Credit Card Processing Help Needed.

I guess I'm a little too old school. I don't have a smartphone or a tablet, just a pay as you go Trac phone. I'm also confused.

I've been processing credit cards with an old knuckle buster for a few years now. From what I'm reading, the knuckle busters aren't PCI compliant. I decided to close my account with First Data because of the ridiculous charges they were billing me. I only sell my work at a handful of shows per year, and the monthly charges were eating up all my profits.

Can anyone recommend a credit card processing company with a seasonal or month to month contract, one that has a user account that I can log on to the internet to manage my account?

There's also the issue with my low tech phone. Is there a mobile solution to accept credit cards without buying an Iphone, tablet, or other smart phone? I'm also afraid that some show locations won't have internet or cell service. Do I have to bite the bullet and invest in high tech gear?

Today i tried to sign up with ProPay.They told me that I can use my phone to call their number to get an automated connection to enter card numbers manually. I'm afraid that that might take a while to process each sale. There's also an issue with supplying a customer's receipt and the feeling of not being secure. ProPay really messed up my online application today. After giving my information (including S.S. # and credit card #), I spent 30 minutes on hold with customer service, waited half a day for an emailed form (asking for driver's license, S.S.#, cashed check, etc.) that they want me to mail to them for approval. That really made me think twice about the service I'd be getting from them if approved.

Enough of my rant. The two questions I'm looking for answer to are:

-Do I need to replace my phone or is there other processing equipment out there?

-What Processing company would you recommend?

Thanks!

I have PayPal for my website and I'm happy with it.

Square takes their 2.75% off the top and the balance of the money collected is deposited in my bank on Monday morning. I processed Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards my first time out with Square. No problems or holdbacks for any of the cards. Like you, I want my money.

More card issuers have cards that cannot be used in a knucklebuster as they aren't imprinted. If you get a chargeback, you must supply proof of the transaction by either an imprinted card or by electronic capture. With a non imprinted card, just writing down the numbers is not proof you actually handled the card, and you will lose the challenge.

As much as I resisted the Square, I knew from the start these things were going to replace the $500 wireless terminals and 3 year processing contracts & their monthly fees that small artists/crafters can't afford.

It's amazing though, AT&T was broken up in 1984. That was the beginning of private communications companies with technology that has given us the smartphone. If AT&T wasn't broken up, we would still have big push button phones hard wired to the wall and nobody would know what a cell phone was.

Replies

bobby ziemba September 2, 2014 at 10:36am

Thanks everyone!

I've got a Square and a great deal on an iPhone ($50) from Verizon with a month to month data plan.

Next show is this coming weekend. I'll put it to the test then.

Again, thanks to everyone who replied!
Bob Chapman August 27, 2014 at 5:28am

I was in a similar boat a couple years ago. I had a not -so-smart phone that was (barely) internet capable. I was able to use Intuit's GoPayment and process the cards manually using the browser on the phone and the gopayment web teminal. If I had no signal, I could use the knucklebuster and use the web site from my pc, or phone once I had signal. A drawback of that is the higher manual (no card present) rate. I upgraded to a smartphone (android) and now am able to use the card reader and am glad I did.
As others have stated, it is well worth upgrading so you can use your choice of the other service options available. I use several so that I have a backup if my preferred service is unavailable (it has happened).
I too keep multiple readers handy for each service in case there is an issue with a reader. I also keep q-tips, alcohol wipes, and a very fine wire to clean the lint and dirt from the earphone jack, as I have found that to be the usual cause of the readers not working.
Greg Little August 22, 2014 at 5:13pm

ConsumerCellular.comYou might want to look into ConsumerCellular.com

I am switching to it after my current 2 year contract expires in mid November. I know several people who use it now and they love it and say it is much more reasonably priced and every bit as good as what they had before.

It can be used with data plans so you can use a square and you can turn off features when you don't need them.

From what I understand they use the AT&T network
- bobby ziemba > Greg Little August 23, 2014 at 8:48pm
  
  Thanks Greg, I'll look into them also.
  - Heather Jordan > bobby ziemba August 25, 2014 at 8:11am
    
    Bobby,
    
    I a like you are in the pool of being scared of the readers. Read the below and see why we are justified. Again, I honestly need to collect money from art sales, not give it to away due to processing or being held. I like the knuckle buster but know we are limited.
    
    http://www.cardpaymentoptions.com/credit-card-processors/paypal-here/
    
    Were the knuckle busters being banned? I am flustered enough as it is at a show and would love to process things quietly at home.
    - Alison Thomas > Heather Jordan August 26, 2014 at 8:28am
      
      When looking at that kind of information you really need to look carefully about who is putting it out. Square has really cut into the business of standard credit card processing. When I called to drop my credit card processing I got horror stories about Square, not secure, was going to hold my funds, etc. etc. None of it has come true. My first show using Square my reader did not work so I ended up manually entering all of my transactions (over $1000.00). A simple explanation email to Square got my funds released and a new Square in the mail.
    - Chris Hoyt > Heather Jordan August 26, 2014 at 8:20am
      
      I have PayPal for my website and I'm happy with it.
      
      Square takes their 2.75% off the top and the balance of the money collected is deposited in my bank on Monday morning. I processed Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards my first time out with Square. No problems or holdbacks for any of the cards. Like you, I want my money.
      
      More card issuers have cards that cannot be used in a knucklebuster as they aren't imprinted. If you get a chargeback, you must supply proof of the transaction by either an imprinted card or by electronic capture. With a non imprinted card, just writing down the numbers is not proof you actually handled the card, and you will lose the challenge.
      
      As much as I resisted the Square, I knew from the start these things were going to replace the $500 wireless terminals and 3 year processing contracts & their monthly fees that small artists/crafters can't afford.
      
      It's amazing though, AT&T was broken up in 1984. That was the beginning of private communications companies with technology that has given us the smartphone. If AT&T wasn't broken up, we would still have big push button phones hard wired to the wall and nobody would know what a cell phone was.
Tina Pietsch August 22, 2014 at 4:55pm

I believe tracfone may offer a smartphone without the whole monthly contract....May be a good option. I use square mainly because I do less than four events a year, so I only pay when I use it. Though before getting another tracphone make sure it supports square or any other mobile swipe option.
- bobby ziemba > Tina Pietsch August 23, 2014 at 8:45pm
  
  Thank you very much.
  
  I think I'm sold on the Square. I just need to figure out what devise to use. I think I can use my wife's iPad. That I'm looking into. I'll also check out tracfone.
  - Alison Thomas > bobby ziemba August 26, 2014 at 8:20am
    
    I use an IPad and it works great for shows since it has a larger signing area. It does have to have 3G but you don't have to do a contract if you don't want to. You can buy data month to month. It is a little more expensive to buy it that way but if you are only using the 3G during part of the year it could end up being cheaper.

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