Accept Credit and Debit Cards from your Customers

It's proven that giving customers the option to conveniently pay by card will add credibility to your business and help generate more sales

How do you attract and sell to your prospective customers?

Do you meet your customers face to face, generate sales through a telephone call centre or need a fully integrated e-commerce website solution?  Are you a retailer, supply b2b services or want to become an online merchant trader? Answer these questions and we can then determine which is the right card processing solution for your business.

E-Commerce Solutions - To process cards via your website or through a virtual terminal, you will need an internet merchant number.  Once you have this, you then require a Payment Service Provider (PSP) or Gateway.  Each component will attract charges.  For the provision of your merchant number, Visa, MasterCard and other Card suppliers charge inter-charge rates (this is often referred to as transaction charges or commission from the Bank Acquirer who supply the merchant number).  To link your merchant number and to process transactions securely over the web the PSP will make an additional charge - again this is either billed as a transaction charge or on a fixed monthly tariff.

Office based or Telephone Solutions - To process cards simply using a standard PDQ terminal, you will need to apply for a Mail Order Telephone Order (MOTO) merchant number.  As with the e-commerce solutions described above, you will be charged a transaction commission.  However, once you are allocated your merchant number, this solution is only requires a card terminal to enable you to begin taking transactions.  We can help you choose the right supplier together with our chosen Bank Acquirer.

Steps to Getting Started

1. Apply to get your internet Merchant account pricing - For e-commerce, proceed to the online application. For a MOTO application, click here.

2. Get together the required documentation to support your online application - Business plans, company accounts and card processing projections are all standard with any Merchant application. It's worth dedicating the time and it will speed up the application process and improve your chances of getting the go-ahead within 4-5 weeks.

3. Start planning your products and services portfolio - For e-commerce, once your merchant number has been approved, the e-commerce and web integration work is all facilitated through a range of shopping cart plug-ins that Secure Trading and Eazy Collect can help you with.  For MOTO merchant accounts, the appropriate terminal will be supplied and installation arranged.

4. Go LIVE and start selling! - With either solution, you will use your transaction web portal to manage your accounts, issue refunds if necessary, stipulate fraud and 3D Secure settings and action a whole range of other features to help manage your card processing business.