Category: Home Service Repair Businesses

You may have scrolled to the bottom of a user’s agreement and clicked I Agree without looking through the many pages of fine print. You’ve decided you’re fed up with high credit card processing fees and switch companies, only to find early termination fees on your last statement.  Or you have heard about ETFs, or maybe you haven’t. Yea it’s wrong, but because agreement list is so long and copy is small you may have missed it.

What is an Early Termination Fee

Early Termination Fee which is also referred to as an Early Cancellation Fee (ETF) is a charge that is assessed by merchant account provider when you terminate the credit card processing agreement before an agreed-upon end date. Early Termination Fees are described as a provider’s compensation for the expenses related to closing a merchant account and are included in the contract.

Most contracts are 3 years (36 months) and they automatically renew for additional terms or go to month-to-month until they are cancelled. The fees associated with Early Termination usually cost about $295 and $495, and can be much larger (thousands) in contracts with Liquidated Damages clauses. The potential ETF amount decreases as you approach the end of the contract gets closer.

Where You Can Find Early Termination Fee Terms

Early termination fees come into play if you want to cancel the contract during the initial contract period. ETFs are usually discussed under the section of your contract called Term and Termination, Termination, or even Early Termination Fee. They’ll cover the specifics of the circumstances you are able to cancel the agreement and when any penalties (or ETFs) are applied.

Consumer Protection Laws

You may have dealt with ETFs before; a cell phone, cable, or apartment lease for a specific  amount of months. In order to cancel your contract early you will be faced with an extra fee–the Early Termination Fee (ETF). As a consumer, the fee might be capped by laws thanks to help of consumer personal protection laws. As a small business owner (sophisticated party), you might be on the hook for more because they presumed you know better and  should read and negotiate contracts better.

Why Early Termination Fees May Exist

Sometimes an ETF is a flat fee that the processor claims it needs to recoup the cost of setting up your account and programming your equipment. Early Termination Fees effectively function as punishment for merchants who wish to cancel. The real reason is they use this as a form of merchant retention.  Credit card processors which are inconvenienced by early termination should not be passing these fees to small business owners.  And if you lease credit card terminal, portable scanners or similar equipment from a processor, the hardware is usually covered under a separate agreement which may not be affected by your processing contract.

Want to Cancel Without Charges

Sometimes you will have a small cancelation window if the credit card processor raises its price of service, such as 30 days. This disclosure will usually be included in your monthly statement. You most likely won’t be contracted directly of the changes, so be diligent to check your statements on a regular basis and watch for any price changes.

If your salesperson promised the world and delivered nothing, or they forget to tell you about the various fees you have to pay every month there may be recourse. Or if your equipment never worked correctly even after you reported it to their tech support multiple times this may help to have reason to cancel early. Make sure to document your specific situation then you talk to your salesperson or a manager to see if you can be let out of the contract early, without having to pay the ETF due to the issues incurred.

Lastly, there’s no guarantee of a resolution but try escalating the complaint to the Better Business Bureau to see if they can help with a refund if you have been charged with one.

Initial Term VS Renewal Term Considerations

Credit card processors have a difference in cancellation procedures between the “Initial Term” and the “Renewal Term”. Check your contract because some there is an ETF for the Initial Term, but not for Renewal Terms as long as the processor is properly notified within 90 days’ notice.

Want a Credit Card Processor with No ETF

Don’t settle for complicated contracts or Early Termination Fees . Fortunately, you now have options with processors that employ state of the art technology. No need to sign long contracts or purchase equipment either.  Credit card processing companies like iWallet Business are free to sign up, no long term contracts excludes ETFs.

21^st century business models offer processing using a smart phone or tablet and include month-to-month billing. No complicated contracts to read; iWallet Business discloses up front “you can cancel at any time without any fees”, alieving the need to sift through the fine print.

Businesses should not be punished with unnecessary fees  that’s why it is important to do your homework and sign up with transparent companies like iWallet Business that clearly state on their home page—No contracts, No hardware, No setup cost, No cancellation fee and No daily or weekly transaction limits.

Want to switch credit card processors because you’ve been tricked or just looking to save on the hidden fees? It can be a difficult and time-consuming process for busy appliance repairs business owners to interview different processors. Between interest rates, scheduling capability and back end accounting reconciliation, the decision to switch involves complexity layers of features that can determine the future success of your business.

With thousands of different credit card processors to choose from, it is often overwhelming to really understand the options you have to choose from. On top of that the credit card processing industry can make them difficult to understand.

To help you select the best credit card processor for your appliance repair business, we’ve compiled a list of easy to understand options to help you navigate the tricks quickly.

Misleading Rate Quotes

This is rampant in the industry, especially among processors who use the tiered pricing fee models. Payment processor will advertise a low rate like 1.69% — only they don’t explain that the rate applies “qualified” charges only.

Qualified charges are purchases made using non-reward cards or debit cards. Rewards cards and business credit card purchases usually are categorized as “mid-qualified” or “non-qualified” categories, which are higher processing rates.

