How Online Credit Card Processing Works A "Payment Gateway" can be best defined as "The payment gateway transfers the money for the transaction from the customer's credit card account to your merchant account's bank. " You don't have to know how credit card processing works online in order to operate a successful business. There are many merchants who process thousands of dollars in transactions each month without knowing what is happening behind the scenes. That being said, having a rudimentary understanding of how money travels from your customer's credit card account to your bank account can be useful. Below, we'll give you a brief overview that describes the entire process. We'll begin when someone visits your website and follow the trail of the transaction until your bank receives the money. What Your Website's Visitors See When your visitor arrives at your website, they'll be able to choose the products they wish to purchase. By clicking on the appropriate link, they're transported to a page on your website where they can enter their credit card information. The shopping cart that you're using should calculate any taxes or shipping fees. Once your customer has filled in the necessary fields (address, phone number, etc.), they can validate their purchase decision by clicking a "Submit Order" button. Preventing Fraud At The Gateway Before the transaction and the accompanying credit card information reach your merchant account's bank, they must go through a payment gateway. At the gateway, the transaction is checked to ensure its validity. This includes making certain that the credit card number is correct and verifying the address and CSV code (normally found on the back of the credit card) to prevent fraudulent activity. If the customer's credit card is deemed invalid, a message is sent back to your website to alert the customer. If the credit card is valid, the transaction continues to the merchant account. On The Way To The Merchant Account You have probably heard the term "Merchant Account". For those unsure of what a merchant account is, the best definition we have found can be seen here: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/merchant-account-2948421 The piece of the puzzle that many people are unaware of is what is known as a "Payment Gateway". The payment gateway transfers the money for the transaction from the customer's credit card account to your merchant account's bank. You don't actually have possession of the money (yet). Once the money arrives at your merchant account's bank, it's held there. Payment Notifications If the transaction is completed without issue, a message is sent to your website that notifies the customer. This message confirms to your customer that her credit card was charged for the appropriate amount and the transaction was processed successfully. Most merchant accounts are set up to also send an email confirmation to the customer. From your perspective (as a merchant), you'll be able to see the new transaction payment immediately. Into Your Bank Account The last step in the process is to receive the money into your bank account. The money is currently held at your merchant account's bank. Assuming that your merchant account is in your name (or the name of your business), you'll receive the money within a few business days. It's transferred automatically according to the agreement you signed when you established your merchant account. A Smooth Process The credit card processing system initially seems complex, but each step is refined to minimize fraud while making the transaction flow as smoothly as possible. Your customers usually won't be aware of what is happening behind the scenes. The only thing they'll see is a confirmation that their transaction was processed or … [Read more...]
Apply For A Credit Card Merchant Account Online
If you a small business and want to accept credit cards, you can easily apply for a merchant account online. Who should? Why, you should, of course, if you want to grow your business and maximize sales volume! In this day and age, more and more business functions are moving into cyberspace, which means that business owners must be ready to travel to this relatively unknown domain if they want to maintain strong customer ties and stay a step or two ahead of the competition. Dont worry if youre not Web savvy; most online processes that are geared to the general consumer are not hard to perform. In fact, most are downright easy. First, find a lender that you respect that is willing to extend you a credit card merchant account online. This may be the bank where your business interests and accounts currently reside. Or you may choose to shop for another lender with better rates or services. Dont rush into this decision, however. Plan some time in your schedule to carefully browse the many services offered through a host of financial institutions today. You can browse the Internet by typing in search phrases like merchant account or merchant services and seeing what Google or your favorite search engine can bring up. Then it becomes a matter of checking out each lender to find the one that will best fit with your business budget or growth objectives. Some companies may seem a little too shady, while others may not have been in business long enough to enjoy a solid reputation. Others may charge a frightful amount for the services you want. Ask around your local business community to see which merchant account providers others are using, and then compare those costs and services with those you find online. You can probably reduce your list to a few of the better underwriters in short order. Then you will need to make the final selection by comparing monthly and annual fees. Applying for a credit card merchant account online is fast and easy. Just click on the lenders home page link to application (or some variation thereof) and follow the links to the application page. Then type the requested information in each blank. Contact the customer service representative if you do not understand a question or if you are unsure how to answer it. Remember to print a copy of the application if you are able to do so, or keep a copy of the confirmation number if one is provided. Often a company will email a verification of your applications receipt and tell you when to expect a reply. At least print this page, if nothing else, for your records. After applying for a credit card merchant account online, sit back and wait to hear about the decision. Often this arrives within a few days or even hours by email, although some are mailed out by post. When you receive approval and open your merchant account, you can begin to accept credit card payments right away. You will be delighted to see how quickly your profits increase as customers begin taking advantage of this valuable service. Dont wait, consider applying today for your credit card merchant account online. AcceptCreditCards.biz … [Read more...]