We accept credit card payments through paypal. We get very few requests to use credit cards, and because so many people use Paypal, we thought it would be fairly easy to use. I have had a few delays in getting payments, though, and I have started to worry that maybe it's too complicated. So I have been asking brides. First bride says it was a breeze and not complicated at all. Then I just got an email that another bride's fiance couldn't get it to work. I'm pretty sure it's not user error. Do you have any idea what the problem could be? Maybe his address doesn't match up exactly or some glitch in the system?

They said they'll send a check out today, but I want to try one more thing before they do that. should I try google checkout instead? Any solutions other than taking a check?

Google Checkout is a lot more complicated than Paypal. If they can't get Paypal to work, it's likely user error. By default it doesn't require an AVS match as far as I know, so they're just doing something wrong.

Not answering your question... and I know how convenient CCs are, but haven't I read on here several times elsewhere that it's better to take checks as the charges can't be reversed if you have any kind of weird issue later on?

I'd like to see how people answer to your question too, but I remember several people on here are gun shy about accepting CCs for deposits/retainers/coverage?

Sounds like user error.

The only hold ups that they could have with Paypal would be getting verified. So, they didn't verify their bank account properly or didn't get a confirmed address in there. Otherwise, PayPal is SUPER easy, so I'd say you client might be a wee bit of a knuckle head.

I personally know I've had issues with other checkouts before - because my address wasn't an exact match. We never resolved the issue, and I wasn't able to rent equipment from the company. So I was wondering if maybe that was an issue. Sounds like it's not.

Yep - checks are better, but we only lose about $20 using CCs for a retainer. I know this bride is keeping track of expenses with one CC, and I'd like to keep things simple for her. I'd rather go the extra mile to make this easy! But, alas, I guess we may just have to take a check.

For me I accept CCs for the retainer and thats it. The possibility of a chargeback is not something I plan on allowing. I don't care how nice they are. If you are firm from the get go, even if they want to use one CC, stating "cash or check" is never a problem. If they want you, they'll pay you however.

I'm verified with paypal, have made TONS of transactions, etc - however, when I went to make my 5DII purchase privately (transferring funds directly), paypal flagged it (for no reason - it's automatically done) and would not let it go through "..for (my) safety." I called them up multiple times, but they simply said "..it was part of their security policy" and their was nothing I could do to transfer the funds. It was the biggest joke too, as I had x10 5dII's in the account I was pulling from, so their was no risk - they just wouldn't do it. 0 disputes or problems with them and then they did that.

Take a look under My Account -> Profile -> Payment Receiving Preferences. That's where the user controllable settings are that could block a transaction.

A while ago I used a checkout company similar to paypal because I was frustrated
with paypal's horrible custonmer service. These other guys were just excellent..
Now if I can only remember their name ..

Ryan Britton wrote:
Take a look under My Account -> Profile -> Payment Receiving Preferences. That's where the user controllable settings are that could block a transaction.

Thanks for this! I haven't seen anything that would block them, but I'll look through it again.

Spencer - that's a better reason to not accept CCs than extra fees. I've considered that issue as well. I would be interested to find out if anyone on FM has ever had a problem with accepting payment via CC and had a charge back. Anyone? ANyone? Maybe I should start a thread. I feel this would be a problem more in today's society and in the future.

Actually - I wonder if "block multiple payments per invoice" is one of the problems. Maybe I'll send a second invoice and see if that works.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone had any issues with a chargeback myself. I'm getting more and more requests to use a cc. Right now, just accept PayPal.

I'll start a thread.

are you sending a merchant invoice, or just asking her to send you the $?

Do you use Quickbooks for your accounting? I've been using their CC merchant service for nine years (for a non-photo wedding business), and it's great. Easy, inexpensive rates, and all the data automatically gets recorded in the accounting software. 99% of my business is online and out of state, so it's important for my business to have an incredibly professional shopping cart and credit card system. Paypal just doesn't cut it for us, but the business model is different from photography.

