of the rewards get anywhere close to the 5% cash discount I get offered from time to time to pay with cash.
.
Sugar Bear said:
There are a few businesses around here that upcharge when you want to pay with a debit card. It costs me 6c a transaction and they want me to agree to pay 75c for using a debit card. End result, I cancel the purchase. But there are a few businesses that offer a cash discount and those... I use. Let's face it, none of the rewards get anywhere close to the 5% cash discount I get offered from time to time to pay with cash.
I did notice when reading through my contract details of my new machine that I'm not allowed to make an additional charge for debit cards.
I have a note in my guest rooms that basically says we don't charge extra for guests to pay by card, but our processing charge is much lower for debit cards, so if they have the choice a debit card helps keep our processing charges lower. Quite a lot of people comment on that when paying by debit card.
.
We actually discount if they don't use a CC. Makes some people realize that there is a cost associated with it.
 
Here's how it works here, which doesn't help with that company...they always quote the rate for the plain, vanilla cards. They never quote the rate for the rewards cards. Now, if it works differently over there good for you for getting a way lower rate!.
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
.
Highlands John said:
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
Are we talking apples to apples here? A reward card being one that offers airline miles or cash money back to the cardholder? Not talking about the cards stores hand out when you do a 'spend $100, get a $50 rewards card in return'.
You can deny taking a rewards card? I'm moving. Tomorrow.
.
Madeleine said:
Highlands John said:
Thanks, but to be fair to them they've quoted me for reward cards too, I just didn't mention that in my post because we don't currently accept them nor have any plans to.
Are we talking apples to apples here? A reward card being one that offers airline miles or cash money back to the cardholder? Not talking about the cards stores hand out when you do a 'spend $100, get a $50 rewards card in return'.
You can deny taking a rewards card? I'm moving. Tomorrow.
Geez, me too! Just about every single card I take is a rewards card. I was under the impression you can not deny any rewards cards - according to V and M_C rules & regulations.
.
I think the vast majority of cards being issued now are rewards cards, and I don't think most people know that as merchants, we're charged more to accept those cards. And of course the CC companies continue to push those cards out to their customers because the customers like the rewards and the companies get more money out of us! It's definitely crappy that we end up paying the expense of the CC companies' rewards and marketing efforts to get more cards in more people's hands.
And of course, if we don't take the rewards cards, then guests get upset and decide to stay elsewhere where they can swipe with their Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express.
*takes a deep breath and steps down carefully off her soap box*
 
I have been on a cash only diet the last 7 months. If an offer of a discount was given based on paying cash, my husband and I would take it (if at all possible). If you try this, you might be surprised. When we have been given a discount, we have also shared with f/f on facebook. Their response was positive as well.
 
I have been on a cash only diet the last 7 months. If an offer of a discount was given based on paying cash, my husband and I would take it (if at all possible). If you try this, you might be surprised. When we have been given a discount, we have also shared with f/f on facebook. Their response was positive as well..
How much of a cash discount would make a difference?
 
I have been on a cash only diet the last 7 months. If an offer of a discount was given based on paying cash, my husband and I would take it (if at all possible). If you try this, you might be surprised. When we have been given a discount, we have also shared with f/f on facebook. Their response was positive as well..
How much of a cash discount would make a difference?
.
Hmmm...good question. At this point, I am just happy if there is any cash discount. But so far, it seems like 10% is what is offered. And so, if there was a price difference of about 10%, and the two places were about equal, I would go with the 10% discounted place.
But its not just the discount that I like. To me, it seems like when a business offers and gives a cash discount, they are acknowledging that I am making a financial choice to use cash, opposed to the easy, very common use of CC's. They understand that my money is hard earned, because, well, it is already earned, not credit to be paid later. I like that.
On a side note, there was an article in the Denver Post today that said the city is acutally loosing money when people pay with cash instead of cc's! Have to hire more etc...I am thinking. This was pretty shocking...the city is now saying people should prefer to pay with CC's so the city can save money, when in fact, many are tied to cc's in a very unhealthy way.
 
I have been on a cash only diet the last 7 months. If an offer of a discount was given based on paying cash, my husband and I would take it (if at all possible). If you try this, you might be surprised. When we have been given a discount, we have also shared with f/f on facebook. Their response was positive as well..
How much of a cash discount would make a difference?
.
Hmmm...good question. At this point, I am just happy if there is any cash discount. But so far, it seems like 10% is what is offered. And so, if there was a price difference of about 10%, and the two places were about equal, I would go with the 10% discounted place.
But its not just the discount that I like. To me, it seems like when a business offers and gives a cash discount, they are acknowledging that I am making a financial choice to use cash, opposed to the easy, very common use of CC's. They understand that my money is hard earned, because, well, it is already earned, not credit to be paid later. I like that.
On a side note, there was an article in the Denver Post today that said the city is acutally loosing money when people pay with cash instead of cc's! Have to hire more etc...I am thinking. This was pretty shocking...the city is now saying people should prefer to pay with CC's so the city can save money, when in fact, many are tied to cc's in a very unhealthy way.
.
So, the processor charges me 3.5% and to get someone to pay cash I have to discount by 10%? That math doesn't work for me. ;-)
 
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