Credit Card Merchant Account



             


Friday, March 28, 2008

The Safe Practice Of Online Credit Card Processing To Collect Fees For Events And Conferences

The safe practice of online credit card processing: 3 things event planners and their attendees should look for.

It's fair to say that chasing up payments is on the list of life's most tedious and time consuming tasks. The advent of online credit card processing (instant transactions), has somewhat alleviated this for event organizers who use it as a benefit of online registration. Credit card use however, already carries its fair share of anxieties and asking people to hand over their digits online... even more so.

The good news is that there are three simple things event organizers and those paying for anything online with a credit card can look for that signal safe practice.

1. Technical talk:

There should be a SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate installed on the server where credit card information is being gathered. This signals a secure connection between the webpage where you are entering your details (data) and the server. Look for:

  • The letter s after the http in the browser address, i.e. https://www/.
  • A lock or key icon in your browser. If you double click on this it should bring up the security certificate details.
2. An out: People breath easier and feel more comfortable committing to something if they can see a way out. The important thing here, for both event organizers and those handing over their money is that these conditions are clearly defined in print. This will help avoid disputes further down the track. Include on your registration form:

  • Whether full of partial refunds are permitted and if so the dates that apply. It's a good idea to ask that these requests be made in writing.
  • Make clear any fees that will be charged for the above, bearing in mind that the processing fee on a credit card transaction cannot be recouped and will need to absorbed by someone.
  • Flexibility, in offering alternatives to people who have paid for an event and can no longer attend (in lieu of a refund), such as being able to transfer their place to someone else or being given a credit to attend a later event free of charge (within a stipulated time).
  • Keep your policy wording simple, professional and kind, so as to avoid frightening anyone into not registering.
3. Human contact: The best way to alleviate concerns people have about paying with their credit cards online is to include the name, phone number and email address of the event organizer or person to contact if they have questions, changes or concerns.

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  • 34 questions to ask the vendors you contact so you can make the right decision.
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  • The information you need to make a decision that will deliver professional results and make your job easier.
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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Online Credit Card Processing Services - Why Your Business Needs It

Payment processing is the major reason for any e-commerce business to get a merchant account. Merchant accounts enable your business to receive credit card payments online and become capable of providing your customers with several payment processing options.

Online credit card processing not only enables you to boost sales but also saves you a lot of hassle along with offering you many other benefits.

Reliable and secure credit card processing services allow your business to flourish and increase sales by leaps and bounds. Merchant account providers who offer international payment processing understand your business needs and that is why they offer major benefits like various payment processing options worldwide.

Online credit card processing allows you to accept all forms of payments from anywhere in the world at any time at all. This allows businesses to accept all kinds of various major credit and debit cards online and saves the merchants and customers the hassle of going to the bank.

With international credit card processing services you become capable of accepting payments from anywhere at all. Doesn’t matter whether you are in the US or the UK or in any other corner of the world, a good merchant account provider will offer you payment processing services that will allow you global transaction facility. All kinds of businesses whether big or small, high risk or low risk become capable of increasing their sales and revenue with online credit card processing.

Good merchant account providers will offer you safe and reliable credit card processing services with scam and fraud protection along with SSL encrypted servers that guarantees secure transactions. This in turn will help protect your transactions against fraudulent cases.

More info on Credit Card Processing at Instabill.com

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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Best Credit Card Processing Rates

Everyone goes into business to make money, so why spend more of your profits on expensive transaction fees, Website maintenance, service agreements and high credit card processing rates? When you take time to shop for the best deals, you can save quite a bit of money that can be used to good purpose in other parts of your business. Start shopping for the best credit card processing rates and open a merchant account.

You will first need to find a reputable bank or credit union that will agree to extend a merchant account to you for this purpose. To get approved, you will need a solid credit history, a reasonable business plan, and documentation to show that you are able to manage the costs associated with credit card processing rates. Typically, these include an installation fee for credit card processing equipment, a monthly gateway fee for your financial host, a transaction fee of a few cents per each or an overall percentage total each month. You also may be offered Website service that will entail a hosting fee, a service contract cost, and a designer’s or updating service fee. Be sure to carefully read the terms of any contract that you receive. Never sign something that you don’t understand or with which you cannot completely agree. Your company may have to pay for a monthly minimum up to a certain number of transactions, after which the balance for that month do not require additional fees.

Credit card processing rates can vary by company or by processor program. Some companies charge no installation fee, while others require a one-time cost of a few hundred dollars, depending on the program’s complexity. You may have to pay between 15 and 25 cents per transaction, or you could opt to pay a monthly percentage for the entire amount of business generated by your credit card processing unit; this amount often falls below 2%.

It is always a good idea to compare rates among competing financial institutions. If you really like the services offered by one merchant account company but prefer the lower rates of a second company, tell the first one about the competitor’s lower rates, and perhaps the first company will meet or beat the lower cost in order to get your business. At first, you may want to keep the customer’s interests in mind when shopping for credit card processing rates. In other words, passing on the savings of a particular program to your customers will keep them coming back to do business with you. If your rates are too high or not competitive enough, they may decide to take their business elsewhere.

As you plan to set up your new credit card processing service rates, it may help to let them know in advance that this program is coming so they can prepare and perhaps even help to get the word out to other potential customers. Then, after installing your new credit card processor, you should not hear complaints that anyone was blindsided or treated unfairly. If someone does complain, politely remind them of the earlier notices.

When you are ready to start processing credit card payments, don’t be tempted to go for the option with the most features or the most sophisticated set-up. Opt for a system that will best suit your company needs and your customers’ interests, as well as offering the best credit card processing rates.

Shane Penrod is the founder of http://www.Merchant-Account-Quotes.com Specializing in allowing merchants the ability to shop and compare multiple quotes from national merchant account providers. For free quotes on merchant account rates and fees, please go to http://www.merchant-account-quotes.com

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