MISTAKE #1: Playing the "Rate Game"... and Losing
For many Merchants, selecting a credit card processor is easy. Just call every processor in the yellow pages. Whoever quotes the lowest rate wins. Right? WRONG!!!
Strange as it may sound, "low discount rate" and "less expensive" are not only NOT the same, but are in fact usually exact opposites, at least in the Credit Card processing business. How can this be? Because there are many things you should compare between competing credit card processing proposals besides just the rate. Learn more about Credit Card Processing Discount Rates.
MISTAKE #2: Overpaying for Merchant Processing Equipment
Credit card processing equipment comes in many forms: Terminals, printers, pin pads, software, check readers and scanners. What kind of business you are as well as how you will conduct business determine what kind and what combination of equipment will best suit you.
Don't necessary buy whatever the salesperson offers you. Ask questions! Buy what YOU need, not what the salesperson wants to sell you. Learn more about the things you need to know when obtaining credit card machines in our Credit Card Machine Guide.
MISTAKE #3: Low Ball Deals
When is a good deal not a good deal? When it goes away in 90 days or so, and then you're trapped in a lousy deal, that's when. In this business, it happens every day.
Before you sign off on that wonderful deal the fast-talking salesperson is dangling before you, make sure you get answers to these questions IN WRITING; don't take the salesperson's word for it:
Is this great rate you're getting permanent, or is it a starter rate? Hint: This is easy to find out. Just look at the VISA INTERCHANGE SCHEDULE for CPS swiped transactions which you'll notice is 1.65% plus $.10. This is what the processor pays wholesale. So if he's charging you LESS than wholesale, you know something is fishy since obviously no business can sell below cost for long.
Did you get a full detailed proposal of ALL fees, including fine print? Or did the proposal consist of a low number written on the back of a business card? If so, watch out for when the other foot drops.
How long is the rate guaranteed for? Is there an INTERCHANGE GUARANTEE, or none at all?What recourse if any do you have if they raise your rate, or if you dislike the service? What is the length of your contractual obligation? Early termination fee?
MISTAKE #4: Signing a Long-Term Processing Contract with Huge Early Termination Fees
Just about all Credit Card Processors have some sort of contractual term requirement; usually two to three years which is not unreasonable. The problem is, some take it to extremes in blatant efforts to retain their Merchants even if against their will. There are contracts of exceptionally long terms out there with excessive EARLY TERMINATION FEES, some as high as $2000 or more. The obvious intent is to force the customer not to do business elsewhere no matter how much the merchant wants out.
Before you sign off on a deal like this, ask yourself: "If this processor is so great and their rates are so low, why do they find it necessary to force merchants to stay onboard even when they don't want to by resorting to these extreme methods?" Then RUN, don't walk away.
MISTAKE #5: Free Equipment Scams
Lets get the obvious over with right away. Deep down, we all know that nobody really gives away anything for free, that magical word that copywriters and salespeople love so much. Yet, human nature being what it is, we can't seem to ignore a perceived bargain, and salespeople, including credit card merchant service sales reps know it.
So these days, every processor has gotten on the free equipment bandwagon, hoping free credit card machines will attract new merchants like flies to sugar.
Before you are enticed by similar deal, here's what you need to know about every "free" equipment deal I've ever seen.
MISTAKE #6: Buying an Incomplete Processing Package
John Ruskin, the 19th century essayist, said it best: "There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey."
How does this adage apply to the merchant service processing industry? When a merchant who shops for credit card processing services strictly on the basis of price alone -- the cheapest rates, the cheapest credit card terminal or printer, the cheapest lease payment -- he almost always finds out, after the contract is signed and it's too late to do anything about it of course, that the way the processor was able to sell his service for less was by cutting a corner or two and leaving out important and possibly essential services. In the long run, these omissions cost the merchant dearly in terms of lost business and profit. For examples and more info on this subject, visit the How Credit Card Processors Shortchange You page.
