Can a business run their credit card transactions without a LAN line?
My boss always has me doing miscellaneous odd jobs while I’m at work in his store, and today one of his assignments to me is to find out (even though I am about 75% incompetent with computers and technology of all sorts) if he could cancel his LAN line for one of his businesses, but use a cell phone that he’s already paying for every month to run the credit card machine. Someone I know suggested that he’d have to buy a -600 machine to work with the cell phone, and I know the clerk @ that business can always call one of his other businesses and run the card transactions through one of his viable credit card machines. But if someone knows ANYTHING credible about this, I would really love some information, cuz I’m really in the weeds here! Thanks!
ok, "land" line then, goes to show how technology retarded I am
excuse me, "technologically challenged" i believe is the PC term, before ppl start flagging this question.
if my boss disconnected his "land line" we would have no internet.
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
3 comments
OC1999 on May 5, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You apparently have a computer and Internet access. So there are Credit Card Terminals you can hook up to a computer and it will then go through your existing network to the Internet. Which ironically is actually called a LAN(Local Area Network). Not only can you cancel one of the land lines, but you don’t need to use a cell phone. Not to say that a Cell Phone can not be used, but unless you are in the field doing charges that is not the best way.
I would suggest that you talk to the company that handles the Credit Card processing for your business. They should be able to give you several suggestions as to what terminal would be best for you. If you actually don’t have a CC Terminal now, contact the Business Services department of the bank your boss uses. They should also be able to get you started in the right direction.
jack99skellington on May 5, 2010 at 2:13 pm
it’s not a LAN line, it’s a "Land Line". LAN is completely different. As to is it possible to use cell, I don’t think so. he would need some way of connecting his cell to the credit card machine. If he has net access, it’s possible to get machines that do this through the net instead of over dialup.
mikespur on May 5, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I used to have a small business, and used a company that used software to process c/c transactions over the internet. They had good rates, and the software allowed all kinds of reports and was easy to use. Doesn’t store user c/c numbers on your computer, either, so it is as safe as using a regular credit card machine. Also, I only needed a $69 credit card "swiper" that plugs into a usb port - no expensive machine. That company was called "x-charge", http://www.x-charge.com, and I liked them, but I am sure there are others out there. Google "credit card processor over internet". Might even be able to use PayPal, they have a merchant system too.
This all assumes that you have a broadband internet connection.