What is Free Credit Card Processing?

“Free Credit Card Processing” or “Zero-Processing Fees” or No Processing Fees” deals in the method where your customer will pay the fees instead of you as a Merchant for the services availed.

This service is called surcharging credit card where the merchant can pass the fees for processing the card to their customers. And, this plan is sold to merchants in the same of free or no-cost card processing.

So, the charges that seem like “free credit card processing” or “zero processing fees” are actually paid by the customers instead of merchants. In this article, we will discuss such arrangements that revolve around credit card processing.

Does Zero Credit Card Processing Actually Cost Nothing?

As we have discussed, in the case of zero credit card processing the customer has to pay most of the charges.

However, it is not like the merchant is not paying anything entirely. Because there are still other charges to be paid by the merchant such as :

• PCI Compliance
• Monthly Fees
• And many more.

Generally, these plans are designed in such a manner that the processing fees are reduced to “zero” or “no-cost”. However, all the other charges are increased by a bit.

And when a customer is introduced to these prices, it seems like that the processing fees are reduced to zero.

What Does It Cost To Your Customers?

The charges are generally set to 4% or less for the customer as the surcharge of no-cost credit card processing of merchant.

Also, customers are generally charged dynamically and the range is between 3.45% to 3.65%.

However, this is not any kind of hidden charge and your customer will see the surcharge in the receipt on their purchased goods and services. And in such situation, a customer can feel like being charged more than he/she should.

No customer wants to pay extra for any goods and services and if this is the case with you then you can lose customers.

Merchant Stronghold, provide you with an expert who will customize the perfect deal for you depending on the industry your business is in. Contact us at the toll-free number +1 (888) 622 – 6875 and get the required services that you are looking for as a merchant. We also offer assistance regarding high-risk payment gateway and merchant account services.

PAYMENT GATEWAY COMPETITION IN ONLINE BUSINESSES

The eCommerce and online business in recent years have developed great payment gateways and side-by-side the ease of shopping too. Building the shopping platforms and integration of payment source has also simultaneously developed. A study subjects online commerce to reach $5.8 trillion by 2022-that would be more than 6 times the figure for brick and mortar sales shops. There is a steady growth in the cash flow of online transactions in contrast to the old school method. Most important drivers in the growth of eCommerce are the ease and security of paying online.

HERE ARE THE MOST POPULAR PLATFORM OR PAYMENT GATEWAYS GLOBALLY:

Authorize.Net: It has a huge base of more than 370,000 merchants for streamlining fast and secure transactions. It doubles as a virtual POS solution and supports wide interface integrations on big and small online businesses. A wide range of PSPs worldwide also trusts it.

Stripe: Stripe is an online payment processor, which is designed especially for small online businesses. It has a vast selection of integrations, features and transparent pricing schemes. It is a convenient platform for accepting credit card via online channels. It can handle all the backed processes involved in online payments like security and automated features.

PayPal: PayPal is built on the technology that enables users to accept credit cards as well as process mobile and retail credit cards. It is great for global companies, accepts 25 currencies from 200 countries and territories. PayPal can be integrated with shopping carts, CRM solutions, eCommerce platforms, and accounting tools to propagate the operations

Amazon: This payment gateway comes from the eCommerce giant Amazon, which is prepared for both Amazon merchants and customers. It’s very easy, reliable and a rapid platform. This gateway works more in an ecosystem-based model. With this, you can attract new as well as repetitive customers. You can even improve customer loyalty with their already inclined recurring payment options and offers.

Braintree: Merchants in more than 40 countries are using this payment gateway worldwide. It has access to a total of 130 global currencies. It offers global eCommerce tools to let companies build their own features on the platform and scale the businesses around the world. It has an interface that is best for customizability, making it great for new users.

Find the best credit card processor for your Identity Restoration Business

Are you running an Identity Restoration business? If you are then you need a merchant account to accept credit card and debit card payments. Your merchant account works as a bridge between your bank account and the customer’s bank. When you get a merchant account, you are required to follow rules and regulations established by credit card companies and your bank. This includes a number of fees associated with both the accounts.

There are various fees associated with a merchant account, some of them are based on percentage and others are on an item basis. Some of the fees are set by issuing bank while others are by merchant and credit card companies. It is necessary to understand fees associated with an account to run your identity restoration business successfully.