MISTAKE #7: Hidden Fees
What you don't know can and does hurt you. Many credit card merchant service processor offers give the illusion of being competitive by offering a too-good-to-be-true low discount rate. But they make up for it many times over by sneaking in a vast array of contrived additional fees well concealed in the fine print and often well disguised in the monthly merchant statement as well. Welcome to the shadier side of marketing in which there is a very fine line between "not being truthful" and "only telling half of the truth".
Let's be clear. All credit card merchant service programs consist of many fees, often packaged very differently. Some fees are legitimate; others are purely contrived. The point is in order to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of any credit card processing program, you need to root out and consider ALL of the fees and charges, not just the discount rate. Obviously, a low discount rate with tons of extra fees tacked on probably isn't anywhere near the bargain it appears to be on the surface. Here is a list of some common hidden fees to look for.
MISTAKE #8: Failure to Read the Fine Print
I know! I know! Nobody bothers to read those pages of microscopic fine print before signing the Agreement. It takes too long. Besides, the salesman answered all your questions and told you everything you need to know. Famous last words!
Let's not pick on salespeople; I'm one myself. But lets face it: if his job depends on meeting a sales quota, he's got a pretty strong incentive to tell you what you want to hear in order to coax a signature out of you. Or at least tell you only the good parts and conveniently forget to mention the stuff you don't want to hear. Fair enough!
So here's one of the best ideas you'll hear today: Get a complete copy of the Agreement contract a day or two before you meet with the merchant services representative. Then read every word of it and make sure you understand it perfectly. If you don't like what you read, don't sign it! When push comes to shove, what the contract says will trump what you say the salesperson said every time.
By the way, if the salesperson balks at providing a complete advance copy of everything you'll be expected to sign, I'd suggest to take that as a HUGE red flag and forget about that deal. You probably don't even want to know what he's trying to hide from you.
Contracts cover a lot of area. And contain a lot of landmines if you're not careful. For more important information on what to look for and which contracts to avoid, visit the Fine Print page for more information.
MISTAKE #9: Making Faulty Apples vs. Oranges Rate Comparisons
Sooner or later, a competing processor will visit your business and hit on you with a convincing sales tool called a "T-Sale". You'll be seduced with promises of huge savings to your bottom line if you switch processing to their company.
Be ready for him/her when he visits YOUR business. Their game is fantasy and their numbers don't hold water. To find out why, visit the "T-Sale" page for more information.
MISTAKE #10: Increasing Your Cost of Merchant Processing Services By Adding Unnecessary Middlemen
In other words, where are the best places to sign up for Credit Card Processing services?
Many Merchants assume their local bank is the best place to sign up for credit card processing. No offense to your bank, but this is often not so. Most local banks are NOT Acquirers, Their ONLY involvement with the processing end of the business is strictly as a referral source. They receive a hefty bonus and/or ongoing commission from whichever processor they refer you to. And guess who pays for that? YOU do, of course.
By going to your local bank instead of directly to an Acquirer, all you've done is add an unnecessary middleman to the pricing equation which increases the cost of the services you buy. To find out the best places to inquire about credit card processing services, visit the Merchant Account Middleman page for more information.
MerchantServices-Help.com Can Help YOU Avoid These Mistakes!
If you simply don't have the time and just want to get merchant services for your business, we'd be more than happy to assist you. Please contact us, and without any obligation to you, we will advise you, show your options and have you accepting payments in no time.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Becoming a Credit Card Merchant:
Understand how charge backs and credits can affect your revenues and profits.
How do you intend to control and resolve charge backs? Do you know the charge back thresholds for your category of business? We can provide expert guidance in these critical areas.
Find a credit card processor that understands your business.
Otherwise, this processor may have problems with your account down the road and may disrupt your business. At Arvic we deal with hundreds of Internet businesses every week so we know about Internet commerce and what types of businesses are out there. We have seen just about every type of business there is and we do get them approved.
Do I have to have a checking account with your bank?
NO. We are not bankers. All funds are directly deposited into your existing business checking accounts.
Make sure you have the option of increasing your processing limit.
Assuming you want to grow your business, you need a processor that supports your plans for growth. At Arvic, we work with you to adjust your processing limits as appropriate. Too often we get calls from merchants who get set up to accept credit cards and then get shut down.
At Arvic we want this kind of business and we don't shut you off when you become successful.
