How to Tell if YourCard Machine Is Costing YouMore Than It Should

Card machines are essential for most UK businesses. But many business owners are overpaying without even realising it.

In this guide, I’ll show you the key signs your card machine could be costing you too much — and what to do about it.

1. You’re Paying High Transaction Fees

If your effective rate is higher than 1.5% for debit cards or 2.5% for credit cards, you could be paying over the odds.

What to check:

  • Are you on a blended rate?
  • Are you being charged for card types you don’t even accept?
  • Have your rates increased without notice?

The average business overpays £1,000+ a year in card fees. — That’s money back in your pocket with the right deal.

2. You’re Locked Into Long Contracts

Many providers lock businesses into 18–36 month contracts with early termination fees that can be huge.

Look out for:

  • Automatic contract rollovers
  • Exit fees over £100
  • Unclear terms and conditions

3. You Don’t Understand Your Statement

If your statement is full of confusing fees and codes, you’re not alone — but it could be costing you.

Common hidden fees include:

  • Monthly minimum charges
  • PCI compliance fees
  • Statement fees

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Cookie Policy

Effective Date: 30-Nov-2023
Last Updated: 30-Nov-2023

 
What are cookies?

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are and how we use them, the types of cookies we use i.e, the information we collect using cookies and how that information is used, and how to manage the cookie settings.

Cookies are small text files that are used to store small pieces of information. They are stored on your device when the website is loaded on your browser. These cookies help us make the website function properly, make it more secure, provide better user experience, and understand how the website performs and to analyze what works and where it needs improvement.

 
How do we use cookies?

As most of the online services, our website uses first-party and third-party cookies for several purposes. First-party cookies are mostly necessary for the website to function the right way, and they do not collect any of your personally identifiable data.

The third-party cookies used on our website are mainly for understanding how the website performs, how you interact with our website, keeping our services secure, providing advertisements that are relevant to you, and all in all providing you with a better and improved user experience and help speed up your future interactions with our website.

 
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In addition to this, different browsers provide different methods to block and delete cookies used by websites. You can change the settings of your browser to block/delete the cookies. Listed below are the links to the support documents on how to manage and delete cookies from the major web browsers.

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Privacy Policy


Last Updated On 30-Nov-2023
Effective Date 30-Nov-2023



This Privacy Policy describes the policies of Zoe Borduik, TA/Card Machine Queen email: hello@cardmachinequeen.co.uk phone: 07444 458 367 on the collection, use and disclosure of your information that we collect when you use our website ( https://cardmachinequeen.co.uk ). (the “Service”). By accessing or using the Service, you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to the same, please do not access or use the Service.

We may modify this Privacy Policy at any time without any prior notice to you and will post the revised Privacy Policy on the Service. The revised Policy will be effective 180 days from when the revised Policy is posted in the Service and your continued access or use of the Service after such time will constitute your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy. We therefore recommend that you periodically review this page.

  1. Information We Collect:

    We will collect and process the following personal information about you:

    1. Name
    2. Email
    3. Mobile

  2. How We Use Your Information:

    We will use the information that we collect about you for the following purposes:

    1. Marketing/ Promotional
    2. Testimonials
    3. Customer feedback collection
    4. Support
    5. Administration info
    6. Manage customer order
    7. Manage user account

    If we want to use your information for any other purpose, we will ask you for consent and will use your information only on receiving your consent and then, only for the purpose(s) for which grant consent unless we are required to do otherwise by law.

  3. How We Share Your Information:

    We will not transfer your personal information to any third party without seeking your consent, except in limited circumstances as described below:

    1. Analytics

    We require such third party’s to use the personal information we transfer to them only for the purpose for which it was transferred and not to retain it for longer than is required for fulfilling the said purpose.

    We may also disclose your personal information for the following: (1) to comply with applicable law, regulation, court order or other legal process; (2) to enforce your agreements with us, including this Privacy Policy; or (3) to respond to claims that your use of the Service violates any third-party rights. If the Service or our company is merged or acquired with another company, your information will be one of the assets that is transferred to the new owner.

  4. Retention Of Your Information:

    We will retain your personal information with us for 90 days to 2 years after user terminate account or for as long as we need it to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected as detailed in this Privacy Policy. We may need to retain certain information for longer periods such as record-keeping / reporting in accordance with applicable law or for other legitimate reasons like enforcement of legal rights, fraud prevention, etc. Residual anonymous information and aggregate information, neither of which identifies you (directly or indirectly), may be stored indefinitely.

  5. Your Rights:

    Depending on the law that applies, you may have a right to access and rectify or erase your personal data or receive a copy of your personal data, restrict or object to the active processing of your data, ask us to share (port) your personal information to another entity, withdraw any consent you provided to us to process your data, a right to lodge a complaint with a statutory authority and such other rights as may be relevant under applicable laws. To exercise these rights, you can write to us at hello@cardmachinequeen.co.uk. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law.

    You may opt-out of direct marketing communications or the profiling we carry out for marketing purposes by writing to us at hello@cardmachinequeen.co.uk.

    Do note that if you do not allow us to collect or process the required personal information or withdraw the consent to process the same for the required purposes, you may not be able to access or use the services for which your information was sought.

  6. Cookies Etc.

    To learn more about how we use these and your choices in relation to these tracking technologies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

  7. Security:

    The security of your information is important to us and we will use reasonable security measures to prevent the loss, misuse or unauthorized alteration of your information under our control. However, given the inherent risks, we cannot guarantee absolute security and consequently, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us and you do so at your own risk.

  8. Grievance / Data Protection Officer:

    If you have any queries or concerns about the processing of your information that is available with us, you may email us email: hello@cardmachinequeen.co.uk. We will address your concerns in accordance with applicable law.