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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 07 5:19 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Alison, one of the problems you'll face is that what you are actually seeking is a "customer not present" card facility.
That's even more difficult/expensive. ('cos they think you must be a mail order scammer...)

I'd suggest setting up an ordinary paypal account (even if you have one already it might be a good idea to have a purely 'business' one) so that there is some ability to email money to you.
Doing that is really easy. But it does require the client to have access to email and a paypal account.

It only gets technical if you want to take money from your website without human involvement, but that requires on-line availability info as well.

However, rather than that, Paypal can provide you with an ability to accept credit/debit cards, in person or by phone. For 3.4%... and zero standing charge, equipment rental, etc. Just the percentage.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_vt_hub-outside

How much would you gain (or lose) by saying 20% (or first night, whatever) up front, no refunds, and no payment means no reservation?

Be careful with the T's&C's, and that you have an incontrovertible acknowledgment that the reservation fee is not refundable. (Maybe an answering machine with a call recording facility to record their details and acknowledgment of non-refundability?) I'm thinking of preventing any "chargeback"s. (If you don't know the word, Google it - for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback )

Dougal - that virtual terminal is in the US. In the UK they provide a facility to take card payments over the phone etc but it's �20 a month plus the percentage. It's the one that Helen's using.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 07 6:40 pm Post subject:

Yep Stacey, Virtual Terminal *is* �20/month in the UK. After 1st July '07 !

https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-vt-fees-outside

However, seemingly for nothing other than the percentage, you can have a facility to get paid by email by folks with email, but no pre-existing Paypal account.

Paypal's UK sales line is 0800 358 7929 (free)

If there's a cheaper/simpler way of getting into processing 'Customer Not Present' transactions, then lets hear it! Please!

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 07 6:43 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Yep Stacey, Virtual Terminal *is* �20/month in the UK. After 1st July '07 !

https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-vt-fees-outside

And it's now 28th

Your point? You said there was zero standing charge when it actualy costs �20 a month. And Helen and I had both mentioned it earlier in the thread.

Maxwell Smart

Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 607
Location: London Town

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:08 pm Post subject:
Depending on the amount you expect to put through on the terminal you could consider joining the Federation of Small Bussinesses and get one through them.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:12 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

alison wrote:

Stacey

I usually take the first nights stay, in cheque, when they book, but if they book yesterday,m for today, then you cannot do that.

In this instance , that prompted this request, people hadn't arrived at 10.30pm although they said they hoped to be here about 3.00pm. 10.50 they rang, and they finally arrived at 12.20 this morning!

Blimey. I wouldn't have been a happy bunny

Well, you should charge them for last night, as it was prepared and reserved for them. You turn someone else away (maybe...)

Sometimes I check out of a hotel earlier than planned, or fail to show for reasons outside my control, and I get the bill still. I accept it, and they expect it. You should, too.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:46 pm Post subject:
I think in business cases they are more often paid though. For holidays there is a general feeling in this country that when going on holiday in the uk you don't need insurance, and you can cancel, or not turn up, at a whim. WE send out details about a very reasonable holiday insurance scheme, and in the 4 years we have sent the details, not one person has taken it up.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:53 pm Post subject:
Why would they take it up? You don't charge for a no show, so... Start charging!

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 7:59 pm Post subject:
Slightly different type of holiday but when we stay in a farm cottage / chalet etc the full amount is payable 6 weeks before the holiday starts. If we dont turn up for whatever reason, we have lost our money... which is why we took out the insurance.....

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:02 pm Post subject:
I think that is more the case with self catering. It is the last minute ones that cause us the problem. I did ring the bank today, to organise speaking to someone about credit card facilities, and to find out about terms and conditions, so we shall see what they say

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:03 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

I think that is more the case with self catering.

It is the last minute ones that cause us the problem.

I did ring the bank today, to organise speaking to someone about credit card facilities, and to find out about terms and conditions, so we shall see what they say

Sorry forgot... also forgot this is about credit cards... I paid by cheque....

I have read the thread but forgot along the way what it was originally about....

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:11 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

... I did ring the bank today, to organise speaking to someone about credit card facilities, and to find out about terms and conditions, so we shall see what they say

Important that you mention to them "Customer Not Present".
A vital (for you) detail.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:20 pm Post subject:
I did. Bank manager is going to check for me too, if there is a maximum that can be charged for a no show, or if it is a % of the total stay.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:23 pm Post subject:
I've seen places where you lose your deposit (which might be 25% of the total), and in hotels, it's usually the first night they charge for. Not saying either is right, or the best, but just that they exist.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 07 8:48 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

I did.

Bank manager is going to check for me too, if there is a maximum that can be charged for a no show, or if it is a % of the total stay.

Good!

IMHO the downpayment could be whatever you and your client agree.
As long as it is explicitly agreed (rather than buried somewhere in small print) there ought not to be a problem.
I'd suggest that you might call it an "accommodation reservation fee which will be credited against the final bill, but is not refundable under any circumstances". (Leaving it to your discretion as to whether you might ever make an ex gratia refund for an early and justifiable cancellation.)

You are in the fortunate position of being exempted from the Distance Selling Regulations as you are making "contracts for the provision of accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, where the supplier undertakes, when the contract is concluded, to provide these services on a specific date or within a specific period."
Otherwise the client gets cancellation rights if ordering "customer not present". BUT it *doesn't* apply to you!

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 07 10:26 am Post subject:
I've been using Worldpay for 3 years and in that time they have processed over a thousand transactions. I have had just 1 chargeback and that was when the customer (in the US) did not realise it was a UK site - when they saw that the money had gone from their account to a uk account they cancelled it. They apologised later though! So I have got to say its a lot less scary than you might think.

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