How To Accept Credit Cards By Phone : With 3 Methods

doylc.com - How To Accept Credit Cards By Phone - Being able to accept credit cards by phone can allow you to make a sale when a customer is unable to come to your place of business. In some cases, it can allow you to enjoy mobile sales. The exact information and setup you need varies based on the method you use to process credit cards by phone.

Turning Your Smartphone Into a Credit Card Processing Machine

Set up an account with a mobile credit card processing provider. Some will accept credit card information submitted using your smart phone's Internet browser, while others will require you to purchase equipment to use with your smartphone. Some may require you to use an app.

Mobile credit card processing providers include Intuit, BluePay, Square and Payfirma.

Install any necessary equipment or apps on your phone. You may need to insert the plug for a credit card reader into your phone's headphone jack. Some companies use a case with a built-in credit card reader.

If your processing company requires you to use an app, download it to your phone and install it.

Enter the credit card information. This will be determined by your credit card processing company's requirements. You may not have room on your screen for the client to sign his name. Most mobile processing companies have an electronic button that signifies whether the customer has authorized the sale. To proceed, tap the appropriate button.

Accept a credit card payment without a reader. Companies such as Square allow you to process a payment using an app without a credit card reader. Here are the steps:

Download the app for Square Register.

Using your keypad, enter the amount of the transaction .

Tap "Charge" to start processing the payment.

Tap "Credit Card" or "Card" to enter the card number, security code, expiration date, and the customer’s billing ZIP code.

Tap "Charge."

If you have enabled the signatures function, ask your customer to sign with their finger. They can also leave a tip if this feature is enabled. If your customer is unavailable to sign, you can write "Phone" or "Internet Order" in place of a signature.

The customer taps "Done Signing," and they can then enter their preferred receipt delivery method, such as email.

If you've entered everything correctly, the final screen will read "You're All Done" after the payment completes.

Processing a Credit Card Over the Phone

Evaluate using your own merchant account vs. a third-party. If you will be making a lot of transactions you may want to invest in your own merchant account and credit card processing equipment. Third party credit card processing companies such as Flagship Merchant Services, Credit Card Processing and Cayan Merchant Services will not require you to invest in a merchant account or credit card processing equipment, but you will have to pay a fee for each transaction.

Determine what information is required. If you decide to use your own processing equipment, perform a trial transaction so you will know what information you will need to obtain from your customer. In most cases, you will need the complete 16-digit credit card number, the name as it appears on the credit card, the expiration date and the billing address associated with the credit card number.

Process the sale with your own merchant account. If you are using your own merchant account and credit card terminal, first gather the necessary information from the client. You will need to enter the customer's billing information to process the sale.

Enter the 16-digit card number manually, using the numerical keypad on your credit card terminal. Press "Enter."

Follow the credit card terminal's prompts to enter the rest of the necessary information including the customer's name and billing address and the card's expiration date.

File and distribute the hardcopy receipt. Tear off the credit card receipt, file your copy, and put the client's copy with any products you will mail to the client. Write "per client request," on the signature line.

Processing a Credit Card with a Third Party Service

Determine what information is required. A credit card processing company will require certain information to process credit card purchases without a signature. In most cases, you will need the complete 16-digit credit card number, the name as it appears on the credit card, the expiration date and the billing address associated with the credit card number.

Some credit card processing companies will require you to have the 3-digit security code, located on the back of the credit card, for phone transactions.

Collect and convey the customer's credit card information. Some third-party credit card companies have a call-in number, while others use an online processing center. You may find it more convenient to use online processing. Choose a company that provides 24 hour, seven days a week availability.

Wait for confirmation from your provider. This may be a verbal or written confirmation. You may need to write down a transaction number for your records.

If you use a third-party provider, you may not have a hardcopy receipt for your records or for the client's. Keep detailed records of the transaction.