What most people will picture when they hear the term “legacy POS” is probably something like the standard bank-issued card readers, with the LCD display and the red, yellow, and green colored buttons. It’s easy to beat up on this work horse of the world of commerce, but is it really so inadequate as to not be relevant anymore? Let’s look at what differentiates the newer cloud-based options like the Poynt POS from their forefathers.
On first thought it seems intuitive that newer, more ‘fashionable’ hardware should cost more than the old legacy “dinosaur” machines. While that may be true in some situations, it is increasingly the case that the overall cost for new, cloud-based solutions is comparable, if not cheaper, than the correlating solution with the dusty old LCD card reader. When you choose to work with Moolah, this is especially true, as, not only do we give businesses access to the Poynt Smart Terminal, one of the more aesthetically beautiful POS machines out there, we give it to new clients for free. It’s our way of saying “welcome to the 21st century.”!
“Because everybody else is doing it” typically isn’t a reason to do something, but in the business world you have to temper your desire to listen to your mom’s advice and be yourself with the common-sense admission that consumer expectations change over time, and successful businesses do their best to keep up with the times. It’s increasingly true that customers like to see a modern, convenient point of sale in place. It’s not the first thing that a customer will thing of, but it does make an impression.
The biggest factor in the decision to move on from typical legacy POS solutions is all the added functionality that comes with a cloud-based POS. It’s the same as the transition from old flip-style cell phones to the iPhone. This is especially true with the Poynt POS. Developers continue to work to enable a wide range of solutions, from inventory tracking, to CRMs, to accounting software, to be at the fingertips of any business with a Poynt Smart Terminal. The cloud also makes it supremely easy to track the activity of multiple locations, if that’s your thing, which is something that more traditional wired units didn’t really help out with.
Back to the question: is it really so bad to hang on to the older Legacy POS devices? At the end of the day, it’s up to you. As with the handful of people who still swear by their flip phone for the ease of operation, or nostalgia, perhaps, sometimes, the legacy model is all you need. But if you’re talking about functionality, style, and even affordability, a Poynt POS may just be your ticket to the 21st Century.
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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.