Most banks that handle high risk and high volume merchants require you to place a cash deposit.
We do not require an up front deposit. We will work with high risk and high volume merchants to insure your business can grow without undo limitations. We have several merchants who have grown to over $500,000 per month and they are still processing without deposits.
Ask if they require financial statements and tax returns for your expected monthly volume amount.
We do not require financial statements and/or tax returns on any accounts.
Submit an accurate processing estimate on your merchant account application.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! It's better to be approved for a figure that accurately reflects your needs, instead of assuming you can negotiate an increase later. Some processors automatically shut off merchants who exceed processing limits. We focus on helping you expand your business and we want to help you be successful. We are specialists in high volume accounts !
Determine your specific software and hardware needs.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! How do you sell your product? If you're 100% "card not present" Internet online, mail or telephone orders -- you can run the necessary transaction software on your PC. You may not need a POS (point of sale) terminal. We provide the most advanced state of the art electronic software that meets your needs.
Buy the hardware or software you need at the right price.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! Resist any pressure to do otherwise. The salesperson's commission could be based solely on that sale or lease. Don't hesitate to shop. We help you determine exactly what you need and provide customized processing solutions based on your needs.
If you have questions about any aspect of merchant credit card processing.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! We have a full time staff that specializes in Internet commerce. We are only to pleased to assist you in being successful in your Internet ventures. We invite your calls and questions.
We have a network of other web sites and services.... New Rent a Server
Understand how charge backs and credits can affect your revenues and profits.
How do you intend to control and resolve charge backs? Do you know the charge back thresholds for your category of business? We can provide expert guidance in these critical areas.
Find a credit card processor that understands your business.
Otherwise, this processor may have problems with your account down the road and may disrupt your business. At Arvic we deal with hundreds of Internet businesses every week so we know about Internet commerce and what types of businesses are out there. We have seen just about every type of business there is and we do get them approved.
Do I have to have a checking account with your bank?
NO. We are not bankers. All funds are directly deposited into your existing business checking accounts.
Make sure you have the option of increasing your processing limit.
Assuming you want to grow your business, you need a processor that supports your plans for growth. At Arvic, we work with you to adjust your processing limits as appropriate. Too often we get calls from merchants who get set up to accept credit cards and then get shut down.
At Arvic we want this kind of business and we don't shut you off when you become successful.
Most banks that handle high risk and high volume merchants require you to place a cash deposit.
We do not require an up front deposit. We will work with high risk and high volume merchants to insure your business can grow without undo limitations. We have several merchants who have grown to over $500,000 per month and they are still processing without deposits.
Ask if they require financial statements and tax returns for your expected monthly volume amount.
We do not require financial statements and/or tax returns on any accounts.
Submit an accurate processing estimate on your merchant account application.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! It's better to be approved for a figure that accurately reflects your needs, instead of assuming you can negotiate an increase later. Some processors automatically shut off merchants who exceed processing limits. We focus on helping you expand your business and we want to help you be successful. We are specialists in high volume accounts !
Determine your specific software and hardware needs.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! How do you sell your product? If you're 100% "card not present" Internet online, mail or telephone orders -- you can run the necessary transaction software on your PC. You may not need a POS (point of sale) terminal. We provide the most advanced state of the art electronic software that meets your needs.
Buy the hardware or software you need at the right price.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! Resist any pressure to do otherwise. The salesperson's commission could be based solely on that sale or lease. Don't hesitate to shop. We help you determine exactly what you need and provide customized processing solutions based on your needs.
If you have questions about any aspect of merchant credit card processing.
they usually mean arbitrary processing limits and other policies that may not serve your needs. we conduct a thorough analysis before approval to protect our merchants support their long-term plans for growth. rates are competitive earned by heightened industry knowledge, added solutions more accurate reporting services can save you money! We have a full time staff that specializes in Internet commerce. We are only to pleased to assist you in being successful in your Internet ventures. We invite your calls and questions.
