There are two types of touch screens out there. Resistive screens, which are made from two separate panels separated from each other, are something of a dinosaur compared to the newer touch screen tech, called capacitive touch screens. These are what your smartphone has. They’re much more user-friendly, although screen breakage becomes an issue.
For a point of sale, great user experience carries with it a dollar amount, where each smoother, simpler checkout getting your customer out the door faster so that the next transaction can begin. With this, your customers naturally have a happier experience, with less wait time, and more frictionless transaction. Poynt’s Smart Terminal has done a great job leveraging design to streamline the checkout process and reduce or eliminate those wait times that can drive down sales in your business.
Inventory, that herculean task, is greatly simplified through implementing a better system with a touchscreen. Integrating with an inventory management system enables you to automatically stay on top of your store’s inventory levels, which thereby save you from unfortunate losses of sales when hot items move quickly. Alerts, reminders, and even automatic reordering can take care that those outages don’t hold you back.
The question comes up: what can you do with all that screen real estate? The answers are many. Practically every process that your employees handle at the point of sale becomes much easier with a modern touchscreen. Most notably, when the need arises to show your customer the details of the transaction, such as when a refund becomes necessary, or when the associate needs to enter or pull up customer information, a touch screen is effectively the only way to do that.
The many moving parts that comprise your business work better when your team accesses them on a touchscreen. That’s because most everyone, regardless of age, has been conditioned to work on touchscreens. The Poynt Smart Terminal allows you to capitalize on this by working in much the same way that a smartphone does, allowing you to access the various apps your business uses with the tap of a finger. Odds are your team will need minimal training to become functional and even fluent in its use.
The concern some have, that fancy touch screens come with a hefty price tag, is simply no longer the case. New technology has been on the market long enough that prices have become agreeable, and in some cases, such as with the Poynt Smart Terminals that Moolah loves, you don’t have to pay for them at all! All customers who sign up for a merchant account with Moolah are able to get a Smart Terminal for free, giving you access to all the benefits of the most up-to-date POS tech. The time to go touchscreen is now.
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.