we don't accept checks and don't think we lose customers because of it, if a customer can send a check it is more possible that he can pay with credit card too.

We accept every mode of payment unless or until it result in getting us paid what we are looking for.

frankly speaking, we only accept credit card or paypal, but if our existing clients don't have option to extend their payment, then we will provide our money orders option

Now everyone should use payment methodes that are easy and fast to use for clients, that is why paying with credit cards or via paypal is getting more and more popular.

Yeah, same here. Most people pay late when they use checks. We will only let customers that first sign up and pay with a credit card switch to checks if they ask. Mostly it's because it's just too hard to get to the bank.

Some of our local customers pay by check. I don't mind accepting for local customers, it's pretty easy to handle. I would personally be leery of accepting checks from online signup however.

I find that I get paid about 50% checks, 25% credit cards, and 25% Paypal. Haven't had any checks bounce on me for the past 5 years of business.

I accept it. I think it's gives a better service and a customer more options to pay. It's not something I heavily advertise to avoid fraud. Service is only ordered once payments are cleared. Bounced checks have fee`s to cover the cost and when they are two of them. the user is banned from ever paying that way.

We no longer accept Cheques, Money Orders or Bank Drafts. A few prospects may position that you don't value their money or business. That's certainly not the case however, should the client make a decision to pay by cheque on a annual or semi-annual basis it would make sense. If you end up devoting a lot of time doing AR (Account Receivables) for $2.95, $5.95 etc/mth and then have the cheque bounce your bank would smack you with a $20 - $50 NSF fee depending on the institution and you’re now at a loss.

As for Money Orders and Bank Drafts these payment methods would be considered more secure since it is established that the money is available and tentatively taken out the account until deposited by the vendor. Also, there have been quite a few cases of fake money orders these days. The information provided is simply our feedback and personal preference and it’s not to say that this business model wouldn’t work for all web hosts. At the end of the day, the more automated you can make your services the easier it will be for both parties the consumer and merchant. Of course, there are individuals who don’t feel safe providing their personal credit information online even if the page is secured/encrypted.

We even stopped accepting cheques for our collocation services for anything billing over $500.00/mo unless it was a certified cheque or bank draft/money order. By the way, I think this is a great thread topic and its nice to read the diverse assessments.

Cheers,

I love this topic also, it gives me the insight in other buisiness models.

You are correct about the overdraft. Being I am a very small company, it's people I know that pay me. Maybe that is why I was so fast in accepting that payment method in my billing software. But being in over draft by 50 dollars is not a good idea if your smallest plan per year is 12 bucks.

So I think the important thing to set up first, before accepting that payment method, is to find a provider that would not charge this amount. I am thinking if ING right now. Their THRIVE account gives you a Woops protection of up to 250 dollars. If you refund within 30 days you are not fined. If not, it's 2,50$ per month. This will enable you time to charge your client the overdraft. I mean, this is just off the top of my head, but there are surely other banking providers that can understand the occassional bounced checks.

I don't like to advertise any one company, but Paypal so far as been great. It's easy, simple, cheap.

I have some people who pay by cheque, but I don't accept it through the website, as often people buy domains at the same time and I don't want the hassle of explaining that their tardiness has lost them their domain!

You have all given me things to consider.

I am reviewing my TOS' and money handling procedures. After all, we need to protect ourselves.

Thanks again all of you :-)

I don't accept them, except for big orders and premium clients.

These days checks are to risky to accept with all the fraud out there. Atleast with money orders they can be tracked back to postal outlet that processed it. However in any regards I like electronic all the way.

We only accept credit cards and paypal payments, cash is easily lost just like cheques are. And there being phased out