Card processing - frequently asked questions

Q. Do I need to change my bank account?
A. No. The bank you use to process your card transactions will credit your existing bank account. Funds will normally take 4 working days to reach your account.

Q. What are the costs for accepting cards?
A. You can view the rates by clicking here.

Q. Why do I have to pay fees and how are they taken?
A. The fees are charged by the processing bank to cover their costs of processing the transactions and include the fees they are charged by MasterCard and Visa. The bank's fees are charged monthly, in arrears by Direct Debit, and you will receive a monthly charging statement. Typically, the charge is taken during the third week of the following month.

Q. Do I need to have a business bank account?
A. Yes. You can't run a card facility using a personal bank account.

Q. What are the benefits of being a member of the FPB when it comes to card processing?
A. The FPB has partnered with Accept Cards, a leading operator in the independent card processing sector, to give members access to the lowest possible processing rates through Accept Cards' partner banks. If you were to go direct to your bank, you'd be charged much more in most cases. For members already accepting payments by cards, Accept Cards will be able to obtain a significant annual saving in more than 90% of cases.

Q. Can I pass the charges on to my customers?
A. Yes, but for credit card transactions only – PROVIDING you advise them at the point of sale that you are doing this and of the amount to be surcharged.

Q. Is there a charge for me to move to a new card processor?
A. No. You are free to enjoy the full amount of the annual savings achieved under the preferential deal.

Q. How complicated is the application process?
A. You'll need to complete application forms from the bank and possibly the terminal rental company. Each will require copies of identification documentation in addition to the other forms. If you're an existing card user, you'll simply replace your new terminal for the old one when it's delivered.

Q. I'm currently in a contract – can I still apply?
A. Yes. Accept Cards will calculate your annual saving to compare against the fee you will need to pay to cancel your existing contract with the bank and on the terminal rental. If the savings are not sufficient, Accept Cards will calculate the optimum time to move your account to achieve the maximum benefit.

Q. What types of terminal are available?
A. There are three main types of terminal available: desktop, portable and mobile. The desktop terminal requires a fixed phone line (which can be shared with other equipment) and a power point. The portable terminal can be moved around within 100 metres of the base unit, which also requires a fixed phone line and power point. This type of terminal is mainly used in hotels or restaurants and works via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The mobile terminal can be used anywhere the relevant mobile phone signal can be obtained and is ideal for businesses working at shows/exhibitions and so on. It is also ideal for use in cases where a fixed phone line is not appropriate or available. You can also process using a virtual terminal via a PC by connecting to your merchant account online.

Q. How long will I have to wait before I take delivery of my terminal?
A. The standard time to complete an application is around three weeks. Depending on the complexity of the business and the application, this can be reduced in certain cases, but will be extended for more complex applications such as businesses taking deposits or delayed delivery. Accept Cards will advise estimated completion times for each application.

Q. Can I get a facility to offer card payments via my website?
A. Yes. Accept Cards can provide you with the lowest rates to accept payments by cards online (although it's likely to be slightly more expensive than the standard rates). This is a complicated area of card processing and Accept Cards will liaise with you throughout the application process, including advice regarding payment service providers and so on.
 
Click here to return to the main card processing page and to make an enquiry.