Hidden Pricing Tricks

Many credit card processing companies use sneaky tricks that turn into bad deals for business owners. As you shop around for credit card processing services, you may quickly realize that this is not the most honest industry.

Teaser Rates, Qualified and Non-Qualified Rates

If the rate you see is good to be true, rest assured there are substantial hidden fees in the fine print. It is pretty common for credit card processors to advertise rates as low as 1.00%. Don’t fall for it because the payment processing industry has no advertising standards which is part of the problem because there is no need to disclose the assessment fees, mid-qualified and non-qualified charges.

Ever see airlines advertised one way flights for “$99”? You probably won’t pay that because by the time you get to checkout you have added in the price for a carry on, checked bag and even a reserved seat. Unlike airlines there are deceptive processors that bury hidden fees in the fine print; by the time you noticed it’s too late.

Annual Fees

Many processors will bury some of their costs through annual fees instead of being transparent and listing them upfront. These fees can range anywhere from $50-$200. They are hard to see, since processors are sneaky and charge them once a year.

Monthly Minimums

Why should you be penalized for not processing enough transactions? Sometimes it isn’t apparent but unfortunately, most small appliance repair companies soon realize that their low monthly fee isn’t so low. It is actually quite high once you add up all the misc. charges.

Some processors have “monthly minimums” on Visa/MasterCard transactions. In some cases they are called “low achiever fees” and are the total fees generated if you don’t process enough payments each month.

PCI Compliance Fees

Lots of credit card processors have started to charge monthly, quarterly and annual PCI fees. You may have seen them as “Breach Coverage” or “Security” fees.

Cancelation Fees

Most processors have cancelation fees or early termination fees. Instead of providing a good service at a good rate to keep your business, they implement long-term contracts to try and deter merchants from switching to a more affordable provider.

Understand Your Business and Payment Needs

The truth is flat rate pricing can be the cheapest for small businesses because there are no hidden fees. There is peace of mind knowing when you receive your statement you won’t have to comb through it looking for misc. charges.

Process 100% of your Transactions With a Smart Phone

Selecting a processor that includes more than just credit card payments is also very important. Many consumers still prefer to pay for services with checks. Businesses that have two or more technicians need to be able to accept all forms of payments in the field including paper checks. 

Processing transactions in the field helps save time and speeds up cash flow. Mobile apps like iWallet Business make it each for technicians to remotely deposit checks when the repair is completed. The app has built in fraud protection that instantly scans a national bad checks database which helps to mitigate accepting bad checks. With SMS-based touchless signature capture it keeps them safe from germs too.

Easy Bank Reconciliation

Business office managers and accountants will benefit from iWallet Business too. In addition to remote check processing, the app provides easy bank reconciliation via the desktop web-app. Reporting is QuickBooks compatible and integration with most scheduling apps is easy too.

If you have multiple techs, in one city or multiple states no problem. You can create unlimited sub-accounts to keep employees from seeing one another’s deposits and from viewing company bank information.

It is wise to check with multiple processing companies because not all of them work off a free app. Doesn’t make sense to purchase equipment when you can do everything from a smart phone or tablet. If you’re going to make a move, make sure you can process all forms of payments from a smart phone.

Every business that accepts payment by credit card may have encountered a chargeback at one time or another and some face them more often. It is important to know that businesses are not equally impacted by chargebacks. Banks and payment processors use three different categorize starting at high, medium, and down to low risk. They factor in information about your industry, ownership and other pertinent details. The cost of chargeback fee is determined by this risk assessment and the number of chargebacks that the business is allowed within a given time period.

Having chargebacks incur costly fees, jeopardize your relationship with your bank or payment processors. They will also be a waste of precious waste time and labor. Depending on the business risk category, a chargeback can end up costing up to three times the original transaction amount.

A cardholder who uses a credit card to pay their invoice is entitled to contact their bank to dispute the charge which results in a chargeback. They need a valid reason, but regardless the inconvenience to prove the chargeback is put on the merchant.

What Are Chargebacks?

A chargeback fee is a fee that businesses are expected pay when a chargeback is filed against their company. This is a mandatory fee and cannot be recovered by winning a dispute with the processor.

Any cardholder who makes a purchase using any credit card can contact their bank to dispute a charge and request a chargeback. They must have a valid reason for doing so, but the burden to prove it is a legitimate chargeback is on the small business owner, especially if the cardholder’s reason is invalid. It is up the business owner to prove that it is not valid and why.

Chargeback Costs

A typical chargeback fee can range between $20 and $100. Not to mention having to add in the loss of revenue from the repair and credit card payment processing costs. The total cost of a chargeback often more than twice the original repair amount. Having fewer chargebacks, you’ll avoid expensive fees and keep more revenue.

Can I Ignore Chargebacks?

Ignoring a chargeback is the equivalent to ignoring your customers’ issues. For every customer who files a chargeback, there could be other who have the same issue but simply never call or use your services again. The chargeback will sometimes tell you a story about a technician you can learn from.  This is most true if you get several and they are stem from the same technician.

