Chip and pin card machines, which one?

[ellasmum]

Hi Guys,

Which of you use a chip and pin card machine in your salon and which one is best to go for? I was advised that getting one through a bank was the best idea but what is your experience and what did it cost you?

Many Thanks
Sam x

 

[leonnib]

hi ive just got mine i have one at home for my mobile side one the salon ...

i got both through streamline my bank sorted it out for me (natwest).. it was 175.00 to set it up... and something like £25 a month

its soo easy to use i can do chip and pin ,swipe or when the persons not present e.g like over the phone

 

[ellasmum]

Thanks for that Leonnib, I am with First Direct, will contact a few banks and see who does what. Anyone else use one in Salon?
Sam

 

[totalbirdbrain]

We use one in salon and i wouldnt be without it. I initially got one through Barclays and then changed to CardSave/Streamline for a couple of years. However I went back to Barclays a couple of months ago, they brought the charges down and the money is in my account a lot quicker than it was with the other supplier. There are lots out there, its just finding the right deal.

 

[Martin Duffy]

I'm with HSBC & get my card machine through them; I've had no problems with them & the money is in the account very quickly.

 

[sian1979]

our salon uses an ingenico card machine which we got through lloyds tsb card services

 

[TheBack&Beyond]

GPRS machine with Cardsave for me. Federation of Small Businesses do offer a competitive alternative - if you are already with them. It's really great having the freedom to do a mobile treatment and process payments without using customer's phone line (or pay for the landline rental+calls in the salon). Thankfully I have great mobile phone networks everywhere I've worked so far!

When I started out - the big banks wanted a massive set up fee, but this might have changed.

It's about £30 a month (and don't forget to include the transaction and Streamline charges), but it easily earns it's keep! I'd feel ill-equipped and rather naked if I turned up for work without it.

 

[ellasmum]

Thanks everyone for all the advice.
Sam

 

[Martin Duffy]

When I started out - the big banks wanted a massive set up fee, but this might have changed.

It's about £30 a month (and don't forget to include the transaction and Streamline charges), but it easily earns it's keep! I'd feel ill-equipped and rather naked if I turned up for work without it.

I think this must have changed as all I had to pay for was the years rental upfront, which worked out as £20 a month, and now pay about £18 a month. Then it's just transaction charges on top, which I think offhand are 25p per debit card & 2% on a credit card.

 

[hev]

I think this must have changed as all I had to pay for was the years rental upfront, which worked out as £20 a month, and now pay about £18 a month. Then it's just transaction charges on top, which I think offhand are 25p per debit card & 2% on a credit card.

wow that is good who is that through if you dont mind me asking?

 

[kimi1101]

i got mine (streamline) thru RBS...its £20 a month then 40p a debit card and 2.5% per credit card. i didnt really research it much, i thought you could only get it thru your bank..but i am happy enough, not had any problems yet!!! x

 

[Martin Duffy]

That's through HSBC (I've just checked & my terminal rental is now actually only £17.25 a month including VAT).

 

[angelina221]

I use Streamline. I'm with the FSB so got a discounted rate. I didn't pay a set up fee and i think i pay 23p per debit card transaction but it may be lower. Will have to check that!

 

[hev]

oh i just checked online hsbc have a set up fee of 99

 

[MrsMacTheKnife]

Morning guys - been up since 4am, how can you tell we are opening on Thursday?!

I use Elavon, no set up fee, 1.8% credit charge fee (0.5% Mastercard and Visa), 20p others (Visa Debit and Electron 11.5p), £16.00 plus VAT monthly rental and best of all, the terminal connects to my broadband rather than my phone line.

Hope that helps, take care, Mrs Mac

 

[fozzyo]

I use a terminal from 123send.net and have it through the Federation of Small Businesses offer.

It is £25 a month rental plus authorisation charges (25p debit, 2 - 2.5% for credit). With the FSB deal there is no setup fee, and the Streamline account for authorisations is free too - usually £10 a month.

It is also a GPRS terminal - so doesn't require a phoneline, it has a mobile phone built it for authorisations so can be taken anywhere for payments such as fair, events, parties etc.

Wouldn't be without it now!

Mat

 

[CHESSY GIRL]

i'm not sure how it would work for me , i rent a room above a hairdressers they already have 2 terminals (for the hairdressers) would i have to get a wireless one ?? if so are these approx same price ??:irked:

 

[fozzyo]

I have a wireless one - see post above, makes it a lot easier!

 

[Layla-Louise]

Hi Ive got a question for Mrs Mac please Im with elavon myself but finding rates to high just wanted to know your £16+ vat is that on a quartly basis every months I pay alot more than that for rental & on top of this I have a minimum service charge per month is this what you mean aswell ?
thankyou in advance hope to hear from you