Fees associated with a merchant account

Cancellation fee: It is charged when you send your contract with an online merchant account before the due date of your contract. Not all the providers require a contract, but those who have this police ask for a cancellation fee.

Chargeback fee:

When money is returned to the customer. This fee is initiated by the bank of your customer, often because of fraudulent transactions. A chargeback is one of the reasons why merchants around the globe lose thousands of dollars. It is a fee that merchant account providers take for processing the chargeback request.

Gateway Fee:

It is a monthly fee to keep your merchant account. This fee is a charge to maintain your online merchant account. Some online payment gateways don’t charge money, while others may charge as much as $20.

Monthly minimum:

This is the amount your account is required to process on a monthly basis. The fee is charged to maintain the account, but if you don’t exceed the minimum, then the merchant account provider will charge you accordingly.

Statement fee:

A statement fee is charged by all the online merchant account providers. This fee is associated with your statement and it is taken at the end of the billing cycle. You will pay between $7 and $10. It is charged when you get a paper base or paperless statement.

Transaction fee:

As the name suggests, it is a fee that is charged every time a transaction is processed. Usually, it is between 20 and 25 cents. This fee remains the same no matter how big the transaction was.

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Email ID - info@merchantstronghold.com

Contact No. - +1 (888) 622-6875.

Fatal Payment Mistakes That Are Killing Your Conversion Rates

Online Payment Mistakes

NOT ASSURING THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMER’S INFORMATION

While making the online purchase, a customer has to enter a great number of personal information to your website. Not to forget the debit/credit card or internet banking details to make an online payment. If you are not providing proper security then there is a high possibility that the customers will not make the purchase.

So, it is always advised to all the merchants to offer proper security and privacy information to the website for the security of the product as well as the customer.

FORCING THE CUSTOMER TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT BEFORE MAKING PAYMENT

Every merchant needs a customer database for business but forcing the customer to create an account every time he/she visits your website can be bad for business.

Furthermore, asking too much data while signing up can also force the customer to abandon the website.

But we also understand that account creation is important, and therefore to avoid such issues, you can try these tips:

Instead of asking to create an account, offer services like Sign In with Google or Facebook or any other social media account.

Furthermore, you can ask for address details and other personal information at the time of payment. Do not ask unimportant details.

Also, ask the customer to save his personal information to avoid entering them again and again. Make sure you assure the safety of this information.

Other than that, you can also provide FAQ’s and customer service option to answer the query of the customer.

NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICE

Offering customer support has become as important as providing a privacy policy.

Providing customer support gives customers a trust factor that makes them feel appreciated hence making them a loyal customer. Along with that, the customer also believes you are a genuine service provider.

Now if you are a small firm and unable to offer 24/7 support then you can try adding FAQ section. Other than that, you can also offer email support or chat support service to the customer.

REDIRECTING TO A DIFFERENT WEBSITE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT

CHECKOUT PROCESS IS CONFUSING AND DISTRACTING

LACK OF PAYMENT OPTIONS

If you are still confused and do not know how to resolve the Online Payment Mistakes that kill Conversion, just get in touch with Merchant Stronghold by placing a call at the toll-free number i.e. +1 (888) 622 – 6875. You can also reach us by visiting www.merchantstronghold.com or try our email support service.

Alternative Credit Card Payment Methods

Alternative Payment Methods: Methods that are used as an alternative to credit card payments. It is also referred to as CNP (Card Not Present) situations. The card and single mode of payment on your checkout page will not help you, only rob you of your customers by turning them down for the payment.

Let’s take an example;

Situation 1 (Without alternative payment methods) - 

So, John is on your checkout page, he has already selected your product. 

He tries to pay by his credit card. 

Error: Card Declined. Please contact your bank for more information. 

Retries

Error……

John abandons the order and goes away.

Situation 2: (With alternate payment methods.)

John tries and retries. Failed…

The third time, his eyes spot Pay using PayPal/Amazon option and he decides to go for it.

Before you know, the payment goes through.

Your new customer is equally proportionate to more revenue.

