8 Reasons Why Third Party Processors Are Better Than Merchant Accounts

From : merchantaccountforum.com

Choosing the right payment processor to accept credit cards on the net is a difficult and time consuming task. Like bank account accounts or mortgages there are just so many options around that you need to take an honest look at your own circumstances and desires for the future of your business before you make a firm decision.

We can generally separate payment processing into either third party processors, where you use another company’s processing account, or a full blown merchant account of your own. There are pros and cons of both options and making the simple decision of which to look at should be your absolute first decision when looking for a processing account.

To help you, then, here are my top eight reasons why third party processors may be the perfect option for you...

1) Cheap Set Up

Whilst some merchant accounts will set you up for free, they are very much in the minority. A fee of several hundred dollars is commonplace in the industry whilst you can set up a quality third party processing account for next to nothing.

2) Easy To Set Up

With merchant accounts the application process usually involves *lots* of paperwork - and I mean potentially dozens of pages, plus audited accounts, bank statements, proof of identification and all sorts of other things.
On the other hand, getting a third party processing account involves little or no paperwork at all - making your life a lot easier.

3) Quick Set Up

Because of this lack of paperwork and all the checks involved it can also be a lot quicker to set up a third party account.
There are several companies whom you can get an account from where you can literally be accepting credit cards on your web site the same day you apply.

4) Low Entry Requirements

If you choose the right third party account you need to give only minimal information about yourself - and you’re virtually guaranteed an account.

5) International Acceptance

Whilst it differs from provider to provider, many of these accounts are available to you no matter where you live.

6) Easy Integration with Your Site

One comment often leveled at merchant account providers is how complicated some businesses find it to integrate their site with the payment gateway.
Many third party processors have "wizards" that automatically generate a secure order form for you when you provide the basic details of your products.Then you just link to that form and you’re away. It couldn’t be much easier.

7) No Monthly Fees

One additional factor to consider is that merchant accounts often charge a monthly fee. They may charge a statement fee, they may charge you to use their payment gateway, or secure server - or just to keep your account open. Unfortunately it’s quite possible for the Internet newbie to be pushed to make any more than a handful of sales to begin with.
Sure, with dedication and hard work this can soon increase - but if you’re paying for your web hosting, broadband, auto responder etc. each month, these fees can soon add up.

8) No Monthly Minimums

This is even more important. You see, most merchant accounts also have a minimum monthly value you must process. If you fail to meet it you either get charged an additional fee, or your account can be shut down.

When I first started out on the Internet, I was making one sale every two to three weeks - for a total value of about $10. Now, as I learned how to market my site, sales picked up rapidly but if I had to meet monthly minimums my business could have died before it even got started.

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Stopping Fraud When Accepting Credit Cards Online

From : instamerchant.com

If you are accepting the online payments, then there is always a risk of getting a fraud order or payment. In that case, online retailers are beginning to observe patterns in online fraud. You can o watch out for these as:

1.Late night orders-Fraud increases late at night.

2.Orders from certain countries can be suspect - At the time this was written high fraud areas include Israel, Eastern Europe, and South America

3.Ordering in high volume-Cyber crooks don't care how high the bill is, since they don't intend to pay it.

4.Physical address-Physical address must match the credit card billing address.

5.ISP address-This must be in the same area as the record of the customer's address.

6.E-mail address-Names that have no apparent connection to customer's name or include random characters could be attempts to mask identity.

7.Free, Web-based, non-ISP e-mail addresses such as @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @juno.com - Some merchants are reporting that all of their fraudulent transactions are originating through these addresses, as it is easy to conceal the user's identity. They have chosen therefore to block these addresses, demanding instead an e-mail identity from a recognized ISP, much like a merchant asks for positive identification from those using a check. With 30 million hotmail subscribers and more signing up at the rate of 1 million per month, this might not be a good long-term strategy.

8.Repeated attempts on the same credit card number - In the early days of the Internet, criminals obtained fraudulent credit card numbers by using credit card generation software programs such as Credit Master that are still readily available on the Net. They would then attempt multiple hits varying the name and expiration date until the transaction went through. A small merchant, for example, had only 3-4 sales in a period - but 3,000 authorization attempts!

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Real-Time Processing

1. The most important advantage of real-time processing is that the customer sees the results immediately. If you sell software or information that you can deliver electronically, this feature is priceless because it lets you fill the order within minutes.

