Choosing a payment provider
Selling your goods or services online raises many questions. Your visitors will expect to complete the transaction there and then - online. As a rule, they will not want to print out an order form, write a cheque or pay on delivery. They want to enter their credit or debit card details into a secure area in as few steps as possible.
By working with eplatforms you are guided though the steps necessary in order to take payments online.
Merchant Account
To take credit card payments you need a merchant account. This is an account that will be provided by a company known as a Merchant Services Provider.
They are generally aligned to big banks, for example Barclays Merchant Services, NatWest Streamline and others. It doesn't matter who you bank with, you don't have to use that banks merchant service to clear credit card payments.
Payment Service Providers
When you have got your Merchant Account sorted out, depending who you choose, you may have to select a Payment Services Provider. These companies specialise in Internet transactions, and online verification that the card isn't lost or stolen, and the buyer is not over the credit limit.