[nathankaye]

Sorry I couldn't find a previous thread (not prepared to scroll through pages n pages to find it) how some said it was crazy for one man bands to limit their payment options.
Yet so far every new customer has signed up straight away. Infact Ive just started in a new area due to a facebook enquiry. A very nice area and this person accepted the quote and told me of two other neighbours. Left my cards with quotes on and one of them called back this evening and I had a chat with him and explained that my clients pay by direct debit and referred him to my website. He said it makes sense to do so and would set it up. I explained theres no hurry as Im not back there now till December but 15 minutes later I get an email from GoCardless telling me someone has signed up. Yes its the same person and the original person who enquired got her windows cleaned today and she registered whilst she made me a coffee as I set up ready to start.
This has been the same experience with every new customer so far. Its brilliant and so far cant see the negatives that everyone was worried about on the other thread

[Dry Clean]

You do like to waffle Nathan, other than collecting I don't give a toss how my customers pay me as long as they do,
that said I would even take collecting as a payment method if I needed the work.

[nathankaye]

The only downside I forgot today is to stick an extra pound on my quote to cover the very small commision charge gocardless has. Its only pence but a quid will cover nicely 

[Lee Pryor]

Ah he's seen the light.

We are working hard to swap over the last 20% of our customer base to go cardless. We are writing to our round as we go. We have swapped over 150 people in the last 2 weeks. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of every single customer on by October next year.

[Dry Clean]

Ah he's seen the light.

We are working hard to swap over the last 20% of our customer base to go cardless. We are writing to our round as we go. We have swapped over 150 people in the last 2 weeks. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of every single customer on by October next year.

Laying down the law to new customers only after you have filled your round isn't seeing the light, lol, there's a world of difference in what you are doing and what Nathan is pretending to do.
There's a sensible need for a business with thousands of customers to try and keep payment options to a minimum for a sole
trader with 300 or 400 customers it doesn't really matter.

[bobplum]

The downside, as far as i can see, is if you dont clean...you dont get paid.So if we all get wiped out over  winter or you are ill for 3/4 weeks, no clean....No payment.
Thats why i have held back a £1000 per month on standing orders, yes i then owe them, (i usually off set it by doing an internal clean, at the next clean) but i will have the money coming in

[nathankaye]

Ah he's seen the light.

We are working hard to swap over the last 20% of our customer base to go cardless. We are writing to our round as we go. We have swapped over 150 people in the last 2 weeks. We are well on our way to achieving our goal of every single customer on by October next year.

Laying down the law to new customers only after you have filled your round isn't seeing the light, lol, there's a world of difference in what you are doing and what Nathan is pretending to do.
There's a sensible need for a business with thousands of customers to try and keep payment options to a minimum for a sole
trader with 300 or 400 customers it doesn't really matter.

Your absolutely right dry clean
 

[Dry Clean]

If there's one thing I hate more than pompous drivel its phoney pompous drivel.

[nathankaye]

[Dry Clean]

Nathan don't give up on your dreams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg66kwRnOpw

[nathankaye]

 

[nathankaye]

What I like about you sean //dry clean is that were both alike and I know how much you love to hear that   

You see, we're both brave as we both post on here and no one really cares for it.
😂😂

[nathankaye]

Another new customer came out as I cleaned her neighbours. (Shes newly moved into the house).
So I tell her the min charge and every 4 wks etc. Then I told her all my new clients need to register for direct debit payments first!..........

"Can I not pay with cash?"  She asked.
"The reason I ask for D/D is that I dont collect in the evenings and even though you are home now, you may not be next time. I dont collect in evenings as many dont keep cash in the house or its the constant returning to catch people in!" I said.

She was perfectly in agreement and signed up there and then. Its that simple and definately not hindered my growth at all.  In fact I think it helps get rid of the messers straight away. Because if they are serious about having 4wkly cleans they will register and if not, they wont!

