Unitec WashPay & Mercury Payment Systems Satisfaction

[Carl]

So I've been researching so many credit card systems and Unitec's WashPay has the edge, mostly because I already have two Unitec WashSelect II's which can tie in nicely to the rest of my wash w/ their system.

One red flag I'm picking up on is the fact that if you choose to use the Internet method of credit card preauthorization versus the dial-up method, you are forced w/ just one choice of processing company, Mercury Payment Systems.

I will be of course researching Mercury's rates but I've heard from some owners that suddenly, out-of-the-blue they'd find like a $99 charge on their Mercury statement for some UNKNOWN FEE?!! When asked what the heck this was, supposedly the answer to them was simply, "This is a maintenance fee to keep things running." To me, that's like a monopoly basically laughing at its customers saying, "Where are you gonna go, huh? Pay it!"

For those familiar w/ Mercury, are you all-in-all pretty satisfied and you're able to tolerate the way they charge you just fine or from your experience do you despise how you're treated by them by way of hidden or "surprise" fees?

Anyone familiar w/ Unitec's WashPay, please interject your like or dislike of their WashPay product as I've got to make a purchasing decision soon and I think I've reread every credit card-related post on this Forum three times over now so it's decision-time soon! I really appreciate it...thanks! - Carl

 

[kentadel]

I have used Mercury Pay for just under a year. Looking at my statements, my charges are around 6.5%. I do like being able to instantly check a transaction on their website.

 

[Carl]

Not Bad...

Kentadel - I could live w/ that alright! I just hoping to not hear of any "horror stories" or "I hate them and wish I never..." bits of feedback. Thanks so much. - Carl

 

[Carl]

BREAKING NEWS! Unitec's Allowing 2nd Choice for WashPay Users!

Found out some great news which I want to share so pardon me while I shout it out to WashPay customers: NO LONGER ARE WASHPAY CUSTOMERS FORCED ONLY TO GO W/ MERCURY PAYMENT SYSTEMS AS THEIR INTERNET PROCESSOR LONE CHOICE! You can now go w/ EITHER Mercury or Paymentech!

Since WashPay was designed for use only w/ Mercury, anyone who would rather switch to Paymentech will need to purchase an IT Tran Modem which will reside next to the site server and that setup should allow you to go through Paymentech if you so desire.

Now more homework in calling Mercury & Paymentech and comparing rates/fees, etc.

Does anyone have any familiarity w/ Paymentech? Hmm, when I Google Paymentech, I get a "Chase Paymentech" hit? I have nothing but good things to say about Chase as I use their Chase Sapphire Credit Card which has given me a free iPod touch w/ my accumulated "rewards points" and their Customer Service is great! Okay...homework time now. Hope this new news for WashPay customers is of some help. Thanks. - Carl

 

[Carl]

Satisfied w/ Both They Are?!!!

Wanted to update you...I've been asking around to customers who use both Paymentech or Mercury and guess what? They all say they've had positive experiences w/ both and are satisfied being their customer? How often do you hear that nowadays...customers touting a business and giving them the thumbs up!

Since going w/ Paymentech should I purchase WashPay, requires an IT Tran gizmo that's very $$$, I'm leaning toward Mercury Payment Systems, FWIW.

Thanks,

Carl

 

[bmattivi]

paymentech

i use paymentech at my two dial up sites and they are good to work with, i had global at one time and they were a complete rip off may not even be in business anymore, i used them because i was told the same thing by jim coleman company - i had to use global which turned out to be totally false, i guess coleman was getting a kickback

i am considering a new wash select ii high speed so i am not aware of the $99 fee but i think you will find they are in line with everyone else or less on total fees, of course reading a credit card statement is harder than your phone bill but if you do have an issue somewhere down the road they are very pro-active (paymentech)

can't speak to mercury have never even heard of them

 

[bigleo48]

I've had mercury payments for 2 years and they've been good. Rates are much lower than the 6.5% (somewhere in the 3.5% total range I believe) and no transaction fee.

 

[kentadel]

Bigleo, I looked back and 6.2% is the best I can come up with on Mercury. Could it be volume that gets you down to 3.5% My card sales are from one paystation only. I am not complaining, as they are great to work with. I will have to look again at all the charges on the statements. Do you accept AmExp?

 

[bmattivi]

yeah i know my fees are no where near 6.5% with paymentech, closer to the 4% of course ticket average affects this a lot

 

[Carl]

UPDATE - I found out that if I went the Paymentech route, since the WashPay software has been written more specifically to work w/ Mercury Payment Systems, I would NOT get instant preauthorization at my bays just like my old system that's non-PCI compliant now. I can't have that! I am tired of always getting "declined cards" in my batches either from expired or stolen cards being used here so if choosing Mercury gives me instant pre-authorization of credit cards (rejecting the bad cards immediately); I will go w/ Mercury despite it being more expensive than Paymentech. Maybe in the future, Unitec will write software which would make these more "apples to apples", but for now, I've got to choose Mercury. Just glad many of you say you're happy w/ their service. - Carl

 

[bigleo48]

Be sure to set your machine to pre-authorize the max amount for your washes. Was getting a lot that pre-authorized for like $1, only to find out they didn't have more than that on the card...some scam I'm sure.

 

[Washmee]

I use DRB Site Watch at my Tunnel. I have used Mercury for years with no problems. I've had many other companies over the years try to beat their rates. Not one has even come close. I would recommend Mercury.