When shopping around for the best credit card processing company for small businesses, it can be easy to get distracted by technology. With new products entering the market, both hardware and software, it’s no surprise that the thought of working with people often gets overshadowed by the latest tools that are being offered. Still, as long as business is a people thing, customer service is an essential part of choosing a provider. Here’s why.
Technology is designed to function correctly, without the intervention of people. Still, it’s unrealistic to expect that you’ll never have to troubleshoot a tech solution. When things do go wrong, you’re going to want easy, clearly defined ways of getting in touch with the help you need. This is especially true for small businesses, where, multitasking employees need to solve issues that arise quickly, so the day doesn’t grind to a halt.
Huge companies often offer a wide range of services, in addition to payment processing. That means that when you have a specific problem, you may have to be transferred around to find the help you’re looking for. Moolah is a payment processor. That means we’re dedicated to finding the answer to your questions and capable of helping you at the speed of small business!
Moolah was built to make accepting credit cards easier, for any business, and part of that commitment is to offer the essential connection to a real person when you need help. We’ve been recognized for our excellent phone support, and we also go the extra mile by giving each of our customers a dedicated account rep. That isn’t common for credit card processors.
We also like to think that customer service doesn’t start and end with helping you when you’re in a pinch. Part of a great customer service relationship is being there when you’re getting started with us. With our dedicated account reps, we like to build a relationship, making sure you’re starting out on the right foot with us, and getting everything you need to be successful.
Moolah also make a point to work with partners that share our dedication to customer service. Authorize.Net is one of the industry’s trusted names in payment gateways, and has also been recognized for its ease of customer service. We also offer a Free Poynt Smart terminal when you sign up with us for a dedicated merchant account. Not only are the Moolah team able to help you out with issues that may arise from your Poynt POS; Poynt is also a great team, offering great customer service for ensuring you’re getting the most out of the powerful Poynt Smart Terminal.
In the end, the best credit card processing for small businesses doesn’t come about from the best tech, although that’s a huge part of it. Just as important is the company’s dedication to people-centered solutions. That’s why you can count on the people-centered customer service of Moolah.
Thank you for scheduling. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-625-1670.
A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.