What To Consider When Setting Up Your Virtual Merchant Account

A virtual merchant account can be a vital part of the way you do business. The way the world pays for goods and services has changed dramatically in recent years, and card payments have virtually taken over. Any business which relies on the old payment methods is now going to fall by the wayside, as customers now universally expect to be able to pay by card. With the phenomenal growth in Internet commerce, sole traders and part time business are also now able to accept card payments, usually through third party processors.

The option of using third party processors is one you should seriously consider if you are starting up an online business. Whereas applying for a merchant account is both time consuming and difficult, setting up an account with a third party processor can be done in a matter of minutes. In some cases there will be set up fees to pay, in others there will not. It all depends on the individual third party processor. The best known of these, PayPal, charges no fees until transactions occur, making it a risk free option for many setting up a new business.

There is no doubt, though, that having your own merchant account does add to your image of respectability and of being established. This will be especially true if you are selling high-ticket items. Anyone who is used to the Internet will know that PayPal never upholds a dispute started by the buyer of a digital download. If you are selling these downloads at a high price, people will feel more comfortable paying with their credit card.

Getting your own virtual merchant account is not simple, and there are different components which you will need to integrate together. Firstly, you will need the shopping cart software. This will need to integrate with your payment gateway, in order to allow the customer's details to be analyzed. In the interests of avoiding fraud, it is necessary for the customer's address to be checked with the card issuer using the Address Verification System, and any good gateway should need to see the CVV number. These steps play a huge part in cutting levels of credit card fraud.

Applying for a merchant account is easier with a specialist provider than it is with your bank. Banks are worth considering if you have a good relationship and good credit, but even in this case they will tend to charge more than the dedicated providers. If you run an Internet based business, that will be even more so. Some categories of business which are traditionally considered high risk, such as the adult industry and gambling, will need specialist providers. If you cannot qualify for your own account, these providers will be able to offer you a third party solution, until you have enough turnover to qualify for a virtual merchant account.






 

Credit Card Processing News:

 

PayPal soon to be a payment option at major retail stores - Debtmerica Relief

PayPal soon to be a payment option at major retail stores
Debtmerica Relief
This process may be ideal for consumers who want to avoid taking on credit card debt, especially as they work to reduce debt across the board. Consumers will be able to select "PayPal" instead of "credit" or "debit" at checkout, then enter either a .

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Consumers and Merchants to Get More Bang out of Buck's New Mobile Payments Service
SEATTLE, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Buck, the company delivering mobile credit card payments without limits, today announced the launch of its new single-click credit card checkout for goods on the ...


Bucks Blog: Cash-Back Credit Card Rewards Offers Going Strong
More credit card issuers offer cash-back rewards of at least 1 percent of spending...


Mobile credit card processing made easy
William Lewis highlights two easy options for getting started in the credit card game and staying mobile in the process: Square and GoPayment...


Merchant e-Solutions Named Finalist for Customer Service Team of the Year in . - MarketWatch (press release)

Merchant e-Solutions Named Finalist for Customer Service Team of the Year in .
MarketWatch (press release)
15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Merchant e-Solutions, a global leader in the credit card processing industry, has been named a finalist for a Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service in the category of "Front-Line Customer Service Team of the .

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Solitudes credit card system hacked, information stolen
Solitudes credit card system hacked, information stolen By Steven Oberbeck The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 14, 2012 02:32PM MDT Solitude Mountain Resorts credit card system was hacked in to during the past couple of weeks and customers information was stolen. The resort said it has heard from several patrons whose information had been lifted, although Solitude officials believe the breach ...


JHA Payment Processing Solutions Adds 16 New Credit Union Clients in Six Months - Sacramento Bee

JHA Payment Processing Solutions Adds 16 New Credit Union Clients in Six Months
Sacramento Bee
PPS enables credit unions to consolidate credit, debit, and ATM card processing services which provides a single point of contact for settlements, adjustments, and reconciliations. PPS also offers an array of complementary products and value-add .

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Merchant e-Solutions Named Finalist for Customer Service Team of the Year in Stevie Award Competition
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 15, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Merchant e-Solutions, a global leader in the credit card processing industry, has been named a finalist for a Stevie Award for Sales & Customer Service ...


2012 Credit Card Processing Trend Predictions Released by CardPaymentOptions.com
CardPaymentOptions.com has released its 2012 predictions for the payment industry and the focus for this upcoming year is mobile processing.Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012 CardPaymentOptions.com has released its 2012 predictions for the payment industry and the focus for this upcoming year is mobile processing. With the boom of near field communication, mobile payment systems, as well ...


This Week in Credit Card News
? has received regulatory approval to issue credit cards in China, the first non-Asian bank to receive permission. Citi said it would likely launch credit card operations this year. [Reuters] Debit Fees Gone, But What's ? Three months after scrapping plans for debit card fees, banks are trying to find ways to make up the ...


JHA Payment Processing Solutions Adds 16 New Credit Union Clients in Six Months
MONETT, Mo., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: JKHY - News) is a leading provider of technology solutions and payment processing services primarily for the financial services ...


Cash-Back Credit Card Rewards Offers Going Strong - New York Times (blog)

New York Times (blog)

Cash-Back Credit Card Rewards Offers Going Strong
New York Times (blog)
What's behind the better credit-card deals? Banks have scaled back debit-card rewards programs in response to the Durbin amendment, part of federal legislation that restricts the EURœswipeEUR fees banks can charge merchants for processing purchases made .

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County Commission Approves Airport Terminal Funds and Hears from Animal Control - Clarksville Now

Clarksville Now

County Commission Approves Airport Terminal Funds and Hears from Animal Control
Clarksville Now
Meeting in their Formal Session Monday Montgomery County Commissioners approved a number of resolutions ranging from funds for construction of the Airport Terminal to waiving the processing fee for credit card payments at the public library.

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Wireless Credit Card Processing - Survival Guide for Small Business

Wireless Credit Card Processing
Survival Guide for Small Business
New wireless credit card processing devices and services are making it easier for mobile businesses to quickly accept payments. Mobile payment terminals are becoming more common, and the number of available devices and services available can make a .

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Consumers and Merchants to Get More Bang out of Buck's New Mobile Payments Service - MarketWatch (press release)

Consumers and Merchants to Get More Bang out of Buck's New Mobile Payments Service
MarketWatch (press release)
15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Buck, the company delivering mobile credit card payments without limits, today announced the launch of its new single-click credit card checkout for goods on the go. In conjunction with today's launch, .

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