use of credit cards

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Court Ops Exchange : One Thread

We have never taken credit cards, but know that some courts do. Please explain how it works for you. What do you take them for? Do you establish a balance for frequent users and draw it down or process each individually? Who has access to the card number? How does it work with the cash register? Anything else you can think of? Thanks.

-- Celia Strickler (cstrickl@meb.uscourts.gov), October 05, 1999

Answers

We are just beginning to set up our credit card in our court here in North Carolina. Initially we are planning on accepting a credit card from the same individuals in which we accept a check (no debtors). The Intake Clerks will have access to the credit cards as they are presented to the court. When I was in the District Court in Indiana Southern, we accepted credit cards for most fee items. If you are interested in finding out more about their system, you might want to contact David Weich, Chief Deputy Clerk to find out more about their policies. He was instrumental in setting up the system.

-- Geraldine Crockett (gerri@ncbankruptcy.org), October 05, 1999.

We have been accepting credit cards for about three years. We do not accept credit cards of debtors, as we would not accept their personal checks. Credit cards can be used to pay any fee from bankruptcy petitions to copies and searches. We do not keep card numbers on file instead, like a retail establishment, we run the card through the verifier which approves the transaction and prints a credit card slip. We then have to enter the information into the cash register separately. We also will take a credit card number over the phone for someone requesting a search. It has worked well, however we only receive three or four transacations a month via credit card; most of the attorneys seem to feel more comfortable paying by check.

-- Kerri Mikolaities (kerri_mikolaities@nhb.uscourts.gov), October 05, 1999.

The Western District of Pennsylvania has been accepting credit cards since June 1990. We currently accopt only Visa or MasterCard. Credit carrds may be used for paying filing fees, certifications, copywork, and miscellaneous services. We do not accept them for bond payments, criminal fines or restitution, or payments pay into the registry of the court. The cards may be used in person, over the telephone, or through the mail. If presented in person, it must be presented by the person whose name appears on the card. Only the Intake Clerks have access to the credit cards. We do not keep card numbers on file. Instead, we run the card through the verifier which approves the transaction and prints a credit card slip. We then have to enter the information into the cash register separately. They are not used that often. We only average 14 charge transactions a month. If anyone needs any further information, please feel free to call Keith Anderson, 412-208-7500.

-- James A. Drach (James Drach@pawd.uscourts.gov), October 05, 1999.

We have been accepting credit cards since July 1998 and the process works well for us. Although this method of payment was initially greeted with howls of protest from cashiers because it is necessary to ring up a transaction on the credit card equipment, as well as a receipt on the cash register as the two systems are no interactive. However, with passage of time cashiers have embraced payment by credit card as it has eliminates much of their work at close out at the end of the day.

Our court accepts credit cards for payment of all fees; we do not accept credit cards from debtors, as directed by the Administrative Office. We keep account numbers on file and also plug them into the cash register and are password protected, only active cashiers have access to this information. We use a "Credit Card Blanket Authorization" form to obtaian the information.

Payment by credit card is popular with attorneys, especially those who file petitions frequently and in large numbers. I believe many are racking up "frequent flyer miles" as a result!

I'd be happy to share any information we have.

-- Martha Franco (martha_franco@mnb.uscourts.gov), October 08, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