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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Why or Why not accept Money Order/Check payments?

    Hi,

    I'd like to find out why some companies accept and some don't accept money order/check payments.

    I talked to a few friends and they said that it's not "safe" to accept money order/check payments because the user was not able to get a paypal account or a credit card, it doesn't feel right.

    But I think Money Order/Check payments are safer once cleared, less chances of fraud, and no chances of chargeback etc.

    What is your take on this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    Boston, MA
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    Money Orders and checks are a heck of a lot safer from a merchant's standpoint! A money order is essentially cash, so it is very safe. A check, once it has cleared, is also safe. There are no chargebacks on these items, and it doesn't cost a fee for the transaction (your bank may have some fees based on the number of deposits though). I take checks from my local clients, it's always nice.

    Why would you friend think it is not safe?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Hi Ariel74,

    A friend of mine said that "If the customer cannot obtain a paypal account or a credit card, how can (s)he be trusted?".

    But I told him that it's very safe, and I think it would save money.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    77
    I take checks from my local clients, it's always nice.
    Same here. I accept, however do not like unless the project is large, checks from individuals that are not local.

    The problem is that checks being sent through the mail have a disturbingly high rate of not reaching their destination. This can cause a lot of problems and even more headaches to the host.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    Quote Originally Posted by WN-Ali
    A friend of mine said that "If the customer cannot obtain a paypal account or a credit card, how can (s)he be trusted?"
    That's rediculous. Most consumers have never heard of Paypal, and some people prefer to pay with cash and checks than with a credit card. There's nothing wrong with paying by check.
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    77
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by WN-Ali
    A friend of mine said that "If the customer cannot obtain a paypal account or a credit card, how can (s)he be trusted?"


    That's rediculous. Most consumers have never heard of Paypal, and some people prefer to pay with cash and checks than with a credit card.
    I totally agree. If the prospect is new to the internet PayPal will be something they might have heard of but have very limited knowledge in. Then there is also that fear of just handing your credit card over to someone that you do not know. Seems odd to the savvy internet use however it is very true.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    The problem with checks is that if you are not getting a tremendous amount of checks that come in and/or money orders, you are basically wasting a trip to the bank. This is why most providers who except checks/money orders will request the package be paid in full, if it is a budget plan. However if the plan is a higher pricing package, then yes seems harmless.
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    Saskatchewan, Canada
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    Cheques can bounce so it's very important to wait 10 days after the cheque has been deposited to make sure it clears the bank alright.

    I've had a cheque that I accepted bounce on me and for whatever reason my bank decided to charge a $5.00 fee to my account for accepting the cheque. I'm not sure how regularly that is done. Just to note I deposited the cheque I didn't write the cheque.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    77
    This is why most providers who except checks/money orders will request the package be paid in full, if it is a budget plan
    Definitely. Most, including myself, try to get the check payment to be for the larger amount if possible. However, realize that if you are too much of a stickler on this a bad impression can be left.

    I've had a cheque that I accepted bounce on me and for whatever reason my bank decided to charge a $5.00 fee to my account for accepting the cheque. I'm not sure how regularly that is done. Just to note I deposited the cheque I didn't write the cheque.
    I have had similar problems. This is what makes things so difficult and time consuming. Banks make sure they do not lose money by charging anyone they can. Banks also have a tendancy to be difficult to deal with.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    San Francisco, CA
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    You SHOULD accept any possible ways for money from customers including Money Orders, Check by Mail, Wire Transfers and Western Union.

    Company's who don't do that - sometimes loosing as much as 10-15% of possible earning. Plus - this type of payments is much more secured - no chargebacks and no spammers/fraudsters.

  11. #11
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    Company's who don't do that - sometimes loosing as much as 10-15% of possible earning.
    Actual stats, or something of a guess here?
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  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    A lot of businesses and organizations only want to pay by check/money order so it makes sense to offer it, especially since you don't lose on transaction fees.

    It can be a pain though as most of my clients who pay by check are typically late, so you may want to make customers who pay in this manner pre-pay for a year to save the hassle.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    Delaware
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    I agree with the others. What could the risk in taking it be?


    -Jim

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimerson
    I agree with the others. What could the risk in taking it be?


