In Your Shoes - Neil Watters

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I am Neil, the owner of Better Card Payments

I have spent over 30 years in Financial Services with the last 5 of those fully focussed on hepling businesses with their Merchant Services. 

I started this company after seeing too many businesses stuck with outdated technology and high card processing fees. 

We provide state-of-the-art POS systems for the Hospitality and Retail sectors.  We also provide standalone payment terminals for all types of businesses which are again state-of-the-art. 

All this is back by a service model that's personal, local and fair.  No call centres, no pushy sales reps - just real support you can rely on. 

I work closely with every client and what makes the work so special to me is the impact we have - making businesses more efficient and building real relationships along the way. 

If our offer sounds too good to be true, that's because it's rare to find this level of service.  But yet - it's that good, and it's real. 

Monday

Amazing start to the week with a prospective client meeting for a food truck in Forfar. I saw a post on Facebook whilst on holiday and commented an offer of help. They quicky got in touch and invited me to see them. Great meeting and client agreed to proceed on the spot!

I was then off to Dundee to speak to a local Social Club. They are using a really out of date POS system. Our solution is going to change there Club big time with a new system, fully integrated ensuring everything from employee time management to stock control and of course payments all in once place.

Quick spot of lunch before an online networking meeting with Circle Networks. The working day finished off with installation of a new Card Terminal for a local book shop in Forfar. Grabbed some tea then headed to the Castle Club in Forfar for a snooker tie (which I won!).

Tuesday

Sometimes you meet people who are ‘just like you’. The morning started with a long catch up collaboration call with one such client from Aberlour. Always great to start the day off with such a positive conversation.

Then on to a call with a local Football Club and we are going to be doing some sponsorship with them to support them here in Forfar. Next was a meeting with a prominent local firm to help with their Charity Golf day next month, delighted to be supporting them and let’s see how team Better Card Payments get on!

The afternoon was spent in 3 prospective client meetings, two in Dundee and 1 in Montrose. All referred to me by existing clients who were delighted with the work we did. These are the best, even better when all three agree that our offering is a game changer and sign up!

Wednesday

Big day for my son who was sitting an exam as part of his apprenticeship at a prominent Dundee accountancy firm.

Spent the morning catching up on emails and doing some of those pesky administration tasks! In the afternoon I went in to Dundee to check in with some clients to ensure everything was working well and they were all happy. All good thankfully.

Then off to Dundee College to pick up my son and here how he got on with the exam, he seems happy so fingers crossed for a good result when they are through in 6 weeks.

The evening was spent for a family meal at Armstrong’s near Kirriemuir, a treat for all the hard work my son has put into his studies so far.

Thursday

Morning started off with 2 onsite installations in Dundee. Thankfully coffee and donuts were included. If anyone knows me well, they know I like coffee and donuts. And yes I am a coffee snob!

Then drove through to Perth to have a catch up with a new Wine Bar opening soon before attempting to have lunch at one of my favourite clients café’s. Unfortunately for me they had no free tables so I had to look elsewhere which is a shame as their homemade scones are second to none.

Then it was back to Dundee for a prospective client meeting then back home to Kirriemuir to do some more emails/admin.

Got a call from one of my clients just after 8pm with a technical query on the payment system during a busy service, nipped over to Blairgowrie to help out on-site and sorted out. Now that’s what I call service.

Friday

Drove up to Aberdeen in the morning for a day of prospective client meetings, all from referrals.

This is something I am very clear on in my business, we don’t do cold calls or pushy sales with everything we do in inbound and I am so appreciative of my network and clients.

I had time to visit a few clients in Aberdeen and Stonehaven before returning to Forfar for 2 onsite installations of new terminals.

The afternoon was spent online with Shift4, our global payments provider. Some new technology coming to market shortly and further improvements to the software. I finished the day and week on the phone to a business who in their words were being ripped off by their current POS provider. Talked them through our solution and now providing a demo next week. I LOVE what I do.