Frequently Asked Questions.
Is it worth my business accepting credit & debit cards?
Yes, in today’s economic environment most consumers and an increasing percentage of businesses expect to be able to use plastic to pay for their goods and services and if your business is unable to do so your likely to lose out on many business opportunities.
What are the advantages of accepting credit & debit cards?
Accepting cards can open up many new sales opportunities, for example telephone, mail order and Internet. It also encourages impulse buying when a customer may not have cash to make an immediate purchase without the opportunity to use a card. There are also accounting benefits as the amount of cash you need to hold will be reduced and cash-flow is improved and book-keeping becomes simpler.
How do I obtain a facility to accept credit & debit cards?
You will need to set up a merchant account, which Seymour Direct can organise for you. In a few cases in-depth financial information is also required such as historical and/or forecasted turnover plus copies of guarantees and/or warranties, etc.
A current business bank account is also needed for the acquiring bank (the bank that process the transaction in the background) to transfer payments made by your customers to you.
Seymour Direct will also organise the equipment needed for you to accept card payments. These machines can be rented from as little as £10.45 plus VAT per month for a static machine or from £16.95 should you require a portable machine as used by restaurants. There are many other options available and discussing your requirements early with Seymour Direct will prevent you from needless time wasting.
How much will it cost me to accept card payments?
Different banks will apply different charges for your transactions in the form of a percentage of the value of the transaction of credit card payments, a flat rate fee for debit card payments and most will charge more for a cardholder not present (CNP) transaction as there is a higher risk of fraud. The amounts charged can vary considerably from one bank to another but speaking to Seymour Direct will ensure that you get the best possible deal available for your business.
Is there much of a risk in accepting card payments?
Whilst there is an element of risk in accepting card payments, the banks are constantly developing the security issues – most recently the major improvement being through the introduction of CHIP & PIN which makes it extremely difficult for fraudsters to use credit & debit cards without knowing a 4 digit PIN (Personal Identification No.) and also puts more of an onus on the cardholder to ensure their PIN is kept confidential. However by adhering to the guidelines and making sure your staff are fully trained, problems of fraudulent transactions can be kept to a minimum for both the merchant and the cardholder.
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Seymour Direct were BRILLIANT !! If I needed help with anything Seymour Direct were on hand to help. I have also recommended them to a couple of other business associates.
Leon Henry, L.H BESPOKE -
Seymour Direct were great to deal with. Terminal is very quick to process transactions.
Jeff Price, Motor Company -
The quality of service that Seymour Direct have shown towards my business needs could not have been better. We are opening a second business shortly and will definitely be using Seymour Direct.
Heather Zako, Creative Plants -
I must say that the credit card machine is very easy to use and is also quick to process transactions. The rates that Seymour Direct arranged were extremely low and I am glad that I used them.
Ben Brown, Benjamins -
Seymour Direct organized a very good deal for my credit card processing and were also very efficient in the whole setting up process which made it easy for me.
Angie Burraway, The Veg Shed -
I found Seymour Direct excellent to deal with. They organised my merchant services account in a straightforward, professional manner and did everything that I asked of them. Many thanks.
Simon Rogers, Seven Tips Racing -
Thanks to Seymour Direct we have achieved massive savings on our credit card processing charges. I double checked with head office to make sure Seymour Direct’s Streamline offer for the Toni & Guy hair salons was correct as it was so good… 25 months on I can say it still is.
Gary Maoudis, TONI&GUY -
I am very pleased with the exclusive Streamline deal that Seymour Direct were able to organise for my Toni & Guy salon. It really has saved us a lot of money.
Shaun Rouse, TONI&GUY -
Everybody involved at Seymour Direct were very helpful and ensured that we got a very good deal for our card processing. The terminal they supplied is also very good.
Mary Bromage, Haven Memorials -
Seymour Direct were very helpful from day one. Technical support with the terminal was excellent.
Terry Comitt, Stewarts Wine Bar -
Seymour Direct were a great help in setting up my system and guiding me throughout the process. Very worthwhile and I recommend them highly.
Kieran Byrne , KGB.ie -
I found Seymour Direct easy to deal with and they were able to give me exactly what I was looking for.
Parmod Kumar Rudki, C&L london Limited -
Frank Brown Delivers have been using Seymour Direct for over a year and I have to say that I have always found them extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We had never accepted card payments before and I must admit that I found it a bit of a minefield. However Seymour Direct have such a wealth of experience in this field that they were able to lead us through the procedure effortlessly.
Frank Brown, Frank Brown Delivers -
The rates that Seymour Direct organised for my four salons were lower than anybody else that I had spoken to and the machines they provided are nice and small and very fast. The best card payment solutions in the UK
Gerard O'Connell, Loose Ends -
When we first approached Seymour Direct we were in a rush to get up and running with a credit card facility. The staff involved were very helpful and they delivered exactly what we had asked of them. Thank you Seymour Direct.
Andy Lane, Football Sports Auctions -
The response from Seymour Direct was quick and all my questions were answered. The whole process from start to finish was stress free.
Sue Thomas, Brecks Cottage
