How do I step up a business to accept credit cards? Thru our website and manually?\n\nI’m in South Africa.\nIs there another secure way of receiving payments that I could consider?
206297
There are a number of ways to go about accepting credit cards.\nThe first step would be setting up a website to showcase  what you want to sell.\nSecondly sign up for a secure server certificate from Verisign/Thawte\nThen sign up with a payment gateway like paypal(paypal provides services only to accredited companies and NOT individuals in SA) you will get a customised payment link and nstructions to link your site securely with theirs.\nNow you need to set up a 'secure shopping cart' for your customers to select and checkout items.\n\nThe payment providers usually credit your accoount monthly with the proceeds of the sale.\n\nyou will need to prove the following to obtain the digital certificates\n\n§ The  certificate is being  issued to the correct Company.\n§ The company owns the Internet Domain Name in the request.\n§ The Company is registered in one or more countries.\n§ The registered Company Name is the same as the name on the Certificate Request.
102049
I have a fiend in Nigeria who would like to help you find an investor for a small fee.  He is a true fiend...\n(Please ignore the rude person below.)
435240
I'm an online merchant.  I have 2 merchant accounts plus PayPal, and I'm also a Google customer. When they announced Checkout, I went ahead and signed up for it, put the code on my site etc. Since then I've had dozens of transactions via credit card or PayPal, but not 1 via Google.  So, why should I bother putting it on my next site?
549929
Hello.  They're still in beta and are looking to charge commission when they move out of beta. They say 15%, so I guess it won't be free for ever and yes, there is a catch!  I guess they have to pay for their technology and people somehow.  Good luck with your business though!
116317
Paypal, Credit Card, Payment by phone...
559977
I use a debit card for online purchases.  It is accepted at most places in place of a credit card.  The only issue I've ever had with it was when I was trying to rent a car.  They would only accept credit cards, which is understandable considering I don't often have alot of money in the bank.  You can also set up a Paypal account, through which you can make online purchases.
612876
The most expensive part of accepting credit cards for your business is paying the "discount rate", to the credit card processing bank.  The cheapest, lowest, "discount rate" is  physically running a card through a machine or "swipe rate", like you do when you shop.  The next rate is called a "keyed in rate."  Where the customer puts the number into the pad off the computer with the 3 digits off the back of the card as proof.  This is an added security measure the banks like to see that will win you the next rate.  The highest rate is when the customer calls you on the phone and verbals the number to you a, "non-qualified rate."  Basically each level is an added amount of risk the processing bank is making you pay for with each transaction.  There is one more rate and it should be lower, more around the keyed in rate, and this is for debit cards.  Today, 80% of all cards used in the market place are debit cards.  Also Discover card and American Express have the highest rates.  So all this said, your business "is going to incure a bit of an expense" in order to accept your first credit card.  However, in order for you to be in business at all, especially an e business, you HAVE to accept CC's.  \n\nNow back to your question,  you have to shop around.  I would suggest shopping the conventional cc processors first.  Who are they?   Look in the phone book in every major city.  Or go to a couple local businesses and ask them for a referral.  Stay away from "Heartland"  Look for a company who does not lock you into a contract.  Also you should not have to buy any equiptment other than the link.  If you do buy a machine, buy it.  Do not lease it for 8 times more than it is worth.  The non-internet based cc proccessors will probably give you better rates than any internet based cc processor.  I used to work for a proccessing bank and we had an option for internet based businesses.  Basically, shop around until you find the lowest discount rates, on Visa and Master Card around 1.5 - 1.75 at a .10 transaction fee" and no statement fee. If they can offer you these rates for "swiped in rate".  The keyed in rate which is where you business is, is around 1.00 higher.  That is a great rate.  Disc & Amex will be around 3.5-4.0, far less people use  these cards and you don't have to accept them if you so choose. They will charge you $150 to $200 to set up your account and they will give you a link your web designer can easily add to your site.  Each month you receive a statement call the processor and have them explain it to you.  You want to make sure they don't change the rates on you.
181820
Have them checked out by Visa and Master card they would know if they are officially a merchant and if they had any complaints!Good luck and be wise about giving out your information!
93704
Yes, I have purchased many items, over the internet..I pay with a credit card number..If you are going to do that, make sure that it is a secure website..To verify that it is secure, after the http, at the beginning of the web address, make sure that there is an "s" after http..It will look like this https, which means it is a secure website..Also at the bottom of the page, will be a picture of a paddlock, that means the page is secure, and you can put your credit card number in..I have purchased many items over the web, and I never had any problems..
36479
Prepaid credit cards are not credit card they just look like a credit card so they are the same as paying cash.\nYou may consider SECURED credit cards
514943
I was in the same predicament and did the same thing in terms of leaving money on direct deposit for the minimum payment.  I resolved this by applying for a 0% credit card (it switches to 9% after 6 months). I actually wrote the a credit card cheque to the UK credit card to transfer the balance over to Canada.  I then paid it off in full due to a lucky windfall on my outstanding UK taxes. Still, the credit card cheque(from the Canadian low-balance card) to the UK bank worked - it just came up as a bill on my visa...You'd have to check into fees (could be higher for balance transfer) - but it is much less stressful to manage the debt here in Canada at a relatively low rate. You will start paying horrible interest and carrying charges to the UK bank, so at least try and move the balance to a 0% card for 6 months over here...I am told that Equifax, etc are increasingly on the same network - so it isn't worth gambling with your credit rating...
65041
if you have banks in your country then you can make yourself a Debit card - can be used anywhere in the word..must be a visa card or mastercard. ( and it wont cost you more than $3). or contact them and ask for alternate type of payment. (here in my country RO you can have a debit card in about 5 days) . look also at e-gold , ikobo , moneybookers..\nbye
582012
The nearest you can come to something like that is a credit card, which is why it is so popular.  Check major credit card companies -- I know MasterCard and especially Visa are accepted in most of the world.
257754
Use PayPal. They are friendly, helpful, and free to sign up. You just need a bank account which you can use as a base for the account.\n\nWith PayPal, you can accept credit cards, bank transfers, paypal payments, and have other features available.\n\nThe only cost is when you sell something. Then you only pay a percent of what you sell in fees.
462229
You will need to sign-up with PayPal.  You will have to provide your bank account information and select the plan that you want to use based on the commerce type (for profit, non-profit).  At the end of the process, PayPal will provide code to put into the site to handle the payment processing.\n\nYou should also consider Google Checkout.  With Google Checkout, users will not have to leave your site to complete payment.\n\nGood luck.
441275
try COD If the company is legit they will take this option but free shipping is another matter and usually reserved for those that can pay by credit card. Bill me later can occur an in house financ e charge COD is your best option but bug your parents to use their card to buy it for you and if you have the money you can just pay them right back.
385057
You should consider linking a new subdomain off of your home page. This would use the same domain, but would create a new subdomain that is unique to the country that you wish to do business in. You can do this without paying for a separate domain.\n\nYou can see how I did this using this site below.\n\nYou can still use much of your existing distribution and payment processing, just link those sections off of your subdomain.