C/C discussion

[Dominic Maricic]

Ok, I'll look in to it.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Ok thanks

[Gregory Scheer]

I really enjoy the credit card processing!  I did an inspection and my client came by the house but had forgotten his checkbook and I'm sure didn't have cash.  "How would you like to arrange payment?" asked the client.  "Do you have a credit card?"  I took the info right there and then got home and processed on the computer.  Another client also paid online.  I never met the client--online agreement, online payment, uploaded report retrieval.  Hmmm, all I really did was made a couple calls and inspect the house.  Pretty cool! 

If anyone is on the fence about the credit card gig, look at the minimal cost compared to what you'd get locally from your bank.  Out of curiosity I talked to my bank and the deal Dominic has worked out is incredibly better by far!  And the capabilities he's added like cell phone payment; unbeatable!

Greg

[Jay Markanich]

What's the percentage fee on the transactions?  Do you up the inspection fee to accommodate that percentage?

[John Adrian Sopher]

Fee's are as follows:

Set up fee $100
Hosting fee $5/mth
authorization fee per item $0.35

Those were the main fee's, there are others, but some don't apply because we wouldn't use those features.

I also checked the fee's against my banks rates.  The setup fee was more here, but the monthly, and per transaction fee's were more with my bank.

I look at it like this, if you ever get a job that the only way they can pay is by c/c, you just paid for the service.  So far, all my jobs have paid by c/c since I started accepting them.

[Gregory Scheer]

You also get tagged with a fee for the type of card; roughly about 2%.  I haven't increased the charge for the card but I have thought about passing the known fee to the client for using it.

Greg

[John Adrian Sopher]

You also get tagged with a fee for the type of card; roughly about 2%.  I haven't increased the charge for the card but I have thought about passing the known fee to the client for using it.

Greg

I wouldn't increase fees for using c/c's.  In my opinion that would make for negative feelings about your company.  That's the worst thing you can do to yourself in this industry!!!  Its only $5 per inspection (approx).  If you truly want to do something to make up for the loss, increase your rates across the board so everyone pays for it rather than just people who want to use c/c's.

[Gregory Scheer]

You also get tagged with a fee for the type of card; roughly about 2%.  I haven't increased the charge for the card but I have thought about passing the known fee to the client for using it.

Greg

I wouldn't increase fees for using c/c's.  In my opinion that would make for negative feelings about your company.  That's the worst thing you can do to yourself in this industry!!!  Its only $5 per inspection (approx).  If you truly want to do something to make up for the loss, increase your rates across the board so everyone pays for it rather than just people who want to use c/c's.

Good call John.  That's exactly why I haven't charged the fee to the client--I did raise rates.  I had a "Summer Stimulus Price" July and August.  All houses were $280 regardless if they were old, had a crawl space, were huge, etc... I went up to $335 for the basic home inspection though some are lower (military and my neighborhood).  Now I'm working on my time at inspection and report time.  I may get to a point where I can print on site (if the business is that vast), but for now I'm "practicing makes perfect" my process.  By the way, no squawks about pricing--I'm middle road to slightly cheaper than middle road but quality is top-notch (IMHO).
Greg

[John Adrian Sopher]

I definitely need the practice makes perfect thing.  I did my inspections Thursday and it took me 3 hours for a house that was 1100SQFT.  That was the longest inspection for the size I've done.  Problem was I got to a slow start, trying to explain things to the buyer about the outside.  Everything sped up when I hit the roof. 

I also gave her a notepad and told her to write anything down she wanted to remember to ask me or for me to address.

[Dominic Maricic]

Its illegal to charge more for people using cc cards. You csn though increase across the board and give a discount to someone paying cash.

Think of it this way. Like John mentioned (I'll add the math) If that credit card logo on your website gets you ONE inspection for your $300 you have covered the startup fee and the monthly fee for more than THREE years! It took 8 months to negotiate this deal. It kicks the pants off paypals 2.9-3.9% especially if you're paying $30 a month for their virtual terminal (which you get free). Plus I've set it up so you can process on an internet capable phone and it will soon be integrated into the report upload proecess (pay before view).

[David Macy]

I am all set up for credit cards.

If I am on site is the best way to do a credit card transaction is righting the card numbers/expiration date and security code and then doing the transaction at home.

I don't understand the phone/internet process at this time.

I have not received any training. (Dom has helped set up as he always does)

[Dominic Maricic]

David,

If you're on site you can

A. Write down all the info and enter it when you get home.
B. If you have an internet enable phone, go to the site I sent you in the email (make sure to bookmark it). Then you can enter the data on site.
C. There's also a number you can call and process it via a live operator but I think it's like $1.50 a call (not worth it).
D. Get one of the carbon card swipers from staples or someplace else, insert the metal plate the bank sent you and swipe away, then enter the data at home.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Man I cant find those swipers.  I've looked at all the business supply stores around here.  I tried to buy one on eBay but the plate didn't fit it.

[Dominic Maricic]

Call first national and ask them if there's a particular brand you need. My understanding is that they were universal.

[John Adrian Sopher]

That's what I thought too.  I'll try calling them and find out.

[Dominic Maricic]

Something I found out today. By default your accounts are NOT set up to accept AMEX cards. AMEX charges $5.95 a month no matter what service you're using (in other words this isn't a charge from the bank we're using). Because of this it's off unless you call Jay and request to take it. If you do, let me know. I'm going to remove it as an option from the drop down list so it doesn't confuse your customers. It also has a higher process rate around 2.95% + .35 to Amex.

[Dominic Maricic]

Found a Canadian Processor. All the Canadian inspectors that had requested the service will be notified, and I'll send out a mass email as soon as our negotiations with them are through.

[Dominic Maricic]

The startup fee for the CC processing has been dropped by the bank to $50 for people signing up now through the end of the year!

[Gregory Scheer]

The rest of us get a refund? 

[Dominic Maricic]

I tried, but unfortunately no. It's a short time special, not really put on by the bank but the third party processor (payfuse).