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[A155]Accept Credit Cards Phone

by Shane Penrod, Sha

Customers love it when companies accept credit cards over the phone because they need not dress up to go shopping, they don't have to find a babysitter, they need not put gas in the car, and they don't have to worry about stopping at the bank for cash while en route to your establishment. All they have to do is pick up a phone receiver, dial your number, and punch in responses to the automated order and payment system. It sounds highly sophisticated, but actually the process is fairly simple. Here is how to get started.

First, to accept credit cards over the phone you will need a merchant account. This will provide you with a financial underwriter for coordinating customers' credit payments with your account. The underwriter facilitates the credit payment to ensure it is good and when cleared, puts the money into your account for ready access. Of course there are fees for this service, but most merchant account users feel they are well worth it because of the unlimited potential for growth and profit. Find a reputable financial underwriter, like a solid bank or other lender, and apply for a merchant account. Check out all possible fees so there are no surprises later. In fact, you should compare account options among various lenders to get the best deal.

Next, when your merchant account is approved, you can select digital phone services that will enable you to accept credit cards over the phone via a selection of customer options. For example, you may wish to make the service available 24/7, or you might wish to limit access to certain hours when a customer service employee can be on hand, if needed, to complete transactions if a glitch should occur or to answer questions. You will need to ensure the phone connection is secure, and you can decide whether to have customers key in their credit card numbers or be able to choose the voice option as well or instead of the key-in choice. Will your provide a confirmation number? Will receipts be mailed or emailed? These and other questions will need to be worked out when setting up your phone credit card processing service.

Telephones are being used more and more for business ordering and payment services, especially with the credit payment feature for those who wish to accept credit cards online. By paying a few cents for each transaction or a low interest rate overall, you can remove limits from your sales field and increase volume dramatically. Contact a merchant account representative to find out more about the many exciting possibilities that await you when you implement the latest technology for your business, beginning with the choice to accept credit cards over the phone.

There has been a huge growth in the number of cold calls, and unsolicited offers that people receive on their home and business phones. The process can be very intrusive and frustrating and is the subject of a growing number of complaints. Many of these calls come from phone companies, especially mobile phone providers but they are also for new windows, for insurance and for credit among other things.

If you are offered credit over the phone, it can be quite tempting, especially if you have poor credit or have had difficulty in getting credit in the past. However, there are some risks involved and you should be careful. The primary concern with these types of calls is that at the end of the day, if you are the recipient of the call, you do not know who is calling you. Just because someone says they are from a respectable bank or credit card provider does not necessarily mean they are, and you should accordingly be cautious about what information you give out over the phone. Of course, if you have made the call, or have requested it from a reputable lender, then this will be far less of a concern.

Do not, under any circumstances, be pressured into giving out sensitive information over the phone or accepting credit if you are not comfortable doing so. If you do think you want to accept a phone offer for credit, then give out as little information as possible over the phone. They will probably need your address, but any other information can be sent to them through the post, in an application form. You should become very suspicious of anyone who calls you and starts asking for your payment details, bank account number or any other similar information. If they are a genuine company, then they should be more than happy to send you an application form through the post.

Also, make sure you ask who you are speaking to and which company they represent. Ask them for their website address so that you can look up the company on line. Also, when the application form does arrive by post, read it carefully and satisfy yourself not only that the offer is one you would like to accept, but also that the company is one that you would like to be dealing with. Finally, look at the address carefully and make sure that it all appears above board.

Article Source : Does Credit Counseling Hurt Your Credit

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Both Shane Penrod & Joe Kenny are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Shane Penrod has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Finances and Tools and Resources. . Shane Penrod's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.

Joe Kenny has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Credit Cards and Life Insurance. Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering the latest information on , visit them today for more. Joe Kenny's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.