Getting a Merchant Account - Staying Relevant

Last month, we rolled out our totally revamped website at PayByWeb.  
For years, we received hundreds of compliments on how easy our site was to navigate.  We took your feedback seriously and worked to make getting a merchant account, easier and faster than anywhere else.  Sure, we have been in business since 1992 and on the Web since 1998, but it was time for a new design.   While we still are one of the only merchant account service providers that posts FEES right on our site, and has simple online application, making it much easier to apply, there was more for us to include.

Our new site includes a Wizard.  If you are unsure as to which merchant account is best for you, click on the Wizard, answer a few simple questions, and you will be taken right to the best page that offers you credit card acceptance.   We have also added more merchant account solutions.  Now our friends in Canada can get a merchant account in as little as one day.  We also have a solution for International Merchants, such as those located in India.  Our Reseller Program is second to none, and we have even added a new FREE QUOTE system, where you can enter your information and we will give you a personalized quote to accept credit cards for your business.

So, give our new website a try, and let us know what you think!

Don't Shoot The Messenger

We get lots of emails asking about High Risk accounts.  "Why is my product considered High Risk?"  "Why can't I get a merchant acct?"  "What is wrong with ME?"  The answer...JUST BECAUSE!

Companies like PayByWeb do not typically set the rules for underwriting a merchant account.  That Criteria is set with Visa/MC and otherwise via the merchant service providers.  What do they most of their decisions on?? RISK!  Merchant accounts are all about RISK.   Again, we get asked..."What's the big deal?"

Let me put it to you like this.   I am going to process $25k per day in credit card transactions.  YOU are the merchant service provider.  YOU are going to pay me within 3 days for my sales.  The cardholder may not see his statement for up to 30 days and then have up to 30 days to pay.  In that 60 day window I have processed $1,500.000, which you have paid into my bank.  Now...the calls are coming in from card holders. I DID NOT ORDER THAT!  I NEVER RECEIVED MY ORDER!   Dozens of chargeback requests coming in from cardholders wanting their money back.  You attempt to debit my checking account to get that money back...but I closed the acct, took the money and am living comfortably in Portugal!  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING $1.5 MILLION TO CARDHOLDERS.   Get it now???

RISK!  That is the name of the game.  When applying for an Internet merchant account or other type, merchant acct providers use the data in your application, credit, previous processing history, and other tools to quickly assess whether or not to accept you as a merchant.  They spend millions of dollars to maintain Risk and Security departments, many of which have private or separate entrances/exits from their main employees.  Most of the employees in these departments use aliases to protect their true identities.  It is serious business!

So, what can you do?  Make your application as CLEAN as possible.  Complete EVERY answer and be as descriptive as possible.  When an app asks for a description of business, which do you think will be better reviewed:  "Selling online" or "We sell jewelry online priced from $25 - $250"?

Bottom Line:  The lower the risk...the better chance of approval!

If you would like to learn more about offering merchant accounts, and earning 60% of the paid out residual, CLICK HERE.

Don't just throw that pen away!

True Story:

Back around 2001, my wife and I went to Amsterdam.  Unfortunately, my wife remembers very little of this trip and that is another story.  On the KLM flight home, the flight attendants passed around a brochure of items that you could purchase on the plane, duty free.  I had some left over traveler's checks so I figured, why not.  I found a Mont Blanc pen on the sheet.  I had never had a fountain pen and thought it might be nice. It cost around $100. I still remember, it was called the Traveler, and it stored ink cartridges inside.

IT NEVER WORKED!Every couple of years, I would find the pen in the drawer, and see if I could get it to work.  NOPE.  Stupid Pen.  Never threw it away.  Five years ago, sent to Mont Blanc and they cleaned it and said it worked okay.  NOPE!  Sigh...forget this stupid pen.

While cleaning out my office last week, I came across the pen again.  It had sat in that drawer for at least two years, maybe three.  I brought it home.  Last night, I had to go to the Apple Store in a ritzy Tampa mall.  I remembered there is a Mont Blanc store so I brought the pen and figured maybe THIS time, someone could make it work.  Upon bringing the pen in, I was asked if I could leave it for a half hour so they could take a good look and check it out.  About an hour later we returned to the store.  The woman pulled out the pen and said she cleaned it.  You opened it up and cleaned the whole inside, I asked?  She looked puzzled.  Opened it up??  I said, it stores ink cartridges inside.  She said, "Oh...It's a Traveler!"  I shook my head in the affirmative.  I opened the pen for her and we tried different cartridges and no good.  She said I could send it in to repair.  Thinking at this point it was hardly worth it, I was contemplating dropping it in the trash...when a sudden urge came over me..."Do you still sell this pen", I asked?

