[dean stewart]

Hi I am looking to buy scanning equipment that uses the bar code system to take instant payments (DD) once the windows have been cleaned.  Does anyone know of a company that supplies such products?

Many thanks

[replacement]

Yeah you can get them from the bank, they are not cheap and they make loads of checks before they even let you have one. I think they charge x amount for the payment process then x amount per month for the hire of the machine. Really anit worth it if you ask me. Use SAE and PayPal.

As for portable ones you take on your round is a no go as they dont do them. You need to be connected to a phone line so it can auth the payment.

Justin

[the_cleaner]

Hi,

Just to put it staight you can get them but they take a mobile sim card so the bill's even bigger!

Charge per transaction

Monthly Charge from bank

Then Monthly charge from phone company

Charge per call to verify payment to!!!


Means you'll be working for the machine not you


Go with paypal   and sae think oyu can set paypal to bill them every x anyway

[M4RK]

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what is paypal?

I thought that had something to do with web-site commissions.

[WavieDavie]

Look at paypal v nochex

http://www.paypal.com/uk/

http://www.nochex.co.uk/

You need a website, but even a one page would do. I haven't looked for a while, but I think nochex is cheaper.

[matt]

nochex is UK based

Paypal is US based

Paypal rip you off (in my opninion)

Nochex are great

[Philip Hanson]

I've seen a company that uses a bar code system.  It may look good, but unless you have thousands of customers there really is no need for this level of complication.

EZclean I think they were called.

Any automated payment system you use will eat into the actual price of the job.  Joe customer doesnt want to pay extra for the fact you have a wonderful payment system, so it comes off the price of the job.

If you want to accept direct debits, that is a whole different ball game  (Direct debit is where your bank takes money from the customer by agreement).  For a start, you must be subject to the rules of the Direct Debit Guarantee which has certain trading limits which are relatively high.(in the order of about £150,000 turnover)  You must also satisfy your bank that your administrative systems are efficient enough to cope with DD and they will also look at the financial standing of your business.  If you are not a limited company, forget it.  More info here: http://www.directdebit.co.uk

However, you may consider asking your customers to set up a Standing Order  Subtley different from direct debit in that the customer instructs their bank to send funds to your bank on a regular basis (eg every month).  As your customer is controlling the arrangement, there are no criteria you must meet other than to have a bank account that will accept standing orders.  (some savings accounts will not, but all current accounts will)

I do this with a few customers, and it works perfectly.

If you are having difficulty organizing who has and hasnt paid, then you need george. http://www.georgesystems.co.uk

-Philip

[billozz]

could someone who uses paypal please explain the process of receiving a payment from a customer please.
i am sure i am not alone when i say that the weekly drive round to collect monies does me head in.....especially as when you get there they are often not in!!!!
so any other method would be worth a look
thanks
bill

[karlosdaze]

Hey Phil,
wasn't there a window cleaner that put barcodes in the window & scanned them? It was a cheesy video, but they scanned them & the bill was sent out to the house owner.

[Philip Hanson]

yeh I remember that, "EZ clean" I think, only remember because everyone said "cheezy clean" instead!

I'll see if i can find the thread...

Got it

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Equipment;action=display;num=1071351632;start=3#3

and the company is EZ clean

http://www.ezy-clean.co.uk/start.htm

-Philip

[karlosdaze]

I've just watched it again................what a laugh.

[billozz]

hey guys i watched it two. presumably if the barcode scan fails to work he'll have to do the windows again until it can read the barcode......good laugh tho.
regards
bill

[matt]

could someone who uses paypal please explain the process of receiving a payment from a customer please.
bill

the customer clicks on a  link on your website (or they can just send the money to a e.mail account)

they then use either a debit card or credit card to pay online

you get sent a e.mail telling you they have paid

you then get a % taken off for paypals charges "ripoff" you will then have the money in a account with them, then every now and then you will withdraw the money to a back account

same applies for www.nochex.com" but they are cheaper to use and BRITISH

[WavieDavie]

Oh dear!

Paypal is 2.7% or 3.4% +20p per transaction . . . http://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-receiving-fees-outside

Nochex seems to have cottoned on to this . . . http://help.nochex.com/?Action=Q&ID=92 but are still "competitive" at 2.6% + 20p

I'm sure they used to be 1% - ah well, supply and demand I think they call it.

[matt]

Davie

your right, used to be 1%

i guess they know they are the only 2 in the "field" so can charge the same

[Antony_tomkins]

You can have a merchant account then when a customer wants to pay by credit card you can do a mail order transaction without the card in your hand as long as you have all the details

[Doug_Redfarn]

I have a Paypal account, as I purchase things from Ebay now and again. I thought Paypal charges the sender, not the recipient, which is why you see, myself included, many people on Ebay stating that a 3% fee needs to be added to the final sale price, to cover the fees.

[matt]

nope

the sender pays the price only

the seller has to pay costs

this is why you see sellers add 3% to cover costs

[muzzy]

HI,
All why not get a po. box or have them mail it every month : just my 2cent from pa....good luck