mobile credit card processing reviews

dawn rasmussen January 24, 2012 at 11:44am

I am currantly frustrated with PCI compliance fees with my credit card processor... First National processing... first charged for not filling out the online questionair and being "noncomplaint" now apparently going to be charged $120 for showing that I am compliant? Does anyone run into this with the square top system?

Jim Parker > dawn rasmussen January 24, 2012 at 11:58am

You need to be PCI-compliant, regardless of what system you use. The online questionnaire and the associated certification need to be renewed by you and posted in your place of business. Same as your sales tax licenses. Like death and taxes, there are some things that you must do as a business person. 1NB has been very helpful to me in the four years I've had them as a processor. A couple of times the machine would not work in a location - they get me hooked up with the proper tech support, even on Sunday at 9PM. The PCI fee can be split up over several months with them.

Merchant card processors vary in how much they charge you for maintenance. I don't use a Square, but I have heard that the fees are less. It also has a few more limitations.
- dawn rasmussen > Jim Parker January 24, 2012 at 12:15pm
  
  Thanks, I get the compliance issue, i have a bad taste in my mouth because a previous processor charged $25 annually for compliance, I paid in November, then that Feb they attempted to charge me another $400 for compliance because they had changed compliance providers or the compliance providers changed their fee structure... something about these guys having complete access to my bank account, changing fees and it is never clear that they provide anything to me for the money I am spending hits me wrong. You answere the questions online... then pay. If I am paying for the information about keeping data safe it seems overpriced. All of my transactions are processed via phone line and not stored in a computer or hard copy. I am still unclear what I am getting in return for the fees I am paying. Wouldnt we be better off it there was a system similar to insurance where to you paid for coverage in case of identity theft and they in turn showed you how to keep your data secure?

Chris Pawlik September 13, 2011 at 9:37am

Slight change of subject. I thought you might like to see the info I just received from ProPay

Dear ProPay merchant,

In October 2010, Visa and MasterCard announced a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several state attorneys general to resolve antitrust investigations into Visa and MasterCard’s merchant acceptance rules in the United States. On July 20, 2011, the court approved the settlement and entered final judgment in the case. We are required to inform you of the changes Visa and MasterCard have made to their rules and to describe certain merchant acceptance practices that are now permitted and that may assist you in better managing your costs associated with accepting payment cards.

Please copy and paste any of the applicable URL‘s below into your browser to review the information.

The final DOJ judgment is available at:
www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f273100/273170.pdf

The updated VISA rule changes can be found at:
http://usa.visa.com/merchants/operations/op_regulations.html

The updated MasterCard rules can be found at:
http://www.mastercard.com/us/merchant/pdf/BM-Entire_Manual_public.pdf

We appreciate your business,

ProPay, Inc.

Chris Hoyt > Chris Pawlik September 15, 2011 at 6:39am

This is something everyone should read.

Your agreement is with the credit cards, not the processor. VISA and Mastercard set the rules. And they're for everyone, not just the big stores.

And yes, we now can have a minimum charge amount if we wish, but it cannot exceed $10.

mea rhee September 9, 2011 at 9:32am

Thanks Michael, Chris, and Jay, for responding to my question. So it looks like $1000 is really not the limit, as long as the transactions are swiped. Does anyone have any experience with processing $3000 to $5000 in one weekend? And does anyone have experience with a keyed in transaction over $1000 ... did it really take 30 days?

Jay McDougall > mea rhee September 9, 2011 at 9:52am

Yes to the weekend numbers (with no problems whatsoever from Square) and no to having any experience with the keyed-in.
- Maija Baynes > Jay McDougall September 9, 2011 at 9:24pm
  
  Here's a new twist to all this. Every year I download my credit report to make sure everything is fine. Did you know that if you have several inquiries within a short period, it will lower your credit score.
  
  Intuit actually does a formal "inquiry"....that's one inquiry. Then if you apply for a credit card, that's another inquiry. Then if you want a car loan, that's another. Then all of the sudden your credit score has fallen a few points. These inquiries only stay there for 12 months, but for some loan companies, this might be a flag. The Square doesn't make a formal inquiry on your credit score. Just interesting trivia. Nothing more.
  - mea rhee > Maija Baynes September 10, 2011 at 9:51am
    
    Overall I think Square is a great invention, but this is my one serious quibble with them .... that they give Squares to anyone without checking your credit. The power to take money out of a credit card can be really bad in the wrong hands. It should only be granted to those who can prove they are responsible, legitimate businesses. Now I think about this whenever a waiter disappears with my credit card for a few minutes. Does he have a Square in his pocket? Of course I don't mind handing my credit card to a festival artist using a Square. I just question the future survival of a company that is pursuing rapid growth at the expense of being careful.
    - Pat Sorbini > mea rhee September 12, 2011 at 8:52am
      
      Square does run a credit check. That's why you give your ss#. They also verify your bank acct, of course.

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