The Forum of Private Business and Accept Cards Ltd help businesses make the most of Christmas trade

24 December 2009

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The FPB and Accept Cards Ltd (ACL) are helping small businesses make the most of the Christmas trade by providing mobile card terminals on a short-term basis, rather than the usual deal of 12 months at a time.

Members of the FPB already accepting cards make an average saving of 30% on the processing costs, with no joining fees (typically £150-£200) for switching acquiring bank. Members of the FPB new to cards make an average saving of £465.

Benefits include low rates for cardholder-not-present transactions, independent advice on all areas of card processing and the choice of a wide range of processing banks. Other options include a zero minimum monthly service charge and either static, portable or fully mobile terminals with flexible rental terms.

"For many businesses, Christmas means a surge in trade that sets them up well into the new year," said FPB spokesman Phil McCabe. "We are committed to helping these businesses maximise the returns they can make by taking payments via flexible mobile card terminals.

"In addition to the security and savings that card payments can bring, the FPB and Accept Cards Ltd are offering short-term deals on terminals so taking payments by card is even more cost effective."

Samantha Jordan of T&F Walsh Potato Merchants in Bury, Lancashire, diversified into the Christmas tree market five years ago. The company wanted a credit card machine to cater for the seasonal trade, but found that companies would only lease one for 12 months at a time – until the FPB and Accept Cards Ltd provided the solution.

"The terminal actually pays for itself. Unlike with most other providers you don't have to pay for it for 12 months, so we can use the facility flexibly to get the most out of the seasonal trade," said Mrs Jordan. "Obviously Christmas trade is very important to our business and I cannot overstate the benefits of having a mobile card terminal to take payments," said Mrs Jordan. "Thanks to the Forum of Private Business and Accept Cards Ltd we feel much more secure because we don't have to carry around bundles of cash. It is also a more efficient way of taking and receiving payments and one that customers really appreciate."

Mark Pearson, Director of Accept Cards Ltd, said: "Accept Cards were delighted to assist Sam at T&F Walsh to provide a bespoke one month terminal rental for the festive season, when in previous years she had been unable to take payments by card because she was unable to find a rental deal of less than 12 months.

"Accept Cards were able to find her the perfect solution to the suit the company's needs both financially and operationally, and with low processing costs available to members of the FPB.

"This happy result would not have been possible without T&F Walsh being able to discuss their problem with the Forum of Private Business, which was able to find a successful resolution via the new partnership with Accept Cards Ltd."

Traders that do not take card payments lose out on business. Spending on plastic increased to £360 billion in 2008, with over 65% of retail transactions completed by card. The average person holds four cards and more than 140 million credit and debit payment cards are currently in circulation.

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The Forum of Private Business and Accept Cards Ltd help businesses make the most of Christmas trade

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