Ian (and the rest), I have started just recently to accept credit cards and I got my account through the Federation of Small Businesses. They have a deal with Steamline, which is part of Natwest and I think it is pretty good deal.
There are no set-up or installation fees, the technician will come and install your machine to the phone line and explain how to use it. They charge ?14 a month for rental and then a 2.5% on transactions. You will be able to accept most credit cards and charge the client with or without their presence, so if you sell on-line you just need the credit card number to get your money. They can also install a machine for e-commerce, although there is a charge for that (I don't have any use for that, so didn't ask). They supply with alternatives to charge credit cards in case of a faulty machine, and have a response time of 24 hours. Once you charge a card, it takes between 3 and 5 working days to get your money, depending on the bank you work with. There is a bit of a catch, though, and is the fact that you have to sign a contract for 3 years if you are a limited company or 18 months if you are sole trader. However, I think it is worth it. Their phone number is: 0800 010166 and their website is www.streamline.com Hope this is helpful. Paco. I Have been thinking that the ability to accept payments by credit card, would be an advantage, for digital, and other work. The fist and biggest question is. Where is the best place to get a merchant account from? Is it my bank, or are there other options? Also what are the costs and where is the best deal for a company with a small turnover on the cards. =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