Alternate Payment Methods | Increased Sales:

The customers just need their product they want to check out very quickly and seamlessly, due to the competition you can lose your customer if you do not have a quick gateway or alternate payment method.

Take PayPal for example, the Express Checkout feature and cutting-edge technology have gathered wide popularity for PayPal as well as the merchant. Now, PayPal has become a widely known alternate method of payment for most of the merchants.

If you have a similar question or more, get an expert at Merchant Stronghold at the toll-free number +1 (888) 622 – 6875. We also provide other merchant processing services and high-risk merchant services.

What are the difference between Payment Gateway and Payment Processor

Payment Gateway vs Payment Processor

Payment Gateway – A Gateway that simply allows the merchant to access the e-commerce market by allowing the transaction. This is an online point-of-sale for the business. You just need to have a merchant license and merchant account. Then you can get a payment gateway for your business.

Payment Processor – As the name suggests, they process the transactions by exchanging data between merchant and bank. Also, a payment processor will also provide credit card machines and other equipment you use to accept credit card payments.

There are some processors who provide the payment gateway services as well. Also, you choose from the various payment processors and payment gateway service provider, depending on your demand.

How to Choose Credit Card Processing with Payment Gateway?

Comparing and then choosing the credit card processor for your business can be beneficial for your business. Here is a guide that you can use to choose the best credit card processing with a payment gateway.

A Processor that Offers Business Specific Services

• What is the size of your business and your monthly transaction value? This can help you choose your chargeback limit according to the need.
• Does your business require mobile processing? Or online transactions? If yes, then look for your Payment Processor to fulfill your demands first.
• Read the contract very well and then sign the papers after a complete evaluation.

A Service Provider with 24/7 Support

• Credit Card Processing with Payment Gateway is your necessity.
• But make sure you get sufficient support as well.
• And do check the services provided by the payment processors in the case of disputes and chargebacks.
• This means the Payment service provider should also offer a good support in case of an issue.

Ask for Additional Fees and Other Service Charges

• Do not forget to ask the details related to the Service Fees.
• This includes the additional fees, PCI Compliance, and other charges.
• Also, compare these charges of various Credit Card Processing with Payment Gateway to choose the under budget service.

If you need help while choosing a payment processor then you can contact Merchant Stronghold. We will provide you with an expert to guide you in the right direction and get your up and running in 24 hours.

Merchant Stronghold also provides the assistance with high-risk business and merchant accounts. Call us at the toll-free number+1 (888) 622 – 6875 or access the 24/7-email support now.

Credit Card Payment Processing for Apparels Stores

Payment Processor for Apparels Store

Three things that your payment processor should fulfill are:

1. Connect from anywhere

2. Connect to any payment

3. Connect via the device of your choice

It is important for the merchant to choose a payment processor that provides a comfortable payment experience to his/her customer so that you can win customers trust as well as his loyalty. It is important to understand what your requirements are while choosing a payment processor. Few “must haves” are:

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PROCESSOR

Payment processor should work in favor of your business and customer, both. It should be well integrated, should reflect working of the business (how business operates), the type of payment accepted and back-end system. A highly integrated system works as a lifeline for the merchant and the business.

SCALABLE

Payment processor should be able to cop up with the growth of the business, else merchant will end up in wasting a lot of time, resources and money in the up gradation of payment processor.

SUPPORTIVE

There are times when things do not work as planned. Choose a payment processor provider that is by your side when needed. The provider should be available either by phone or through email or live chat whenever needed.

Painless Payment Processing Service

When we talk about payments, the first thing that a merchant would expect is a secure and uncomplicated payment processor. But it is common to come across certain complications like wrong entry, human error, duplicate authorization etc. While dealing with these issues, it is also important to take care of data security and compliance. So choosing a payment processor that simplifies these complexities rather than increasing the mess is a highly important decision that every merchant has to take.

FINAL WORDS

We at Merchant Stronghold are a leading provider of payment processing services. We have a long list of happy customers who are engaged in the apparel industry and hence, we can do the same for you! Our team understands the unique needs of various industries including clothing and they are the best professionals to meet your business needs.

How to start selling the products from any eCommerce Platform?

