PTC

Techniques: Software: PTC PTC is a DOS-based program for processing credit card payments via dial-up with a modem (1200 bps and up). In order to use it, you need a Merchant Account with a credit-card processing company.

Opinion

Woozle 11:03, 29 Apr 2005 (CST): While the software itself is pretty bug-free, there are a few annoyances:

• First, the fact that there doesn't seem to be a Windows version, or a

version which can connect through the Internet instead of via dial-up.

• Second, the fact that it refuses to run happily under Windows XP (runs

ok with Windows 2000 and Windows 98SE; I use the latter).

• Third, if you have trouble connecting too many times in a row, it goes

into a timeout mode. You can reset the timeout mode by going into "Setup / Merchant Settings" and changing your terminal ID. Unfortunately, this can only be done by clearing the transactions you've already entered. Fortunately, you can save them in a file. Unfortunately, it also saves the terminal ID in the file... so if you change the terminal ID and then reload your transactions, you've reverted back to the old ID. In other words, you have to re-enter everything. (At least, I think that's how it works; I only got this much from talking to a customer service rep on the phone several years ago; it's not in the manual.) It wouldn't be so aggravating if the software hadn't cost over $1000 (more than I thought I was going to be paying; see also LeaseComm). In my opinion, the merchant processing company -- [[Cardservice International]] -- should provide free upgrades at that price, and more likely should have provided the software for free. Better yet, they should offer web-based processing (as in [http://authorize.net/ Authorize.net]) as a no-cost option.