    -Jim
    As I said before, bounced cheques and bank fees as a result

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Katy, Texas
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    172
    Quote Originally Posted by steven-v
    You SHOULD accept any possible ways for money from customers including Money Orders, Check by Mail, Wire Transfers and Western Union.
    Checks by mail have been a pain to deal with for me. They either don't arrive or arrive terribly late when sent and this just leads to a great deal of headache. Then there is the possibility of a bounced check (some backs have fees on this). Even if those percentages are 100 percent accurate, the truth is that (especially for small businesses) there is a possibility that you will lose a bit more by accepting the payments (lost time, customer confidence, etc) than you would gain from the added business.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    Boston, MA
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    Quote Originally Posted by LukeKrogh
    .... checks being sent through the mail have a disturbingly high rate of not reaching their destination.
    The check is in the mail, honest!

  17. #17
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    Feb 2005
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    Delaware
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    Take payment for yearly only if you want. And charge them for the fee's. Or do not take them at all

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by WN-Ali
    Hi Ariel74,

    A friend of mine said that "If the customer cannot obtain a paypal account or a credit card, how can (s)he be trusted?".

    But I told him that it's very safe, and I think it would save money.
    Like most businesses, we pay most of our vendors via check; the only exceptions are the few online vendors we have (data center, for example). Most of our local business clients prefer to pay via check as well (and they expect us to allow them to float the payments 30 days or so).

    Now if you're focusing on personal clients, as mentioned by others, I would not assume that just because they want to pay by check (or money order) that it is because they "can't" obtain a credit card or Paypal account; many people simply are not comfortable giving credit card info out on the Internet.

    I guess in the end, it's up to you to decide what payment types work best and what, if any, restrictions you will put on particular payment types. I've tried to keep it as easy as possible for people to pay the way they want, because I don't want to miss any business.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    77
    The check is in the mail, honest!
    ...it happens.

    Take payment for yearly only if you want. And charge them for the fee's.
    ...this is where the hassles come in and it becomes more of a problem then it is worth.

    Though I would I agree with this:

    I've tried to keep it as easy as possible for people to pay the way they want, because I don't want to miss any business.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Milton Keynes, UK
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    I think there are both good and bad points to them. The main thing is there can be no chargeback.

    I am happy to accept checks from clients, but I don't have an option in signup for them. Maybe I should add it. Do you take them? If so do you have the option in signup for them?
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  21. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
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    West Michigan, USA
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    We hate accepting checks and here's why...

    There's no automated process for it, so it costs labor to process these payments. From opening the mail, filing the check, marking the client as paid, going to the bank and depositing the check, handling bounced payments, etc. One or two checks a month isn't a big deal...but once you get more than a couple dozen, it can really eat up your time. Time is money.

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  22. #22
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    Mar 2001
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    If you develop a good system for handling checks, they are no more a bother than credit cards. We process 20-40 checks a week with no problem, and our clients are happy we accept them. But, if you're not organized or "wired" to handle this, then I guess it could be problematic.

    A once a week trip to the bank (I assume you have to deposit a paycheck anyways or stop by the ATM) is pretty easy, so you knock it all out at once.

    - John C.

  23. #23
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    Feb 2002
    Location
    Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by steven-v
    You SHOULD accept any possible ways for money from customers including Money Orders, Check by Mail, Wire Transfers and Western Union.
    I would agree with that.

    That's one of the mistakes I made with HTTPme, and something I've since corrected. I'll take money in whatever form you've got. Heck, I have a local client who drops cash by the house, every 3mths. Works for him and it works for me.

    There's no reason I should turn these folks away, when they're wanting to give me money, just because they don't have a credit card. Checks and manual payments are a snap to process with ModernBill anyways. I usually bank them on the way to and from my favourite coffee shop, so I'm not going out of my way or anything.
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  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    77
    If you develop a good system for handling checks, they are no more a bother than credit cards. We process 20-40 checks a week with no problem, and our clients are happy we accept them. But, if you're not organized or "wired" to handle this, then I guess it could be problematic.

    A once a week trip to the bank (I assume you have to deposit a paycheck anyways or stop by the ATM) is pretty easy, so you knock it all out at once.

    - John C.
    That's great you can make it work I would have to agree with Tina that checks can become a problem. For the most part they aren't, though they can be.

    However, Tina said she hates accepting them, not that she refuses them. After all:

    You SHOULD accept any possible ways for money from customers including Money Orders, Check by Mail, Wire Transfers and Western Union.


    ...why turn away profit?

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Delaware
    Posts
    587
    All in all, it comes down to what you can or are willing to handle...

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