I recently signed up for an account with 1stNP credit card processing, and I've run into a bit of a problem that might be an issue for others considering choosing them. First, I want to say that all of the people I've dealt with at 1stNP have been both as helpful as they could be and NICE to deal with. I wish all of the companies I deal with had the same attitude. That said, they really don't have a solution for my problem.
I signed up 1stNP to get a store-and-forward terminal that I could use to record credit card transactions at shows. The machine, a Nurit 3010, stores your transactions until they can be uploaded via phone line for processing. A refubished machine was only $79, and 1stNP monthly and transaction charges are quite reasonable. The machine is a big improvement over the knuckle buster, as it's much faster to use, and prints up two reciepts, one for you and one for the customer. I used it at the Northville Michigan art fair last week and was pleased with the ease of use.
The problem appeared when I tried to upload my credit charges to the processor over my home phone line. The Nurit 3010 requires an analog phone line, and when I had my DSL internet connection installed, my phone line got converted to digital, so I couldn't connect. Rick at 1stNP quickly diagnosed the problem, and manually entered credit card transactions for me since I couldn't get a connection.
Unfortunately, all of my friends and neighbors have digital phone lines also, so I've got no way to ever upload my transactions. The solution from 1stNP is a wireless terminal that wouldn't need a phone line. It, however, costs about $220, plus the wireless network fee of $20/month. That puts it well beyond what I'm willing to pay. 1stNP also has a system for manually entering your charges with a telephone keypad, but not only does that seem time consuming, but also an invitation to errors. I would be nice if they had a website where I could enter the data (the Nurit will print up a tape of your charges to work from), or if the terminal could be connected directly to the internet on my home router, but they don't offer either of those options.
I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do for the Plymouth Art show this coming weekend. I still have a month or so left on my account with Propay, so I may have to enter transactions through their website. Propay, however, limits you to $500 per day (you have to split things up to multiple days if you go over that limit), has really high fees, and doesn't offer anything like a store-and-forward terminal. It's not a permanent solution.
Anyway, if you're thinking of the 1stNP store-and-forward solution, make sure you have an analog phone line. I think they're getting kind of scarce.
Cheers,
Terry Melman
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I'm very skeptical about the explanation you were given. Solid state electronics tends to either work or not. You may have something like a small crack in the circuit board. When the unit gets hot the expansion of the components causes the crack to become large enough to interupt current flow and cause some component (function) to fail. This sort of problem can become worse over time as the repeated expansion and contraction of the crack causes it to get worse. There's really no way, however, that connection to a "digital" line is going to cause some sort of gradual damage to the modem. I believe that your Nurit may be failing, but not from connection to a "digital" line.
I think that we're getting so much misinformation from tech support because most tech support technicians are not well trained in the difference between digital and analog lines. Or, more skeptically, because they want us to upgrade to more expensive systems, such as wireless.
Digital phone lines are only found in business systems that provide their own PBX (switching equipment). They require special telephone handsets, and will not work with the sort of telephone you get at Target or Walmart. I doubt that any of us have our own PBX systems. DSL is an analog technology and uses a part of the line bandwidth that is not used by voice signals. If you have a DSL connection, your phone company has installed a box that splits the analog signals used by your analog telephone handsets from the digital signals used by your computers. It does not change the voltage delivered to the jacks where you connect your telepnones. It used to be that you were given a separate DSL modem to connect between your phone jack and your your computer. Newer systems such as AT&T Uverse require that separate line be run from your inside your house to the combination DSL modem/wireless router. Wikipedia has some good information about this subject.
Terry
dale repp said:
Here's a new dimension on this matter. The last couple shows my Nurit 3010 prompts me: "to secure capture press ENTER" while I'm uploading the charges. Sometimes more than once on the same charge. Then on the Fail Report these items print out, but on the last line it prints DISCONNECT rather than DECLINED. This means the data did not upload - not that it was a bad credit card. My processor (Merchant Warehouse) tells me that the modem inside the Nurit is being damaged and degraded by trying to upload analogue data into a digital phone link. (Like the comment above, analogue/land line phone setups are getting scarce.) I was told the problem will worsen as the modem inside the unit craps out further, and that the only cure is a fresh Nurit 3010. But you can still do a voice authorization for the Disconnected charge, get the authorization #, and do a forced sale entry on the Nurit, and be credited. Infinite frustration spending time dealing with all this, especially if you only have one phone line and have to break with the service rep to try and run up the data. Good luck
Here's a new dimension on this matter. The last couple shows my Nurit 3010 prompts me: "to secure capture press ENTER" while I'm uploading the charges. Sometimes more than once on the same charge. Then on the Fail Report these items print out, but on the last line it prints DISCONNECT rather than DECLINED. This means the data did not upload - not that it was a bad credit card. My processor (Merchant Warehouse) tells me that the modem inside the Nurit is being damaged and degraded by trying to upload analogue data into a digital phone link. (Like the comment above, analogue/land line phone setups are getting scarce.) I was told the problem will worsen as the modem inside the unit craps out further, and that the only cure is a fresh Nurit 3010. But you can still do a voice authorization for the Disconnected charge, get the authorization #, and do a forced sale entry on the Nurit, and be credited.
