I have been unsuccessful finding low rates like some docs on the board have. Most companies won't even quote me a rate until they see my old reports and I don't like that. Then the quoted rate is almost never given because they charge more for keyed in numbers, etc.
So I've been using Square for about a month and I remain enthusiastic, though there are some problems:
1. The square itself is a little touchy. It took each of us several tries to get it to read. You have to hold the phone flat-usually best to leave it flat on the desk.
2. The device broke after about two weeks and wouldn't read at all, so I had to order a new one. Maybe my original one was defective from the start and the new one won't be as touchy. I was glad I still had my old account and machine. You might want to order a back-up device and test it before getting rid of your 'traditional' merchant services.
3. You have to keep your smart phone at the front desk. So unless you want the front desk (and maybe patients!) seeing the special texts your spouse or others send you, you will want to get another phone or ipad or itouch. I was going to use my old iphone but not only do you have to pay for the phone line, you have to pay for a data plan, so I will probably go with an itouch.
4. The receipt can be sent to the patient by text or email. But if a patient wants a written receipt right then, you have to log onto your online account by entering a password and then printing it. This password-accessed account shows all the data and also allows your information to be changed including your bank account info, i.e where the deposits go. Now I have a very small, very trusted, staff. But do I really want them to be abe to go into this account? If they can't, then I have to be available to print any needed receipts. The password is also needed to enable the app on your mobile device, which 'should' stay enabled, but if it doesn't, the password will have to be entered again.
5. Copies of all transactions are emailed to you. At the end of the day you need to print all these for staff to reconcile the finances for the day. You could have them sent to an office email, but then that email is the account holder, so that's not good for security either.
I actually love the idea and like a lot of people on this forum, I am always looking for ways to save money and improve care. Patients think the square is really cool, and so do I. Maybe someone else can suggest ways around my concerns. One thought I had for printing receipts when requested is to use the square prompt to email it to an office email, then the staff can print it.
