Who collects payment at the time of service and what methods are accepted?

• A. The office staff collects payment only, using cash or checks
• B. The tech can collect payment or enroll the customer in a plan; accepted methods include cash, card, and digital payments, with PCI guidelines followed
• C. Payment is collected only after 30 days by mail
• D. Payment is not collected during service

Answer: (B)

Collecting payment at the time of service by the technician is the practiced approach. The technician can either take payment directly or enroll the customer in a plan, and they should be able to accept multiple methods—cash, card, and digital payments—while following PCI guidelines to protect card data. Handling payment on-site keeps the process efficient, allows immediate sale closure or plan enrollment, and ensures secure handling of card information. If payment were handled by office staff after the visit or mailed back later, or if nothing were collected during service, it would slow down the workflow and increase the risk of delays or nonpayment. Not collecting during service would miss the opportunity to finalize the sale and onboard the customer to a plan.