No good deed...

[Generic]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.

 

[Alibi Ike]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?

 

[Joey Camb]

I had 3 cancellations today, July, Aug and October. I just googled our inn under NEWS on google to see what the heck is going on, was there a bad press release or something.
Note the article link I stuck inn the news here is a release letting people know "THESE B&B'S HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND APPROVED" Perhaps this is in the publics mind (esp in the news area near those fatalities in MN)?
Do we need to have on our websites inspected and approved? I know many of us have badges from various organizations. I think I might have to ADD THAT SOMEWHERE NOW!.

It wouldn't do any harm to emphasis it? no loss that you have been inspected and found safe.

 

[Copperhead]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?
.

Who does PAII recommend?

I don't think PAII recommends anyone but they do have a company that has been advertising with them for years. But Eric brings up a good point - if Paypal does not charge additional for foreign CC, and if it is cheaper, Paypal may be the answer for foreign cards. Worth checking into.

 

[Generic]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?
.

They have NPC listed at http://www.innkeeping.org/?page=Preferred_Partners as their Preferred Partner.
Costco has Elavon via http://www.elavon.com/acquiring/costco/ even if they aren't in your area, the deal might be worth joining, at least for the first year. I think Sam's Club has First Data at http://www.samsclubms.com/
Gee, it does have me wondering if these fees are higher because of the security risks in the US and the lack of Chip & Pin. We don't pay a fixed "swipe fee" either in Canada. Odd.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?
.

I had NPC do an analysis for us to see if they could save us money. They had to admit that our rates were great and they couldn't do any better. We've been with Tom Weiskotten for years and saved bundles when we switched over. The way he set it up, we pay very little extra for credit cards we enter in ourselves. Since we do a deposit when the reservation comes in, it's really saved us money.

 

[Alibi Ike]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?
.

They have NPC listed at http://www.innkeeping.org/?page=Preferred_Partners as their Preferred Partner.
Costco has Elavon via http://www.elavon.com/acquiring/costco/ even if they aren't in your area, the deal might be worth joining, at least for the first year. I think Sam's Club has First Data at http://www.samsclubms.com/
Gee, it does have me wondering if these fees are higher because of the security risks in the US and the lack of Chip & Pin. We don't pay a fixed "swipe fee" either in Canada. Odd.
.

The fees are higher because no one challenges the banks on the fees they charge. Everyone just passes them along to the consumer.

 

[Generic]

As it is, with the 'card not present' fee, the standard fee, the points rewards fee and 3% cross border fee, I'm only paying the processor not me.

A bit off topic but.... what the heck is a cross border fee?
I'm using Elavon (via Costco Canada) and I pay 0.51% more for card not present. And about 0.51% more for Premium Visa or Premium MC. But I have never been charged a "cross border" fee. And what's a points rewards fee?
We also pay just 6c for an Interac (debit card) transaction, but that only works with Canadian cards now.
I thought that out banks were bad, but this sounds worse!.

Premium cards % here depends on what level of premium the guest is getting as a 'reward'. Business cards are higher still. International cards higher again.
The cross border fee is a 3% surcharge that I pay AND the guest pays with certain banks to process the dollars to... conversion. Gimme strength. The damn computer does that not some gnome they pay by the hour.
Our debit card charges are supposed to go DOWN to 20 cents per transaction. Right now they are slightly less than a credit card. BUT, I'm guessing I will have to have a pin pad and new card swipe machine to handle that.
.

You have got to be kidding me. Right? Why would you be paying, the transaction is in USD. I understand that they charge the customer, but why should you pay it? Most of my transactions are with foreign credit cards, but it doesn't matter to me, I process in CAD and they sign for it in CAD and it gets depositted to my account in CAD.
My fees are pretty simple, a general rate, 0.51% extra for manually transactions, 0.51% extra for premium transactions. That's all. Amex wanted to charge me a fee for network access, so I called to drop them and they dropped the charge instead. No other fees, other than for the machine... and they had to replace it this year to switch me to Chip & PIN (EMV) processing.
Have you tried the processor that the PAII recommends? Tried Elavon? Tried Chase? Joined an associate with good rates? Heck, with those kind of rates, I'm wondering if Paypal is cheaper. Paypal was so expensive compared to what we pay, but with a 3% charge for foreign cards, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. The entire charge with paypal is under 3%.
.

Who does PAII recommend?
.

They have NPC listed at http://www.innkeeping.org/?page=Preferred_Partners as their Preferred Partner.
Costco has Elavon via http://www.elavon.com/acquiring/costco/ even if they aren't in your area, the deal might be worth joining, at least for the first year. I think Sam's Club has First Data at http://www.samsclubms.com/
Gee, it does have me wondering if these fees are higher because of the security risks in the US and the lack of Chip & Pin. We don't pay a fixed "swipe fee" either in Canada. Odd.
.

The fees are higher because no one challenges the banks on the fees they charge. Everyone just passes them along to the consumer.
.

When I went for the new merchant account, I called around and I got "offers" that included a $200 set-up fee for my usual bank and down to $50 for Chase, until I got Elavon. One company called in the last few months to try to take my business away. When I told them my conditions... including no set-up fee, they couldn't match it.
But I must admit that I made each company tell me every one of their fees, minimums, etc. And I called a few associations that I could join and asked them about what deals they had.