The answer, YES!  I asked if they had one and they did.  "How much do they sell for", I asked?

Are you Ready??  I SAID...ARE YOU READY??

$770

Guess it's good not to just throw away those old pens! 

If you need to accept credit cards or want a better rate, visit www.PayByWeb.com.  Accepting all merchant types, offering free terminals, and same day approvals...PayByWeb is the clear choice for merchant accounts.

PayByWeb Has Been Providing Merchant Accounts for 20 Years.

2012 will mark PayByWeb's 20th year in business.  Before there was PayPal, there was PayByWeb.  Before many of the merchant account providers you see online, there was PayByWeb.  Since 1992, we have been providing companies with the ability to accept credit cards for their business with a merchant account.   Our Check By Phone has been wildly popular as well.  Over the years, our merchants have included Olan Mills, Glamour Shots, PBS, Jenny Craig, Allstate Motor Club, AAA Motor Club, Nightingale Conant, Montgomery Wards, and thousands of others.  Today, PayByWeb merchants process over 1 Billion dollars annually in credit card and check transactions.  We work with the world's leading processors such as: First Data, PowerPay, iPayment, MerchantFocus, and e-Online Data to bring you the best possible program to fit your specific needs.  Whether you want to accept credit cards for your mobile, retail store, website, or just need a virtual terminal, PayByWeb can have you setup for credit card processing in just one day. 

Look, there are tons of companies from which to choose.  We post dozens of testimonials on our site, not just 2 or 3.  Our testimonials don't use names like, "J. B" or "Joe. B".  We use merchant's REAL NAMES and even include company names because WE DON'T MAKE THEM UP!!  

Want to know what our competition charges for a merchant account?  Good luck!  Complete a form on their site and they'll get back with you.  Not with PayByWeb.  Our fees are posted for each account we provide.  You will KNOW what you are being charged before you apply.  We make searching easy because we don't waste your time.  Check out the different accounts we have to offer here. 

So...thank you to all of our merchants who have helped make PayByWeb the industry leader for the last 20 years.  We appreciate your trust!  We appreciate you!  If you have the need to accept checks or credit cards in the future, whether long term, or for a one-time event, we hope you will let us show you what sets PayByWeb apart from the rest.  Thanks for 20 great years!

Want to Accept Credit Cards for your fundraiser or short term event? Now you can!

There are very few fundraising programs that would not benefit by accepting credit cards.  The problem has always been that merchant account providers, those who setup fundraisers or those needing to accept credit cards for a short term project such as trade-shows, flea markets, garage sales, etc, require multi-year agreements, such as 2 or 3 yrs.  This requirement has left most fundraisers scrambling for other methods of collecting funds...until now!

PayByWeb now offers a short-term/one-time event merchant account program.  The service includes use of a wireless credit card terminal with printer and provides for acceptance of Visa/MasterCard, Discover, and even American Express.  Best part, there is NO long term contract.  You can use the terminal for a day, week, month, or as long as you like.  The fees are a bit more than merchant accounts with long term agreements, but just barely.  Funds are paid out to the merchant in 3 business days, directly to their checking account.  This service is perfect for any short-term event that requires credit card acceptance. 

Complete the easy online application found HERE, Pay a small rental fee and deposit (refundable once the terminal/printer are returned)

Merchant Account -
A merchant account is an account with a bank that is used to process credit card transactions.  It is a virtual account that is not accessible by a merchant.  Rather, the funds accumulated from credit card transactions are deposit directly to the merchant's bank account, typically within a few days.

Visit PayByWeb's FAQ for answers to many questions about accepting credit cards.

Selling For The Holidays? Start Accepting Credit Cards NOW!

If you are preparing to sell during the Holiday Season, the time to get setup to accept credit cards is NOW!  Seasoned marketing experts will tell you that you should have your preparations completed early to make sure that you are ready for the sales frenzy that occurs this month each year. 

PayByWeb has been providing merchant accounts, and check services to companies from Fortune 500 to start-ups, since 1992, far longer than most in the industry.  Our service is second to none, and we will make sure that you have every tool in your arsenal in order to make that sale.  WE PROVIDE FREE TERMINALS...YES, FREE!

How do we differ from other merchant account providers?  Simple!

1.  We post Fees/Rates
If you search merchant service providers, you find that virtually all of them require you to submit a form in order for them to contact you back with the fees you will be charged.  Why do you think they do that?  Perhaps they adjust the fees up/down based on your information, or what they believe they can get away with charging you?  Of course!  Why would anyone trust a company that does not post their fees?  For every type of merchant account PayByWeb offers, our fees are clearly posted.  You know what you will pay, without having to ask.  That's how we save you time and we understand your time is valuable. 