2. It also makes your customers more confident because they know that their card has been approved. So, if there is a mistake, like a wrong expiration date, they can correct it immediately.

3. The possibility of seeing immediate results may also attract hackers. The hackers may have some incomplete Credit Card credit card information.

4. Using a real time processing, you can leave the system unattended. All you need to do is to receive e-mails that will inform you about the orders made and the products sold.

5. Also using a Real-Time processing is you can have orders automatically or manually processed.

6. Real-time processing also helps eliminate customer errors because they will receive immediate feedback on whether or not their card has been approved. If they made an error in entering their information such as a wrong expiration date, they will receive immediate notice of the error, and they can correct it during the original transaction.

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Be smart with smart economy use Nurit 8000

By allowing you to pay the swiped retail even when out in the field, Nurit 8000 wireless credit card machine can help you save large amount of money on your processing. This happens so by virtually eliminating chargebacks due to bad cards. In a tough but smart economy, smart retailers, entrepreneurs and merchants go to where the business is, they understand the need for mobility and the advantages of making life fast and easy for time challenged consumers. Technology can help your business keep pace, particularly with a pay anywhere solution. Cut the cord. Get outside the store. Why make patrons hand over credit cards, when they can pay right at the table. Take refreshments and souvenirs conveniently down to fans in their seats Give your taxi and limo riders an easier, safer payment alternative. Think about how such transaction flexibility can increase sales and boost satisfaction


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Ask a Potential ECommerce Merchant Account Provider

If you are going to start the online merchant services, then surely you are going to select a merchant service provider. Before choosing any one of provider, you should get the answers of some question from whom you thinking of selecting:

1.As a merchant, can I accept credit cards both online and offline?

2.Can I accept ecommerce payments using methods other than MasterCard and Visa (Discover, American Express, Diner's Club, online checks, debit cards, etc.)?

3.What are the different discount rates and fees for different types of ecommerce and other charges through the merchant account (Internet, in person, telephone, mail, etc.)?

4.What are the other fees related to this ecommerce merchant account - yearly, set-up, application, monthly minimum, statement, support, cancellation, discount, per-transaction, gateway access fees, card reject fee?

5.Do I process ecommerce charges manually or automatically?

6.What other software and services do I need to become fully ecommerce enabled online (such as secure gateway provider, etc.)?

7.Do I need additional hardware or software not previously mentioned?

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Credit Card Processing

From:- website101.com

A merchant account is a special account with a bank that is a member of the Visa and MasterCard associations. Such a bank has been certified by Visa and MasterCard associations and can provide you, the merchant, with all of the services related to your merchant account. Once your merchant account is setup and "live" on the credit card system, you can accept credit cards from customers generally as follows:

A customer presents their credit card for payment :-

Using their credit card number, you submit an electronic request to the processing network for "authorization to capture funds" from the cardholder's credit card account in the amount of the purchase. Traditionally, one would submit this request by swiping a credit card through an electronic transaction terminal provided by the bank.

The processing network immediately receives your electronic request and determines if the cardholder's account is valid and if the funds are available. If they are, the processing network returns an electronic response to your terminal or computer. This response is called an "authorization code", and is your guaranteed authorization to capture the funds. Typically, this code is a six-digit number. The transaction and its associated authorization are stored in a "batch", where other transactions for that day reside.

You print a receipt for the customer using the electronic terminal or your computer and the customer signs the receipt. As far as the customer is concerned, the transaction is complete. As far as you the merchant are concerned, there is one more step to complete the transaction.

At the end of your business day (usually), you submit a final request to the processing network to go ahead and "capture the funds" that you obtained authorizations for during the course of business that day. This is called "settlement" or "settling your batch". This request is also submitted using the electronic terminal or your computer. The processing network immediately receives your response electronically and determines if the capture amounts contained in your request match the authorizations for each item. If so, the request is granted and an "Accepted" response is returned to your electronic terminal or computer. A settlement report can be printed showing the grand totals by card type (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, etc) for the settled batch. Note: any corrections to your batch, such as voiding a transaction, must be made prior to settlement.

Within 48 to 72 hours (usually), the funds associated with the batch you settled are deposited electronically into your business bank account. Typically, the discount rate you pay to your merchant account provider are deducted from the deposit before it transferred to your bank account, resulting in a "net deposit" of funds.

At the end of the month, your merchant account provider will mail a statement to you, detailing the credit card activity for the month and the associated fees you have been charged for such.