Regarding chargebacks, I've dealt with several thousand brides, and have only had three people try to get chargebacks. In each case, I was contacted by the credit card company, and was first offered an opportunity to dispute the chargeback. Not one of the chargeback attempts was successful, and I never had to do anything more than simply state that "I'm disputing the chargeback." No forms, nothing complicated. It's harder than you might think to chargeback.

Sergio Mottola wrote:
are you sending a merchant invoice, or just asking her to send you the $?

I sent a merchant invoice. And I know they've tried paying multiple times. So I wonder if somehow the first payment didn't go through, and then Paypal blocked it the next few times so they couldn't pay twice on the same invoice. Hmmm.

PS -
I posted a new topic about whether people have gotten a Charge back before. I'm interested in responses.

modthyrth wrote:
Do you use Quickbooks for your accounting? I've been using their CC merchant service for nine years (for a non-photo wedding business), and it's great. Easy, inexpensive rates, and all the data automatically gets recorded in the accounting software. 99% of my business is online and out of state, so it's important for my business to have an incredibly professional shopping cart and credit card system. Paypal just doesn't cut it for us, but the business model is different from photography.

Regarding chargebacks, I've dealt with several thousand brides, and have only had three people try to get chargebacks. In each case, I was contacted by the credit card company, and was first offered an opportunity to dispute the chargeback. Not one of the chargeback attempts was successful, and I never had to do anything more than simply state that "I'm disputing the chargeback." No forms, nothing complicated. It's harder than you might think to chargeback.

Ooh - VERY interesting. Can you post this in the chargeback topic as well?

Also - we've considered doing the same thing through quickbooks. Matt and I will have to discuss it. We've considered moving away from quickbooks, so we'd have to make that decision first. Good to know!

I tried using Paypal for a client last year. She owed a little over $2000 and paypal wouldn't let the transaction go through. I eventually had to send her 5 invoices for under $500 each to get it to work. Even then, we had to wait a few days between invoices or it would keep getting flagged.

CRFTony wrote:
I tried using Paypal for a client last year. She owed a little over $2000 and paypal wouldn't let the transaction go through. I eventually had to send her 5 invoices for under $500 each to get it to work. Even then, we had to wait a few days between invoices or it would keep getting flagged.

ooh - sounds like a pain. Maybe we'll have to try something else!

I've used paypal recently for prints. They do have a $500.00 daily limit on transactions that you can lift.... Haven't had any problems yet, but we just started using them!

I absolutely have abhor and detest with every fibre of my being Quicbooks Merchant Service. Lets say I got SCREWED and they did nothing, just sat back and enjoyed.

Paypal:
Commom issues:#1 for me: Client opened a account years ago and forgot password. Now the email is locked into the account they cannot get past it. They would need a new email address to avoid being linked to the old one they lost. Assuming they want to pay with credit card and not open or reopen a paypal account.
Address:#2 for me. They are using an address different then the Billing address on the Credit card. A instant Red Flag for card companies.

Delay: The delay would be caused waiting for the money to transfer into the Paypal account or a slow credit card processer. Paypal will send a email the second funds clear and you are then safe to provide service. Can't beat that. Also you need to be approved for unlimited monthly amounts so your deposits are not limited. Easy to do.
My clients cards take from 5 minutes to be 100% cleared to 2 days depending on the card and if funds were in hold status.

You can always pay with a Credit Card via Paypal without a PayPal account.

CRFTony wrote:
I tried using Paypal for a client last year. She owed a little over $2000 and paypal wouldn't let the transaction go through. I eventually had to send her 5 invoices for under $500 each to get it to work. Even then, we had to wait a few days between invoices or it would keep getting flagged.

I do amounts around $1500.00 all the time. No issue unless the debit card used had a set limit which is very common and usually $400.00 per day or $500.00 and that covers 24 hours of use. That would be a client issue and not Paypal since that is set by the bank who issued the card.