Considering leaving Square due to no new loans

[indiaink]

The big risk I’m considering for 2025 is leaving square behind in 2024!

2024 will likely be my last year using Square for my business. I’ve not been 100% happy with Square’s service options or pricing however, the loans have been incredibly helpful for my business.

I’ve had maybe five loans from Square, all paid off without issue, and received new offers before they were paid off. 

I’m in the end of the slowest season of the year for tattooing (Sept-Dec) and could really use a boost from another loan. But in the last few months, square has been penalizing me for something that is just completely out of my control.

I expected to get another offer in maybe August or September, based on where I was at in the payoff process; but in August and then again in September I had two separate clients dispute payments on tattoos!

One of those clients had already received the tattoo and then disputed the payment 3 weeks later.  I submitted the no refund policy the client signed when he paid for his gift card. And the no refund policy the client signed when he came in for the tattoo. But the bank still ruled in his favor and I’m SOL for work I already did.

The other client disputed the 2 payments she made with me, before receiving the services. She claims she missed the fraud alert emailed by Chase Bank, and then the bank submitted the dispute on her behalf. (I do not believe this BS lie for even a second ); but then she took almost 60 days supplying me with the dispute cancellation letter, and only after I threatened to speak with a lawyer.  

Needless to say, Square won’t give me another loan because I’ve had three disputes in a year. Both of these disputes were fraudulent against my business, and completely out of my control. 

Now that my loan is 100% paid off as of yesterday, I’ve no need to stick around.

Square’s set up is just not designed for a tattoo company. I’m currently exploring other alternatives that are designed specifically for the type of service options I need.

[Twpchair]

Hello, I am so sorry to hear about all the issues. Unfortunately, certain businesses that customers do or can take advantage of with disputes compared to other businesses. I have a no-return policy im retail furniture. All our new furniture comes with a warranty and before they leave the store I help fill it out and we have a mail-drop box 2 businesses down and I put it in there. If you give it to the customer maybe 25% fill it out. In our gently used section, we take care of it in-store and either fix the issue or do a in store gift card. All they must sign. My GF has an online store and Etsy smh its daily with disputes and they are constantly holding her money up. I'm not here to tell you how to run your business or which POS to use. Just be careful with the Reps from the POS you are looking at. They promise you anything to get your business. I usually tell people to jump on their public forums, reviews, etc. Most are going to be saying all you said above. Unfortunately, most if not all use some form of an algorithm to pick off your eligibility and disputes or refunds trigger a person to go back and forth between you and Square and then Square and their card company/bank. Another good idea to use is social media. If the person got a tat from you and later 4 weeks later the first thing most people do is go on social media and brag about how cool is this or I love it it's perfect! Shescreenshots it to also send in that when they left ordered for 2 weeks they loved it and bragged about and now their credit card bill comes in they don't? I believe she said 90-95% goes to her favor. Just an additional free idea to use. I wish you all the best and hopefully, it will work out for you. Especially, this time of year!