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Responsibilities with a Merchant Account

From:- aota.net

The following are some additional rules and regulations that apply to merchant accounts:

• Credit card transactions should never be processed for another merchant.
• 
  Your merchant account should never be used to buy merchandise from yourself or to obtain cash from one of your own credit cards.
• 
  You may not charge any kind of fee, or surcharge, for purchases paid by credit card.
• 
  You may not establish any minimum or maximum transaction amounts for credit card purchases.
• 
  Any tax that is required to be collected on a sale must be included in the credit card transaction and not collected separately.
• 
  You must ship or deliver your product or service within 24 hours of capturing a credit card transaction. If separate shipments are required, you should charge for each portion as it is shipped.
• 
  Credits should not be issued to a different credit card than the one used for the original charge.
  

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Benefits of having a 3rd Party Merchant Account

From : ezinearticles.com

If you have been wrestling with the idea of applying for your own 3rd party merchant account then take a look at the following benefits of using a 3rd party provider to mange all of your credit card processing needs.

1. The most inexpensive way to accept credit cards with hassle free, quick application process and set up.
2. New start-up businesses, sole traders and home-based businesses individuals are very welcome.
3. Incredibly low fee structure considering there are no application fees, leases, no monthly fees, no statement fees and no extra charges for software.
4. No charges are needed for payment gateway fees to a third party company as this is already provided at no extra cost.
5. No exclusivity restrictions meaning you are free to have other 3rd party merchant accounts with other credit card providers.
6. Freedom to pick and choose your credit card processing company to suit any variety of different business needs.
7. Able to set up a complete online storefront with little or no HTML programming experience. Simple online step-by-step tutorials and free assistance provided for set up.
8. Free customer services to handle orders, security, fraud prevention, automated payments and other essentials duties on your behalf.
9. No special requirements to open up a business bank account.
10. Offers the flexibility to use your own regular checking account for payment of earnings.

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POSA (Point Of Sale Activation) at a glance

From: intelecard.com

1. All offline POSA solutions are some type of PIN-printing solution.

2. Offline POSA solutions cannot provide as many features as complete online solutions.

3. Large national retail chains require online solutions because they demand a full suite of POSA features, often including in-store refresh and other custom transactions. Most of these solutions are host-to-host.

4. Payment card emulation solutions, often referred to as Visa emulation or debit card emulation, are online solutions, but because of their underlying technology, can provide only limited features.

5. PIN-printing devices eliminate the need to produce cards with individual encoding thereby reducing the cost of the card stock or eliminating it all together.

6. Some PIN-printing devices connect online to an intermediate computer system and thus are hybrid systems because they can provide real-time web-based transaction reporting but not true online functionality, such as in-store refresh or balance inquiry.

7. PIN printing almost always requires the retailer to own a special PIN-printing POSA terminal.

8. Online POSA can be integrated into existing POS software or loaded onto existing POS equipment.

9. POSA is complicated. All of these rules are generalizations.


For more information visit Paynetsystems credit card processing and merchant services provider

How Credit cards work??

From:- wikipedia.org

A user is issued a credit card after an account has been approved by the credit provider, with which they will be able to make purchases from merchants accepting that credit card up to a reestablished credit limit.

When a purchase is made, the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer. Originally the user would indicate his/her consent to pay, by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating the amount to be paid, but many merchants now accept verbal authorizations via telephone and electronic authorization using the internet.

Electronic verification systems allow merchants (using a strip of magnetized material on the card holding information in a similar manner to magnetic tape or a floppy disk) to verify that the card is valid and the credit card customer has sufficient credit to cover the purchase in a few seconds, allowing the verification to happen at time of purchase. Other variations of verification systems are used by ecommerce merchants to determine if the user's account is valid and able to accept the charge.

Each month, the credit card user is sent a statement indicating the purchases undertaken with the card, and the total amount owed. The cardholder must then pay a minimum proportion of the bill by a due date, and may choose to pay more or indeed pay the entire amount owed. The credit provider charges interest on the amount owed

Credit card issuers usually waive interest charges if the balance is paid in full each month, but typically will charge full interest on the entire outstanding balance from the date of each purchase if the total balance is not paid.