We have a network of other web sites and services.... New Rent a Server
STATISTICS ABOUT CREDIT CARDS
Number of credit cards with the Visa brand on them: 1.7 billion
Number of credit cards with the Mastercard brand: 959 million
Number of transactions processed by VisaNet in their latest quarter: 10.3 billion
Number of transactions processed by Banknet (MC) in the past year: 21 billion
Let’s put it on a scale for perspective,
Approx. Visa/MasterCard transactions per year: 62,000,000,000 (that’s billion)
Number of seconds per year: 31,556,926
That’s 1,971 Visa & MasterCard transactions per second!
Estimated cardholders worldwide: 400,000,000 (400 million)
That’s 6.64 cards per cardholder!
Now assuming that everyone uses their cards equally,
That’s 155 transactions per person per year! (or one transaction each every 2.3 days)
Number of credit cards with the Mastercard brand: 959 million
Number of transactions processed by VisaNet in their latest quarter: 10.3 billion
Number of transactions processed by Banknet (MC) in the past year: 21 billion
Let’s put it on a scale for perspective,
Approx. Visa/MasterCard transactions per year: 62,000,000,000 (that’s billion)
Number of seconds per year: 31,556,926
That’s 1,971 Visa & MasterCard transactions per second!
Estimated cardholders worldwide: 400,000,000 (400 million)
That’s 6.64 cards per cardholder!
Now assuming that everyone uses their cards equally,
That’s 155 transactions per person per year! (or one transaction each every 2.3 days)
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING
: What are merchant services?
Merchant services enable you to process credit card payments from your customers. It’s a special account tied to a credit card processor that works with your customer's bank to help route payments into your bank account.
2: Who offers merchant services?
Merchant services are provided by specialized companies called merchant service providers or independent sales organizations that offer payment processing. Another source for setting up merchant accounts are financial institutions.
3: Which type of company is best for a small business owner?
It depends on your business situation. A home-based business owner may be turned down from a bank since their business is less established. Merchant service providers and independent sales organizations can be more flexible. While one person may feel comfortable dealing with their local bank, another might prefer a credit card processor who offers low rates. Choose what is important to your business.
4: Is a merchant account required to accept credit cards?
No. One option is to contract with companies providing payment processing on your behalf. Their prices are higher from taking a larger percentage of the ticket price. All credit card providers charge your small business a percentage of each credit card payment received. If you are considering selling on the Internet, a merchant account provides a better professional image.Example in this case is of PAYPAL
If you allow a third party company to process your payments, you have to put your order form on the payment processing site. You may only be able to get your funds two or three times a month, limiting cash flow. With your own merchant account, expect to receive those funds in less than three days from the time of the transaction.
Merchant services enable you to process credit card payments from your customers. It’s a special account tied to a credit card processor that works with your customer's bank to help route payments into your bank account.
2: Who offers merchant services?
Merchant services are provided by specialized companies called merchant service providers or independent sales organizations that offer payment processing. Another source for setting up merchant accounts are financial institutions.
3: Which type of company is best for a small business owner?
It depends on your business situation. A home-based business owner may be turned down from a bank since their business is less established. Merchant service providers and independent sales organizations can be more flexible. While one person may feel comfortable dealing with their local bank, another might prefer a credit card processor who offers low rates. Choose what is important to your business.
4: Is a merchant account required to accept credit cards?
No. One option is to contract with companies providing payment processing on your behalf. Their prices are higher from taking a larger percentage of the ticket price. All credit card providers charge your small business a percentage of each credit card payment received. If you are considering selling on the Internet, a merchant account provides a better professional image.Example in this case is of PAYPAL
If you allow a third party company to process your payments, you have to put your order form on the payment processing site. You may only be able to get your funds two or three times a month, limiting cash flow. With your own merchant account, expect to receive those funds in less than three days from the time of the transaction.
WELCOME STATEMENT
Merchants all across North America need credit card services as many of their
Customers end up paying with credit cards.Merchant services offered by credit
Card processing companies often charge a lot of fees to offer their services.
We have launched this new programme to help small business owners which offer
INSTANT savings on their credit card processing services.
Customers end up paying with credit cards.Merchant services offered by credit
Card processing companies often charge a lot of fees to offer their services.
We have launched this new programme to help small business owners which offer
INSTANT savings on their credit card processing services.
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