[nathankaye]

On the other hand, an existing customer who owed 2 payments has just phoned me. He got my note about going onto direct debit to prevent this from happening further. But he doesnt want to pay via direct debit.
Then the bit I dont understand!!  He then asks for my details so he can do BACS instead. Haha not happy to put his details which doesnt matter as we know but hes happy for me to give mine out!!
So I was happy for him to do this on the basis that he sets it up as a standing order which he is going to do.
So a win win yet again!!

[Simon Trapani]

So what happens with GoCardless if the customer hasn't got the funds in their account when GoCardless goes to take payment? In my experience, many younger customers especially, live very hand to mouth. I always seem to get a rush of payments at the start of the month just after their pay day I guess.
Genuine question as I'm interested in it although I currently mainly use BACS as it's free for me with Santander. I do have to manually tally it up with references in Aworka though. I believe GoCardless can integrate with Aworka to automatically mark off payment though. Is that right?

[p1w1]

So what happens with GoCardless if the customer hasn't got the funds in their account when GoCardless goes to take payment? In my experience, many younger customers especially, live very hand to mouth. I always seem to get a rush of payments at the start of the month just after their pay day I guess.
Genuine question as I'm interested in it although I currently mainly use BACS as it's free for me with Santander. I do have to manually tally it up with references in Aworka though. I believe GoCardless can integrate with Aworka to automatically mark off payment though. Is that right?

I have had just this happen for the first time the other day for £15. Basically you get an email from GoCardless (after about day 6-7 of the payment process) to inform you the payment has failed (giving you a general reason why it's happened possible insufficient funds etc. You then have the option to start the payment process again( which i have done) but it doesnt cost you anything for the failed payment.
If it fails again then  i guess its just up to you to chase the customer up. Mines integrated with Cleaner Planner so you know straight away who it is but you can also find out from your Gocardless dashboard.

[nathankaye]

As above.
Bacs is great as like you said its free.
Though on the other hand, its a very small fee from go cardless to collect your money. If your concerned with this just put your price up by 50pence or a quid or so.

[Arnold Palmer]

On the other hand, an existing customer who owed 2 payments has just phoned me. He got my note about going onto direct debit to prevent this from happening further. But he doesnt want to pay via direct debit.
Then the bit I dont understand!!  He then asks for my details so he can do BACS instead. Haha not happy to put his details which doesnt matter as we know but hes happy for me to give mine out!!
So I was happy for him to do this on the basis that he sets it up as a standing order which he is going to do.
So a win win yet again!!

It's about being in control. Window cleaning isn't looked at as a 'profession' by many people, mainly due to a few bad apples and childish behaviour from many in our industry. Therefore some people want to be in control of how they pay you, due to a lack of trust.

I have no problems letting people pay me however they like, same as most other businesses.

[nathankaye]

Picked up a new customer 2 months ago and told her the need to register and she agreed. I wrongly gave her the benefit of the doubt to donit later. 2 months later and a letter on 2nd clean, still no mandate filled in. Collected on her last night and got paid but told her I will no longer clean them untill she registers. No other choices because she aint followed the choice of Bacs or Paypal as suggested on the letter I left on her last.
Ive set my store out now and I intend to stick to it, even if it means dropping this customer who so far has been a messer so its no real loss.

[Lee Pryor]

The 2 most important features that make all the difference with go cardless over ANY other payment method are

1. You pull down the customers money, they don't have to remember to pay you. I see this as the most important feature by far. Even a bank transfer free as it may be requires the customer to act, that's the problem with every other method except go cardless.

2. The customer becomes unaware of the spend in their mind. Every time a customer has to act to pay you the money stands out in their mind, especially if they go a clean or two or three before paying. Suddenly it seems like a lot of money and they will think about cancelling. How many times have you chased a payment and then they pay and cancel? Hold on a minute Mrs Smith, you owed me money and because I asked for it you want to cancel the service?!!........ How many times have we all had that.

I tell you now our retention rate has dramatically increased now we have most on go cardless.