The credit card may serve as a form of revolving credit, or the user may choose to apply any payments toward recent rather than previous debt. Interest rates can vary considerably from card to card, and the interest rate on a particular card may jump dramatically if the card user is late with a payment on that card or any other credit instrument. As the rates and terms vary, services have been set up allowing users to calculate savings available by switching cards, which can be considerable if there is a large outstanding balance.Because profit margins in the credit card industry can be quite high, credit providers often offer incentives such as frequent flier miles, gift certificates, or cash back (typically 1 percent) to try attract customers to their program.

Low interest credit cards or even 0% interest credit cards are available. The only downside to consumers is that the period of low interest credit cards is limited to a fixed term, usually between 6 and 12 months. However, services are available which alert credit card holders when their low interest period is due to expire. Most such services charge a monthly or annual fee

Applying for a Merchant Account

From: merchantpicks.com

Merchant accounts are accounts that accept and hold credit card transaction monies. These accounts can be established through merchant service providers (MSPs) such as banks or via independent service organizations (ISOs).To complete a merchant application; you generally need to have the following information available:

General Information: Legal and DBA (Doing Business As) name, Business address, and name and title of legal business signer, Business telephone number, fax number (if applicable), and contact name, Yahoo! store/Auctions Order Manager Identifier, E-mail address, and Internet site address.

Business/Storefront Information: Zoning and physical store location, Type of ownership, state incorporated, and federal tax ID, The date your business began, number of employees, and what your business sells.

Sales Data & Business Information: Totals of annual cash and credit card sales, and percentage of credit card sales by mail order, telephone order and in-store purchases, Sales tax percentage, Credit card refund and submission policies, Delivery information, Method of Advertising. Businesses with credit card volume over $150,000 will be required to fax the signed Terms and Conditions agreement, along with additional financial data.

Current credit card processing information: Name, address and phone number of current bankcard provider, Merchant number.

Business Owner Information: Names, addresses, phone numbers of first/second owner, partner, or officer, Title and social security number of person(s) listed.

Banking Reference Information: Bank name and address, Contact name and phone number, Date the banking relationship opened and average daily balance of the account, Total dollar amount of credit available, total dollar of business and Personal accounts.

Funding information: ABA and DDA numbers (have a voided or blank business check available to retrieve this information).

Card Type Information: You will (upon approval) be able to accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club. If you are a current American Express/Discover merchant, please provide your Service Establishment number provided by these card types

Right Merchant Account Provider

From : selfseo.com.

A good merchant account provider should have the following characteristics:

A merchant account provider should be able to accommodate a variety of credit card brands. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and other popular credit cards should be included in what such a merchant account provider could accommodate.

A merchant account provider for an online business should also be able to accommodate popular payment alternatives.

A merchant account provider should have a solid history of service and credibility. A merchant account provider should always be viewed as a long term partner, hence, every effort must be made to ensure that such merchant account provider would be reliable.

A merchant account provider should have an excellent customer service system. Payments are delicate matters, and whenever problems are encountered, the merchant account provider should be able to render expedient and efficient support

Accepting Credit Card

From:- hotlib.com

Credit Cards Machines come in all shapes and styles. Credit card machines come in a variety of price ranges, offering enough choices that you can select exactly the model your business would thrive with. Credit card machines are a must for any business to succeed in today's market. Credit card machines tap into the most popular form of payment for products and services: credit cards. Since the evolution of the ATM card into a debit card, credit card machines have developed many talents. Credit card machines can run payments on a card as a check, as a debt transaction straight from a checking account, or as a credit card payment that a patron will pay at a later date as decided by the credit card company. Credit card machines offer the security of positive payment. A credit card machine offers increased reliability, ensuring money is in an account before your clients leave with product. Money saved in bad check recovery more than makes up for the cost of credit card machines. There are many different kinds of credit card machines. Some credit card machines tap into the credit system without a printer. These terminals make sense for mail order or phone order businesses. When a merchant does not need to issue a receipt of sale at the time of the sale, the merchant can save money by not buying a terminal-printer combo. Credit card machines without a printer are the cheapest machines, costing between two hundred and five hundred dollars. Landscaping, locksmith, and plumbing businesses, businesses where travel and on-site payment is required without immediate access to a credit card terminal, all benefit from credit card machines lacking printers. Credit card machines that include a printer are the most common form of credit card machine used in industry today. Printers on credit card machines can be integrated impact or thermal. A single unit dually functions to process the credit card transaction and then to print a receipt. These machines can be more expensive than those terminals without printers, but they are reasonable and effective in medium volume retail. These credit card machines range from under three hundred dollars to nine hundred dollars. Additional options can be ordered, such as a built in pin pad. These enable customers to enter their pin number for debit transactions without the merchant needing to purchase an additional machine. Some credit card machines with built in printers require ink cartridges, but some do not. While those that do not require ink cartridges may be slightly more expensive they may save time and add efficiency to sales. Wireless credit card machines provide the same functions of general credit card machines with a few overwhelming advantages. Wireless credit card machines do not require separate wires to trip on. They do not require a separate phone line. Wireless credit card machines access credit systems faster, and provide faster turn around on sales. Wireless credit card machines are more expensive and require wireless service packages, but may be a must for high volume businesses. They are effective and reliable, consisting of the most up to date technology. Regardless of the type of credit card machine you choose to invest in, credit card machines can aide your business. Credit card machines are a must for the twenty-first century and have advanced to be more effective for you and for your customers.