The technicalities discussed below are some of the crucial points that will decide if the customer will stay on the website and will order products or service or not:

The website should have an SSL certificate: The full form of SSL is “Secure Socket Layer”, one of the essential certificates that should be purchased and incorporated into the website. The working of the SSL is to provide a secure connection between web-browser and the website. This enables the customer to share the private data that is card details or net banking password with reliability and trust while purchasing the product or services.}

The website design should be user-friendly: Now the term “User-friendly”, carries a lot of aspects about the website design. The website should not contain the flashy elements on the front page that affects the vision of the buyer in the first place and also affects the performance of the website. The website should be easy to access, that means the website should clearly show the products and services on the screen. The website should easily load on all the browsing platforms without delay.

The business vision and the policies should be invisibility: According to the observations and researches, shoppers have developed the tendency of looking at all types of pages that define the working of the organization. These pages include “About Us”,” Refund and return policies”, “Contact Us”, “Disclaimer”, “Sponsors and collaborations”, and any other page that specifies the working of the company. The visibility of these pages will help the business to develop the satisfaction of the customers and grow effectively.

Electronic payment acceptance rules to be followed: The eCommerce website should display all the electronic payment acceptance collaboration symbols in the visibility of the user. The website should be well-developed that it should collect the authority from the buyer before deducting the amount from the buyers account that is an electronic invoice that should be displayed on the website page at the time of collecting payment details, an e-mail should be sent to the buyer when the buyer places the order. These are the evidence that proves that the merchant collected the payment with buyers consent. If the product is a subscription, the amount of recurring should be mentioned specifically at each point of sale.

Payment Checkout page essentials: The websites many times don’t mention the terms and conditions related to website or product. This can lead to some kind of trouble to the business as many times customer starts to presume the things that are not mentioned. So, while collecting the payment information, the website should have the policies and tentative disclaimers regarding the product that helps buyers to know what they have to take care before placing the order.

Improve Merchant Statistics and Reduce Fraud Levels

Recommendations to Improve Merchant Statistics Below have listed recommendations that could help to reduce fraud level. Merchant must provide an activity plane to reduce fraud levels by the payment system. On the off chance that the merchant doesn't successfully lessen reduce fraud level Risk and Compliance department will close merchant traffic. To avoid penalties and disqualification, Merchant must survey its business processes. The following are recorded suggestions that could reduce fraud level.

Here are some guidelines for preventing Internet, telephone or mail order fraud:

• Request that cardholders provide the following information during the order taking process:
• Cardholder Name, exactly how their name appears on their card.
• Card Number
• Card Expiration Date, four-digit number MM/YY.
• CVV (Card Verification Value) and/or CID (Card Identification Data) for some regions, the three-digit number located on the back of the card in the signature panel.
• Card billing address along with the ship-to address (when necessary).
• Home, business or other telephone numbers where the cardholder can be reached.

For each transaction, be sure to:

• Request and validate the CVV (Card Verification Value) and/or CID (Card Identification Data) for some regions, the three-digit number located on the back of the card in the signature panel.
• Verify the customer’s billing address, either electronically or by our address verification service (AVS).
• Verify the cardholder name, full billing address, email address and phone number with the Issuer in real-time using.
• Check your delivery service contract for who is responsible for merchandise not delivered.
• Get a signature for each delivery and keep all delivery records.
• Do not keycard information to force through a sale for which you have received any declined response to your authorization request.
• If the sale is on a credit card, refund sales on the same card.
• Include your common DBA and customer service number on the customer’s transaction receipt.
• Clearly communicate any and all delivery charges, restocking or other fees.
• Clearly explain any return policies and offer documentation of this policy with each sale.
• When working on a chargeback, document efforts to satisfy the customer. Be sure to respond to all chargebacks.
• Duplicate charges, or installment plans, unless otherwise stated, require an authorization for each sale.

Protect Customer Information on my Website?

• Protecting Customer Information
• Truncate all credit card information.
• Do not store any CID data in your records or on any type of sales data.
• Secure your site. Data MUST be stored in a secure environment that is protected by firewalls from your Website or access to the Internet. This data should be password protected with limited authorized use.
• Do NOT store any customer or credit card information on your Web Server.
• Please refer to your Merchant Operating Regulations for further Card Not Present (CNP) requirements with respect to the submission of sales.