Streamline (the services provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group)
and Barclaycard's equivalent, have both rejected my business
application to process cards over the telephone, using their web
service for authorisation, on the basis that the business is charging
for services it does not directly deliver, but are delivered by other
sub-contractors  (e.g. plumbers, electricians,decorators,  etc).

WorldPay Direct have accepted our application, but on strenuous terms,
e.g. eight (8) weeks before money is paid to us.

Who can provide me Debit/Credit card processing via the
telephone/internet ?

---

Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 15 Sep 2003 17:00 PDT

Hi there!

I've been investigating your query for some time today, and have run
into a few points where I need a little more information:

1) Must the solutions include telephone processing or will a web-only
solution suffice?

2)  If I understand your query correctly, you're located in the UK. 
Would you confirm this, please?

3)  Do you require that all funds be immediately disbursed to you, or
is it acceptable to include companies that hold a percentage of your
revenues in reserve in case of chargebacks?

I look forward to hearing from you!

-- Missy

---

Clarification of Question by homecare-ga on 16 Sep 2003 01:17 PDT

Missy, Thanks.

YES, I am in the UK - hence the delay in responding to you.

NO, I don't mind if a percentage of the funds is retained in reserve
in case of chargebacks... but I would like the vast majority to be
disbursed to me within 2-5 days.

Finally, it is mostly telephone processing:  my operators will take
the details of a card from a customer whilst they're on the
phone,enter them onto the web-site to get authorisation number, and
process the order once authorisation is obtained.

As we are selling services and not products, I don't envisage becoming
an internet-only service.  We do have a price list for certain
standard services (e.g. Call-out fee for a locksmith) but most other
services need to be individually priced, following a home visit.

Hope this helps.

Dear Homecare,

Your problem is fairly universal. 
My HelpDesk members have been discussing this for quite some time. 

Recently, several people in the UK and Europe  have started
using 2CHECKOUT
http://www.2checkout.com/

They have a one-time set-up fee of $49.00. 

There are no monthly fees. 45 cents per transaction
Just the merchant discount charge of 5%
They'll accept charges from all over the world.
And they'll pay out in British pounds.

They will wire the money to your account, at no extra charge.

Several people said only good things about them. 

Here is the one negative...and even she ends up liking their service:


"I read the discussion about 2checkout.com last week and want 
to share my experience with them. 
 
Before I started using them I did a search on Google groups 
and found several negative comments about them. But I did not
find any other acceptable payment processor so I decided to 
give it a try. 
 
After a half a year with them, here are my comments:
 
1. All new accounts are subjects to account verification 
process and it delays your first payment. For example, the 
first time we used them we were supposed to be paid on 16th
of the month but we did not receive the money that day. I 
waited a few days, them started e-mailing and calling them
repeatedly. Then, on 21st we received an e-mail that our 
account was updated to a "clean trust level" and the payment 
was released. But still no money in our account. More e-mails
and phone calls to them. On 22nd they e-mailed that they did
sent the money. Still no money. At last we got paid - on 25th. 
 
2. From the second time forward they paid on a timely basis. 
But they do take about 48 hours past the due day to deposit 
the money into our account. So even though they promise to 
release the money on the 1st and 16th of the month, do not
expect the payment until 3rd or 18th (or even the 5th and 
19th if the payment day falls on the weekend). 
 
3. Otherwise their service has been very good. When I call 
them, I always get through right away and there is always 
somebody to answer my questions."

Since they are an online processor, your operators could go
to an online order page, or shopping cart page and enter all
the information from your callers. 

No doubt, if you do a high volume with them, you will be able
to negotiate better rates. At least this will get you started. 

While they only pay twice a month, it's better than the 8 weeks
at WorldPay Direct. 

Perhaps you can start with this, and keep looking for a better
merchant account. Or, once you establish a track record, the
banks will look upon you more favorably.

Best wishes

Your TaxMama-ga
 
So I would recommend their service as reliable if you agree 
to be patient with minor payment delays.

---

Clarification of Answer by taxmama-ga on 16 Sep 2003 21:17 PDT

P.S. Missy did tell me to go ahead and answer this.

---

Clarification of Answer by taxmama-ga on 17 Sep 2003 07:19 PDT

Dear Homecare,

Please go back and take another look before you dismiss them.

They are not designed for people to buy from them - rather to
buy your products from you. 

Yes, they are an online payment system. 
They have a shopping cart. 

All you need to do is list all the services and the prices,
or ask them to help you set up a blank field so your operators
can enter the prices. They will work with you.

You don't need to have your customers log in and make the
purchase. It's just as easy for your operators to go to the
shopping cart pages and enter the data your customers give
them over the phone. 

Check with them. This may still be your easiest solution. 

Best wishes,

Your TaxMama-ga

I had a look at their website (www.2checkout.com) and it doesn't
appear suitable, as they do not allow my staff to take credit card
details over the phone and get a payment authorisation.  They seem to
only be set-up for customers to buy our products and services from
THEM, not from us...  We are not going to have electronic trading. 
Any other ideas ?