How Credit cards work??

From:- en.wikipedia.org

A user is issued a credit card after an account has been approved by the credit provider, with which they will be able to make purchases from merchants accepting that credit card up to a reestablished credit limit.

When a purchase is made, the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer. Originally the user would indicate his/her consent to pay, by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating the amount to be paid, but many merchants now accept verbal authorizations via telephone and electronic authorization using the internet.

Electronic verification systems allow merchants (using a strip of magnetized material on the card holding information in a similar manner to magnetic tape or a floppy disk) to verify that the card is valid and the credit card customer has sufficient credit to cover the purchase in a few seconds, allowing the verification to happen at time of purchase. Other variations of verification systems are used by ecommerce merchants to determine if the user's account is valid and able to accept the charge.

Each month, the credit card user is sent a statement indicating the purchases undertaken with the card, and the total amount owed. The cardholder must then pay a minimum proportion of the bill by a due date, and may choose to pay more or indeed pay the entire amount owed. The credit provider charges interest on the amount owed

Credit card issuers usually waive interest charges if the balance is paid in full each month, but typically will charge full interest on the entire outstanding balance from the date of each purchase if the total balance is not paid.

The credit card may serve as a form of revolving credit, or the user may choose to apply any payments toward recent rather than previous debt. Interest rates can vary considerably from card to card, and the interest rate on a particular card may jump dramatically if the card user is late with a payment on that card or any other credit instrument. As the rates and terms vary, services have been set up allowing users to calculate savings available by switching cards, which can be considerable if there is a large outstanding balance.Because profit margins in the credit card industry can be quite high, credit providers often offer incentives such as frequent flier miles, gift certificates, or cash back (typically 1 percent) to try attract customers to their program.

Low interest credit cards or even 0% interest credit cards are available. The only downside to consumers is that the period of low interest credit cards is limited to a fixed term, usually between 6 and 12 months. However, services are available which alert credit card holders when their low interest period is due to expire. Most such services charge a monthly or annual fee.

What Is A Credit Card Merchant Account: The Most Important Element Businesses Have To Know

From:-articlehub.com

With the proliferation of the Internet technology, everything revolves in a fast digital world of information technology, and credit cards had continuously dominated the scene with tremendous rate.

Today, credit cards had already brought shopping online. The convenience it brings to the people had made the credit card industry more than a phenomenon. And where people usually buys, businesses follows. And with e-commerce rapidly saturating the Internet, having a credit card merchant account is the name of the game.

But what is a credit card merchant account? Why is it that businesses consider it as a must-have feature on their online business?

Basically, a credit card merchant account is an account that entrepreneurs put up with a bank so as to enable the firm accept credit card payments from their customers. This goes to show that whether it is a small business or a home business, it is a must for every industry to have a credit card merchant account.
Credit card merchant accounts are effective ways in increasing the sales of a business. This is because credit card merchant accounts entice people to buy on impulse. Therefore, because of the convenience credit card makes, the business will be able to attract more people to buy online, and when they want to buy, the business must have a credit card merchant account so as to accept the buyers credit card.

Moreover, credit card merchant accounts can also accept payments by phone and fax. Therefore, it gives the business more flexibility in dealing with payments.

However, getting a credit card merchant account is not that easy. The approval of an application on a credit card merchant account is dependent on the relationship of the business to its bank. This means that if the business is still new, it might have experience some difficulty in obtaining a merchant account.