Infinite frustration spending time dealing with all this, especially if you only have one phone line and have to break with the service rep to try and run up the data. Good luck
Good to hear it got straightened out. I've had my little 3010 since Jan of 2003 when I could no longer use the bag phone with my Tranz 420. I was told repeatedly that the radio towers were going to cease operations on 1/1/09 but now I get signals in more places than ever! I'm happy about that as I got three declined cards a few weeks ago. I just handed the cards back to the customers and got another one.
OKAAAAAAY, this problem is not a problem! My Nurit 3010 is now able to upload my charges, despite the fact that I have a DSL connection. The solution was simple: connect the phone line to the jack on the Nurit labeled "Line" and not the jack labeled "Tel"!!!! DOH!!!!! I really should have known this, since for several years I worked with modems, which is what the Nurit uses to connect. I had forgotten that modems used in homes and small businesses usually have a jack labeled "Tel" so that a handset can be connected to permit voice calls when the modem is not in use. Interestingly, no one at tech support at 1stNP suggested that I had the phone line connected to the wrong jack. Apparently the salepeople at 1stNP also have made the mistake of telling customers to connect the phone line to the "Tel" jack. I really should have known better. Even if you have a DSL (or cable provider) telephone system, it has to handle analog signals, since that's what 99% of telephone handsets provide to the phone line.
So, my little Nurit 3010 works just fine, and my charges from the show in Plymouth, Michigan last weekend uploaded without a problem. Based on my experiences with 1stNP so far, I can recommend them based on the quality of customer service, their low fees, and easy transfer of my stored charges. Just be sure you connect to the correct jack on the charge machine.....
I never thought about it until you brought up this topic. I have the same machine and use 1st National too. I do have a regular phone line and never thought much about the digital verses "dial-up" phone lines. I have been told by many people that the Nurit will be phased out in a few years because the technology is being obsolete. I work (part time) for a couple who own their own boutique and they too use the same Nurit, and their merchant account company is telling them the same thing. I plan on using my system until I can't just to make sure I get my money out of it as I possibly can.
I do know - not for a fact though - that depending on how often you use your machine you can put a stop to your account (for off months for instance) and have your account on hold. I am saying this because if you have to go wireless perhaps there is a way you can work out not paying $20 every month. OR find ways to expand the business to make it worth your while to accept credit cards every month. Those are the only things I can think of right now to offer some sort of solution or alternative to the issue.
Replies
I'm very skeptical about the explanation you were given. Solid state electronics tends to either work or not. You may have something like a small crack in the circuit board. When the unit gets hot the expansion of the components causes the crack to become large enough to interupt current flow and cause some component (function) to fail. This sort of problem can become worse over time as the repeated expansion and contraction of the crack causes it to get worse. There's really no way, however, that connection to a "digital" line is going to cause some sort of gradual damage to the modem. I believe that your Nurit may be failing, but not from connection to a "digital" line.
I think that we're getting so much misinformation from tech support because most tech support technicians are not well trained in the difference between digital and analog lines. Or, more skeptically, because they want us to upgrade to more expensive systems, such as wireless.
Digital phone lines are only found in business systems that provide their own PBX (switching equipment). They require special telephone handsets, and will not work with the sort of telephone you get at Target or Walmart. I doubt that any of us have our own PBX systems. DSL is an analog technology and uses a part of the line bandwidth that is not used by voice signals. If you have a DSL connection, your phone company has installed a box that splits the analog signals used by your analog telephone handsets from the digital signals used by your computers. It does not change the voltage delivered to the jacks where you connect your telepnones. It used to be that you were given a separate DSL modem to connect between your phone jack and your your computer. Newer systems such as AT&T Uverse require that separate line be run from your inside your house to the combination DSL modem/wireless router. Wikipedia has some good information about this subject.
Terry
dale repp said:
Infinite frustration spending time dealing with all this, especially if you only have one phone line and have to break with the service rep to try and run up the data. Good luck
So, my little Nurit 3010 works just fine, and my charges from the show in Plymouth, Michigan last weekend uploaded without a problem. Based on my experiences with 1stNP so far, I can recommend them based on the quality of customer service, their low fees, and easy transfer of my stored charges. Just be sure you connect to the correct jack on the charge machine.....
I do know - not for a fact though - that depending on how often you use your machine you can put a stop to your account (for off months for instance) and have your account on hold. I am saying this because if you have to go wireless perhaps there is a way you can work out not paying $20 every month. OR find ways to expand the business to make it worth your while to accept credit cards every month. Those are the only things I can think of right now to offer some sort of solution or alternative to the issue.