Fight Chargebacks or Not?

Some merchants believe that fighting a chargeback will give them a bad reputation when it actually gives small businesses a competitive advantage over others who ignore them. When you fight a chargeback, you will be reclaiming revenue from work performed that would otherwise be lost. Another benefit is you gain deep insights into potential problems your customers are having.

There are exceptions where people make fraudulent claims such as the work wasn’t performed to their standards. Situations like this, you should most definitely fight back against the fraudulent chargeback. If the work was completed and the customer was happy at the time the invoice was paid, they should not get away defrauding you.

Tips to help prevent Chargebacks

This can be an easy fix for common problems. Use clear identifiers on credit card statements. Sometimes the name of your appliance repair business isn’t the same as the name on your merchant account. When the customer sees a name they don’t recognize they will call their bank to ask for a chargeback. Make sure the name that appears on credit card statements won’t confuse your customers.

Have your technicians quote realistic estimates and not make any claims that they can’t back up. Misleading customers leads to distrust with causes dissatisfaction, two feelings that lead to chargebacks.

Be honest about your products. So many chargebacks could be prevented by merchants trying harder to manage customer expectations, rather than trying to boost sales with big, unrealistic promises. Be candid and truthful so that you don’t lose your customers’ trust.

Best Payment Option to Avoid Chargebacks

With chargeback fees and processing fees going up it may be time to consider accepting checks for payment. Using a payment app to manage all forms of payments in the field will save time and help cash flow. iWallet Business is modern touchless payment processing app that  allows remote check deposit, enabling your technicians to remotely deposit checks instantly from a smart phone or tablet.

Making mobile check deposits in the field will reduce chargeback fees, streamline deposits and it works well with businesses that have more than two technicians. iWallet Business integrates with most scheduling apps and offers unlimited sub-accounts so each employee has a private portal. Accounting loves it because the app offers easy account reconciliation via the desktop web-app. With bank-level security backed by Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Banks, mobile check deposit is a great way to get faster cash flow while reducing chargeback fees. 

Square and Authorize.net are third-party vendor payment solutions that may be doing your credit card and payment processing options. Many small appliance repair businesses like yours rely on credit card processors like these to provide your customers with convenient payment methods.

But then suddenly you’ll get a message that Square or Authorize.net has stopped your payment processing.  It may come without warning.

Consider this scenario: You are a well-established appliance repair business with devoted and loyal customers. But you also have a high number of chargebacks (payments made with credit or debit cards) and returned checks. Chargebacks are forced reversals of credit card transactions and initiated by the cardholder and executed by the issuing card bank. If you get a lot of these, financial institutions may label your business as high risk and processors like Square or Authorize.net can suspend and/or revoke your account at any time.

One way to help prevent chargebacks is to accept checks in the field and remotely deposit them at the time of repair. Your appliance repair business is not at the mercy of Square or Authorize.net or any other credit card processors if you shift.

Luckily, there are payments processing apps like iWallet that make it simple to remotely deposit checks into your business account. Small business owners like you will find iWallet Business is easy to use and will simplify all your business’s transactions.

Who uses mobile check deposits

Mobile check deposit is for appliance repair business with two or more technician. It offers technicians the easiest way to accept checks for payment in the field. And all employees can have individual portals created where they simply snap/scan a photograph or scan the front of the check and transmit it electronically to your business bank account. Remote check deposits put the funds in your account fast without anyone having to visit a branch or ATM.

How remote check deposits works

To use remote check deposit your technicians upload the customer’s check. This is a safe and an easy way to make remote deposits in the filed from a smart phone or tablet. Remote deposit capture allows for the substitution of a digital form of a check for a paper one. Having the ability to accept paper checks including corporate checks, consumer checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders electronically deposit them from a mobile device is a safe way to get paid for work performed.

Expensive scanners are not needed anymore.  Remote deposits can be done with most smart phones or tablets.  By scanning the front image of a check you get the finds deposited faster with fewer errors. After scanning, it a good idea to keep the paper check until it clears in the event your bank needs to see a better image, and they may even require a paper copy.

Funds availability

Another great advantage of remote check deposits is — every hour — is banking hour. You will benefit from not worrying if your employees will make it to the bank before closing. You also don’t have to worry about them losing checks in their truck if they keep and send to the office weekly.

Many times, the bank makes funds available within one business day. If you currently batch and deposit weekly no you will receive funds faster and improve your working capital. The sooner you get those funds, the sooner you can invest them to build your business or earn interest on your income.

Is remote check deposits safe?

Thanks to 21^st century technology mobile check deposits are safe and using an app like iWallet Business offers additional layers of check security. The app automatically scans every check through a national database of bad check writers. If the check numbers match any in the database, the check is declined in real time.  This fraud protection helps to mitigate potential issues.

Your business moves fast – and your funds should too. iWallet is the easiest and fastest way to process payments, The app offers 256-bit SSL encryption , so you can rest assure and process all payments securely.