Payment processing solutions: Everything you need to know
Payment processing solutions: Everything you need to know
12 October 2020 | Published by Vanessa Littler
More and more people are using their debit or credit card to make payments. In fact, card payments are now the norm in the UK. In 2017 we saw some really big changes happening:
- 2 billion debit card payments were made
- 1 billion credit card payments were made
- cash payments fell by 15%
That’s why it’s key for independent businesses like yours to strongly consider card payment processing solutions.
Not only will you be able to give your customers faster, more secure ways to pay, you could also benefit from additional revenue and attract new customers into your business.
What payment processing solutions are there?
There’s lots of different ways to process cards, including:
- Card machines
- Online payment gateways
- Virtual terminal
- Pay by link
If you’re interested in getting started with debit and credit card processing, we can help.
We’re experts in card payments, with over 25 years’ experience working with independent businesses like yours. We can get you get up and running quickly, so you can start taking card payments.
Designed to suit various business types, we have solutions that’ll enable you to take payments face-to-face, online or over the phone.
With a takepayments card processing solution, you’ll be able to accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express.
Read on to find out more about the different options that are available.
Card machines
Card machines, also known as card payment machines or card readers, allow you to take face-to-face payments from your customers. There are a few different options available to you.
If you want to take payments from a fixed point in your shop, a countertop card machine is the best solution. It can sit next to your till and connects to your phone line or broadband. It’s perfect for retailers, high street stores or any business that has a reception point.
If you run a café, restaurant or any other type of hospitality business, a portable card reader is a good option. It comes in two parts – a base unit and handset – and uses Bluetooth to communicate with each other. This means that you can take payments from customers at their table or anywhere in your shop within the unit’s 50 meter range.
If your business takes you out on the road or across the country, a mobile card machine allows you to accept payments wherever your work takes you. The machine uses 3G to connect to the strongest mobile network in your area. It’s great if you need to take payment whilst delivering your products, for example.
No matter which machine you choose, you’ll be able to process payments through Chip and PIN, contactless, Apple Pay and Android Pay. Plus, all of our machines are equipped with the latest PCI security to ensure you’re protected when taking payments.
Online payment gateways
If you’ve ever paid for something online, it’s likely you will have used an online payment gateway. It’s the secure page you enter your card details into before hitting ‘pay now’.
If you have a website and want to take online payments, you can add one of these to your website and start taking safe and secure payments quickly.
The gateway links your website to your merchant account, so your customers are taken to a secure web page when they want to pay.
Our system integrates with over 50 major UK shopping carts and can work alongside PayPal on your website. Plus, it can be customised to your business’ brand, which will give your customers a seamless journey.
Our payment gateway uses 3D secure authentication and is hosted on a separate secure server (using SSL protection) to ensure that you and your customers are protected when it comes to payment processing.
There’s no high level technical knowledge required to use it. The payment gateway can be easily integrated with your website in a number of different ways, including direct/API integration, hosted payment form and transparent redirect. Don’t worry, your website developer will know what this is if you don’t!
Virtual terminal
Ever called a takeaway and paid over the phone? It’s likely your payment will have been processed using a virtual terminal. With this system, you’ll be able to process mail order and phone payments using a secure web-based system.
You don’t need a website to get started – all you need is a computer or tablet with an internet connection. It’s as simple as that!
If you need your staff to process payments for you, you can set-up the virtual terminal to work with multiple logins, all included with no extra cost for additional logins.
Your customers can call you with their debit or credit card details to make payment. Simply take their details over the phone and complete the secure online form.
The system uses AVS (Address Verification Service) to secure payments and prevent card fraud. Your customers will need to provide their CVV (card security code) number on the back of their card, which will be cross checked with their registered billing address to approve the payment.
You can also print or email a receipt of the payment to your customers for their records.
Pay by link
You can also take payments online using pay by link. This lets you add payment links to your customers invoices, email quotes and booking confirmations, which is perfect if you’re a hospitality business or tradesperson.
Your customers can click the link, which will take them to a secure pay page, where they fill in their card details.
You’ll also be able to customise your emails and your payment page so that it aligns with your brand.
It uses 3D secure technology, so your customers will be asked for 3 digits from their security password to authorise payment.
How to get started with payment processing?
We can help you get set-up with payment processing quickly and easily, whether that’s to take payments face-to-face, through your website, over the phone or by email.
With a team of over 90 local card payment specialists available, one of them will come to your premise to meet you, to learn more about you and your business.
They’ll discuss the best payment processing solution for you and create a pricing package tailored to your business.
The package will be based on your business type and your current or expected card transaction volume. It will also cover any transaction and authorisation fees.
We can also help your business get PCI DSS compliant, so that you can protect your business and your customers as and when you take card payments.
There are no set-up fees when you join takepayments, and we offer a short 12-month contract, currently one of the shortest contracts available on the market. Enquire for your free quote today.