Nevertheless, credit card merchant accounts are still considered as a crucial element in ones online business. It is the only way to maximize the business potential online. Plus, there is definitely no other way to provide additional payment option to the online customers than what credit card merchant accounts can do.
Basically, experts contend that when people find it easy to buy online and doubly easy to pay the items online, then, chances are they would be more than willing to buy it instantly. And that is the main attraction of the credit card merchant account, to create a buy now phenomenon.
Nowadays, businesses are more technology-wise, and where money is the subject matter, credit card merchant accounts is the name of the game.

Credit Card Processing Services

From:- firstamericanprocessing.com

However, this has been argued as defeating the whole purpose of having the website in the first place. Consumers typically do not hesitate to give out their credit card number when they order an item from a mail-order catalog. A cumbersome set-up process and long lead time for electronic payments may also need to be addressed to entice further usage. If approved electronically, the credit card holders credit account will subsequently be debited and the merchant paid. The federal electronic signatures in global and national commerce act (the e-sign act), part of which became effective in october 2000, considers and promotes electronic signatures as an appropriate means of authenticating identity. The advantages of scale are therefore likely to drive the emergence of third-party, neutral marketplaces that not only bring buyers and sellers together, but can act as service bureaus, providing facilities such as customer data analysis, payment processing, and fulfillment/logistics. In the case of check, debit card, or ach payments, the consumer will have to deposit the funds into their account before initiating payment to the biller. Some, but not all, of these areas represent potential opportunities for both the private and public sector in facilitating the migration from traditional paper-based payments to electronic payments. For that reason many online businesses give their customers the option of placing their order via an 800 number. This is true both for banks that use their online service to provide their customers with a range of products and services from other ecommerce payment vendors (such as securities, mortgages, and insurance brokerage) and for those institutions that have chosen to participate directly in some of these new online businesses.

4 times your account is in trouble!!!!!

From:- devguru.com
Besides protecting yourself from credit card fraud, it is of paramount importance that you guarantee your customers that their credit card information is protected as well. There are at least four different times when customer credit card information is being transferred and must be protected (there may be more depending upon how your business operates.

When the customer sends his/her credit card information to you. When processing credit card transactions online, this step takes place over the internet, and guaranteeing security at this time is entirely your responsibility as an internet merchant. You must have a secure server, with a valid security certificate, and you must be sure to use the "https" protocol whenever your customers are sending private information.

When the credit card information is sent to the transaction processor. You do not have direct control over security at this step, but you will need to be sure that the credit card transaction processing software you use is secure.

When credit card information is being moved into and out of a database. Again, the security measures in place at this step will depend upon the software you are using to handle your transactions and maintain the database.When credit card information is being viewed and handled by your staff. Ensuring security at this step is your responsibility.

Before applying for merchant account

From:- Findmerchant.com

Before applying for your merchant account, run through a sample e-commerce site. Your customer arrives at your site, and is invited to browse a database of items. Product descriptions, pictures, and prices are all displayed to the customer by the database driven e-commerce software. They pick and choose from a variety of products and these are placed into their 'shopping basket'.

Now the user clicks on the Checkout button. Having decided to purchase their chosen items, the user fills out a delivery and payment form, handing over their credit card details, address, and other relevant information. Where do things go from here?
This is the point where different systems/methods can be used. If you're using an online authorization company who provides a secure server for your orders to be sent to, then once the user submits their payment details, it will go to the processors secure Web site, they will pass through the instruction to debit the card, and e-mail you the rest of the details (delivery address, product choices, etc.).

Most Merchant Account Providers can provide you with equipment and software to allow you to process all credit card orders yourself, saving you from paying an online credit card processor to do it. However, this means you will have to provide the secure server for accepting the credit card information, and then you'll have to take each order and run it through your software or credit card terminal. Using an online credit card processor simplifies matters by sending the details straight to them, and they process the orders automatically

Bad Credit Doesn't Rule Out Unsecured Credit Cards

From : isnare.com.

Many people believe that because of their bad credit, unsecured credit cards are not available to them. While it may be more difficult, there are options for people with bad credit who want an unsecured credit card to build their credit or have available for use in an emergency. While a secured credit card is the most commonly recommended option for people with bad credit, unsecured credit cards ARE available - even for those with the worst credit.