2.  We post DOZENS of REAL Testimonials
While many merchant account companies do not provide any testimonials on their website, or require you to request them in writing, PayByWeb provides them on our site, accessible by one click from any page.  We don't just enter names like R. S. or Tom.  Our testimonials incude the full name and business name.  More importantly, we don't have just 2 or 3.  We provide dozens of testimonials and include survey results so you can see how our merchants rate our service.

We can have you setup with a merchant account to accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover in just 1 day.  So, visit us at www.paybyweb.com and watch your Holiday Sales increase with a merchant processing company that cares about you. 

BTW, accept our free gift regardless of where you setup your merchant processing.  Download  our free guide to understanding merchant accounts.

   

Credit Card Problems Plague NFL During Pre-Season

If you are a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and went to last week's opening game against the Detroit Lions, you probably got more of a show than you expected, and I am not referring to the Fly-over, 911 tribute, or salute to the first and greatest Buccanneer, Mr. Leroy Selmon. 

A Bucs pre-season game caused major grumbling with tremendously long concession lines and very poor quality food.  To make things worst, after waiting in these lines, fans were told that the credit card machines were not functioning.  Imagine waiting in a food line for 45 minutes to find out that the cashless society was not welcome at this game.  No cash...no food.  Talk radio was a abuzz.  "They had 9 months to prepare and make sure everything at Raymond James was ready."  The stadium was less than half full.  Imagine if a big crowd showed up.  Levy foods, the concessionaire, took full blame for the fiasco.   The Buccaneers responded by offering HALF OFF on all concessions for the opening day game.

If you are not familiar with Tampa, FL in late August and early September (October, November, too), the word HOT is an understatement.  The heat in a stadium is considerably more unbearable as the temperature on the field can be well over 100 degrees.  How do the players deal with the heat?  Lots of Water, Gatorade, and even IV's to rehydrate.  How do the fans deal with the heat?  BEER...and that's where the trouble starts!

Most everyone knows that beer, while the commercials make it seem refreshing, is NOT a method of rehydrating your body.  That takes water...and plenty of it.  While most parents teach their kids the importance of drinking lots of water and staying hydraded in the heat, thousands of those parents seem to forget about it during game time, at the stadium.  You can become dehydrated in just minutes while sitting in a 100 plus degree stadium, screaming, and expending lots of energy. There were numerous reports of faintings and heat related illnesses.  While standing at a concession stand, the man next to me grabbed his female companion as her legs buckled beneath her.  We sat her down,  fanned her, and gave her small sips of water (Not Miller Lite) while waiting for the paramedics.  While the football teams may have done the most running, the paramedic and support staff ran a very close 2nd assisting the many who got ill.   During the game, Vendors carrying their boxes filled with beverages were up and down the aisles.  While they had several varieties of ice cold beer...NO WATER!  "Sorry, I'm Out", was what I kept hearing.  Truth is, they don't want to sell you water.  These guys and gals are working for tips and lets face it, they can sell a $4 bottle of water or $9+ bottle of beer.  Beer customers will always tip better, too.  So, they keep stocked with beer and skip the water, doing the fans a MAJOR dis-service.

The most troubling thing to me, is much of this could have been easily prevented.  The NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Organization, and  Food Vendors need to work together on a strategy to reduce or prevent this from happening.   

1. During the summer and early fall games, especially a 1pm kickoff, WATER SHOULD BE FREE!  Yes...FREE!  Fans need to keep hydrated and it is brutally hot, even in the breezeways and concession areas.  Rather than hand you a complimentary eye glass cloth, or other promo item, EVERYONE WALKING IN THE STADIUM SHOULD BE HANDED A BOTTLE OF WATER, FREE.   That is the first step towards fan safety. 

2. Next, provide HYDRATION STATIONS, like the colleges do, so you can re-fill the bottles with COLD water throughout the day.  Refilling stations reduce the waste from plastic bottles as they promote re-use.  If the stadium can't provide refilling stations, water should be free at all concession areas on game day.  
3. Signs should clearly posted throughout the stadiums warning of the possiblity of heat related health issues, showing where first aid stations are provided, and detailing possible warning signs to get help early to those becoming ill.
4. All Concession vendors working the stadium rows selling beverages should be required to carry plenty of water. 
5. Finally, while it's wonderful that this is America and everyone deserves to profit, how about NOT profiting on something like WATER.  Fans have already paid hefty prices to attend the games.  What is so terrible about charging $1 for a bottle of water?  Why should we EVER have to pay $3 - $5 for WATER??  Charge $20 for a beer!  Charge $100 for a hot dog!  Don't rip off your own customers for something we need to EXIST!

Of course, that's just my opinion...I may be wrong.