Paying a tradesman by credit card

Nebulous2

It may sound strange to you that he would refuse, but many of them do. They may not have investigated what it would take and haven't caught up with how straightforward it has become. 

Many tradesmen are in boom times as well. People have been sitting at home, saving money and want to improve where they are spending all that time. Round this way at least there is a glut of kitchen and bathroom fitting. 

Dandytf

OP
I had to use credit card cash withdrawals for a tradesperson.
It's taken a year or two to re pay, though got the job done.
Best to ask before booking a tradesperson.
Some only accept cash, others do accept Credit Cards.

p00hsticks

Nebulous2 said:

It may sound strange to you that he would refuse, but many of them do. They may not have investigated what it would take and haven't caught up with how straightforward it has become.

It's not how straightforward or not it is, it's the cost involved. As eskbanker points out, the cost to the business of processing a credit card transaction is typically a percentage of the cost, and they are no longer allowed to pass that cost onto the consumer. in contrast a debit card transaction is a fixed cost of a few pence. So many businesses who deal in large value transactions, such as builders, car showrooms etc, will not take credit cards, even if they take debit cards. 

Chino

p00hsticks said:

in contrast a debit card transaction is a fixed cost of a few pence.  

Are you sure about this? For example, Square certainly hasn't heard of this. From Square's website:

Pay just 1.75% per transaction for Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit or debit cards.

https://squareup.com/gb/en/hardware/reader

bris

The small business card processors like Square etc that the stall holders and tradesman use charge a  percentage per transaction on any card debit or credit card.

To get the best rates you need to go to the big boys like streamline who do the retail sector for the best rates.

When I had an account with them it was £15 per month terminal rental and 1.5% for  credit cards and just 16p per debit card transaction regardless of the amount.

The main difference is that the likes of izettle etc are relatively new and aimed at the people who traditionally have never been able to take card payments before so its a new opportunity to accept card payments where as the likes of streamline have serviced the retail shops for the past 50 years. 

Alex9384

Chino said:

Pay just 1.75% per transaction for Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit or debit cards.https://squareup.com/gb/en/hardware/reader

Where do they get to the 1.75% figure from when Amex themselves charge somewhere between 2% and 3% ? Do I miss something?