When mobile POS technology came onto the market, it was a bit of a revelation. iPads were at their peak, and creating an extra piece of technology that could harness the power and convenience of a tablet to run your business was an attractive proposition. Nowadays, there are quite a few more options on the market, many of which surpass the tablet-based option for a variety of reasons. Here’s what thinking outside the tablet can get you.
Tablets were designed to be a kind of multi-purpose tool for productivity. They were not necessarily designed to process hundreds of coffee shop patrons per day, quickly and easily. Poynt Terminals are. With dual screens for transaction simplicity, and the perfect size to function at the counter, or on the move, thought was put into making the perfect transaction machine. It’s easy to think that these things don’t matter too much: a Smart Car and a Rolls Royce both get you where you’re going. But once you’ve ridden in the Rolls Royce, you can’t un-know the difference…
The newest iPad pro costs at least $800 dollars. It costs that much because Apple has put a lot of effort into making it the best tablet on the market, with features that make it optimal for multitaskers, artists, and anyone. Unfortunately, not many of these cool features come in handy for a restaurant employee that’s trying to take an order and get the customer on its way. The benefit of dedicated POS hardware is that they are designed just for their purpose, meaning it’s easier to do the things that they have to, and you’re not paying for stuff you’ll never use. What’s more, you’ll still have to pay for the peripherals, software, and more to get the iPad up and running for your business.
The hybrid element of crafting a point of sale solution with tech that was designed for an iPad gives the whole enterprise a kind of DIY feel, and in a way that you probably won’t feel proud about. This brings up the question of support. When there are more types of technology in the mix, there is more potential for complicated solutions to the problems.
On the other hand, when you have a dedicated hardware/software solution, such as with the Poynt Terminal, which is designed to be the only piece of payment hardware that you will need, there are fewer moving parts that have the potential to cause problems. What’s more, Poynt, as well as Moolah, have receptive, professional support staff who are easy to reach, and are able to solve tech problems at the speed of small business needs. If you are interested in finding the best hardware solution for your business, Moolah and Poynt are a safe place to start looking.
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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.