Opinions on discrete card payments

[Brody Boivin 8445]

I am waiting on a little device called a square that acts as a teeny tiny debit/credit machine that I stick in my phone. Lot's of small businesses use them and thought I could maybe start a trend for the provider world. Unsure on how it go. Now, I have it set up for the receipt to have a code rather than anything suspicious looking to encourage not having to take out money from the bank every time and/or encourage longer dates, vacation and deposit payments. I never want to break discretion. (I also created a non alarming email for e-transfers.)

 

My question is, are debit/credit payments a way for patrons to essentially bag me?

 

I was told that you can just cancel a credit card or debit payment even after I have accepted the payment. I worry this beautiful idea may be just what it currently is. An idea.

 

Input good or bad would be great!

[Guest *Ste***cque**]

Cash is king in this business for a host of reasons. Using cash keeps me from letting my spending get out of control, which is easier to let happen with credit/debit cards.

I understand you would use a numbered company code but I'm still leaving a record of my activities, which currently are illegal for clients. That would concern me. I'd be curious to hear other opinions.

[Meaghan McLeod 179664]

I wouldn't. read the terms and conditions of square.

[Brody Boivin 8445]

I wouldn't. read the terms and conditions of square.

 

Care to elaborate?

[capitalCforcougar 16766]

I am not familiar with the 'square' card reader, and have very few clients who use theirs with my debit machine (which doesnt elude to why they visited me in any way), but I do have a number of them who use e-transfer... and so far, no matter the payment method, I have not had anyone grab their funds back...

 

Cash is definitely king though... easiest all the way around, and generally 'untraceable' so to speak ;)

[Regent 35404]

From Square's TOS:

 

By creating a Square Account, you also confirm that you will not accept payments in connection with the following businesses or business activities: (1) any illegal activity, (2) buyers or membership clubs, (3) credit counseling or repair agencies, (4) credit protection or identity theft protection services, (5) direct marketing or subscription offers or services, (6) infomercial sales, (7) internet/mail order/telephone order pharmacies or pharmacy referral services (where fulfillment of medication is performed with an internet or telephone consultation, absent a physical visit with a physician including re-importation of pharmaceuticals from foreign countries), (8) multi-level marketing businesses, (9) inbound or outbound telemarketers, (10) prepaid phone cards or phone services, (11) rebate based businesses, (12) up-sell merchants, (13) bill payment services, (14) betting, including lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, off-track betting, and wagers at races, (15) financial institutions offering manual or automated cash disbursements, (16) financial institutions offering merchandise and services, (17) sales of money-orders or foreign currency by non-financial institutions, (18) wire transfer money orders, (19) high-risk merchants, including telemarketing merchants, (20) service station merchants, (21) automated fuel dispensers, (22) adult entertainment oriented products or services (in any medium, e.g., internet, telephone or printed material), (23) internet/mail order/telephone order firearm or weapon sales, (24) cigarette or tobacco sales, (25) drug paraphernalia, (26) occult materials, (27) hate products, (28) escort services, (29) bankruptcy lawyers, (30) hard alcohol or liquor sales, and (31) travel agency services.

 

I'd be worried both about chargebacks and also having your account shut down and having them seize any balance, as we've seen with PayPal so, so many times.

 

While being able to take credit cards would be nice, I'm okay with sticking to cash and email money transfers for the occasional deposit.

[Emma Alexandra 123366]

I've had it for about 2 years now but I've never used it for this business. That was my plan but after reading it would be illegal I changed my mind. I once had a paypal account shut down for that reason. So for me cash is best or email money transfer.

 

Additional Comments:

From Square's TOS:

 

By creating a Square Account, you also confirm that you will not accept payments in connection with the following businesses or business activities: (1) any illegal activity, (2) buyers or membership clubs, (3) credit counseling or repair agencies, (4) credit protection or identity theft protection services, (5) direct marketing or subscription offers or services, (6) infomercial sales, (7) internet/mail order/telephone order pharmacies or pharmacy referral services (where fulfillment of medication is performed with an internet or telephone consultation, absent a physical visit with a physician including re-importation of pharmaceuticals from foreign countries), (8) multi-level marketing businesses, (9) inbound or outbound telemarketers, (10) prepaid phone cards or phone services, (11) rebate based businesses, (12) up-sell merchants, (13) bill payment services, (14) betting, including lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, off-track betting, and wagers at races, (15) financial institutions offering manual or automated cash disbursements, (16) financial institutions offering merchandise and services, (17) sales of money-orders or foreign currency by non-financial institutions, (18) wire transfer money orders, (19) high-risk merchants, including telemarketing merchants, (20) service station merchants, (21) automated fuel dispensers, (22) adult entertainment oriented products or services (in any medium, e.g., internet, telephone or printed material), (23) internet/mail order/telephone order firearm or weapon sales, (24) cigarette or tobacco sales, (25) drug paraphernalia, (26) occult materials, (27) hate products, (28) escort services, (29) bankruptcy lawyers, (30) hard alcohol or liquor sales, and (31) travel agency services.

 

I'd be worried both about chargebacks and also having your account shut down and having them seize any balance, as we've seen with PayPal so, so many times.

 

While being able to take credit cards would be nice, I'm okay with sticking to cash and email money transfers for the occasional deposit.

[capitalCforcougar 16766]

wow! so.. if I were a 'Passion Party' consultant.. because I sell adult toys.. I couldn't use that? haha wow.. hmmn.. didn't know that.. thank you for posting that info! very helpful indeed :)

[Brody Boivin 8445]

Thanks for all the info everyone! Will stick to email and cash. Thanks for looking up direct info! Super nice of you!

[Phaedrus 209521]

As a general rule... with any form of electronic payment, there's a trail of transactions that can be followed either way by anyone with the necessary resources, unless you're using something that explicitly prevents that (e.g. Bitcoin). Most of the time that's not an issue as nobody cares, but... why take the risk, if you don't have to? I don't see what's wrong with the folding stuff. It has always worked very well for me, and nobody I've seen has ever complained about getting it.