Bad Credit: Unsecured Credit Cards vs. Secured Credit Cards

One of the easiest ways to get a credit card when you have bad credit is to opt for a secured credit card. With a secured credit card, you deposit money in a bank designated by the credit card company to serve as a 'security deposit' - an assurance that they'll get their money if you default on payments. Depending on the lender, that deposit might be equal to your desired credit limit, or slightly higher or lower. A security deposit of $300, for instance, might get you a $150 line of credit with one company, a $300 line of credit with another and a $400 one with yet a third. The interest rate is generally competitive, since the company has a guarantee of getting its money if you don't make payments. An unsecured credit card requires no security deposit. A bad credit unsecured credit card will often have either a high APR (annual percentage rate), high fees, or both. How do the two stacks up against each other? Here's a comparison from two actual credit card offers that are sitting on my desk as I write:
Secured Credit Card Security Deposit: $250
Annual Fee: $35
Setup Fee: $35
APR: 15.40%
Credit Limit Increases: $100 increments, each require $100 deposit Bottom Line: It will cost you $370 to maintain a $250 credit limit for the first year, with at least $250 up front, at an APR of 15.40%. You'll have $170 available credit upon receipt of your card. You'll have to put up an additional $100 every time you want to increase your credit limit.
Bad Credit Unsecured Credit Card Annual Fee: $48
Setup Fee: $29
Participation Fee: $72 (annual, billed at $6 monthly)
Program Fee: $95 (one time fee)
APR: 9.9%

Join the Internet Revolution with Online Credit Card Payment

An online credit card payment system means fast service for your customers and faster turnover for sales transactions. It allows a merchant to bring a business into the 21st century by joining one of the fastest growing methods of business transactions--internet credit card payments. By obtaining an internet merchant account, any business owner can use this special account to set up an online credit card payment system that will instantaneously provide approval for a card purchase and don’t have to be delayed by cumbersome payment processing. Rapid verification enables many more transactions to be processed with assurance that each one is valid.

Internet Processing Is Reliable

When a customer goes online to browse various websites or to shop for a specific item, that customer wants assurance that an online credit card payment system is secure. Many online shoppers are skeptical about electronic transactions, or are concerned that their information will be sold or used by third parties. Merchants, therefore, must reassure shoppers by usingthe best online credit card payment system available.They should also let customers know the security functions inherent in their system that protect customers' personal and financial information. The privacy policy of the merchant is part of ensuring customer confidence in shopping via a website rather than in person in a retail store. With an internet connection, a special merchant account, and the best possible software, a merchant can take advantage of booming internet sales.

Boom in sales using Internet Sales

It is no wonder Internet shopping has become so popular with the public. Anyone can stay at home, stay casually dressed, drink a cup of coffee, and browse at a leisurely pace through a multitude of websites. There is no sales person to pressure them, and no need to fight traffic and parking problems.

Shopping from home has obvious advantages for the shopper, but it also has many benefits for a merchant. If your business is entirely mail order and/or Internet orders, you do not have to pay expensive overhead and you can reduce or eliminate the need for payroll expenses.

Decide Now :::::::: Merchant Account Fees

From:-webmasterstop.com

Understanding the total costs of your merchant provider can be tricky. Typically, an internet merchant account will have three types of costs:

Up Front Application Fee
On Going Fixed Fee
Discount Rate
Fixed Transaction Fee
Termination Fees
Miscellaneous Fees

Let us discuss each type of cost:

Up Front Application Fees
Many internet merchant accounts will require an up front application fee. This fee, supposedly, is to cover their costs for processing your application. In case you choose not to open an internet merchant account, they still cover their initial costs. Although common, many providers waive these fees and I recommend that you choose a provider that does not require an up front fee.

On Going Fixed Fee
Most all internet merchant providers require a monthly fixed fee or "statement fee" as it is commonly named, which is simply another way to cover their costs and make money. You will be hard pressed to find a provider that does not require this type of fee on a monthly basis.

Discount Rate
Usually, the discount rate will be between 2 and 4 percent. The discount rate is the sales commission the provider earns on each sale.

Fixed Transaction Fee
The fixed transaction fee is the fixed fee portion of each sale. Unlike the discount rate, the fixed transaction fee is the same for every transaction.

Termination Fee
A bit more hidden in the small print, a termination fee can apply if you cancel your merchant account within a specified period of time (usually within one year).

Miscellaneous Fees
If a customer requests a refund and they want their credit card credited, an internet merchant provider will charge you a separate fee . Read the contract carefully, as other special fees may apply.

Making Your Decision
Before you choose and internet merchant provider, understand all of the cost components. Use your current or projected sales data to forecast what your internet merchant account costs will be. Planning ahead can save you time and money.