Merchant Account Blog & Credit Card Processing Blog

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HIGH RISK MERCHANT ACCOUNT - Online Pharmaceutical

We now offer a solution for Online Pharmaceutical Sales to accept credit cards. As you probally know, these fall under the catagory of a high risk merchant account. Merchant selling Online Pharmaceuticals have historically fund it almost impossible to find credit card processing for these ecommerce sales.

Please feel free to give me a call to discuss your needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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HIGH RISK MERCHANT ACCOUNT

We now have a solution for online tobacco sales, such as ecommerce cigar sales. As you know online tobacco sales requires a High Risk Merchant Account. Several issues including state tobacco taxes and sale of tobacco to minors are the main reason for the high risk classification. Many merchants have spent alot of money to design a tobacco website, only to find out that they cannot get credit card processing for their ecommerce website.

We are adding high risk payment solutions to assist merchants who have been declined elsewhere. Our solutions will very based on the business types and amount of business history. Certain solutions may require more paperwork, set-up fees, higher rates, and rolling reserve accounts, but keep in mind that we can get you approved to accept credit cards with a high risk merchant account.

In summary, if you have been declined by other processors, we are confident that we can get you approved. Give me a call to discuss your credit card processing needs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Pizza restaurants accepting credit cards are usually paying more in fees than necessary. Pizzeria’s have special needs that are often overlooked when they set-up their merchant account. First problem, is the fact that most inner-city pizzeria’s do free delivery to the customers door. Some businesses do 30%-40% in deliveries where the customer’s credit card is not “Swiped” at the point os sale. These transactions are “Keyed” in at a later point. If this merchant is set-up as a “Retail” business, all of their delivery business credit card sales are being surcharged at a “Non Qualified Rate” which can run as high as 4 Percent.

One solution to this problem would be to add a Wireless Terminal, so the credit card can be “Swiped” at the customers door, so that the transaction would be a Qualified “Swiped” Transaction. Another solution would be to set-up the merchant as a “Phone-Order” business, so the merchant is Quailfied To Key Transactions. Keep in mind the qualified rate would be slightly higher that the retail rate.

A fast audit of your credit card processing statements can determine the best route to save you money. If you have any questions, please grab your current statements and give me a call. I’m confident that we can save you money on your credit card processing fees.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Convenience Store Merchant Account

Accepting credit cards at a convenience store is a must in today’s marketplace. Getting the best rate is equally important to be competitive in your business. We offer special pricing for C-Stores with good monthly sales volumes. Now, convenience store owners can receive special pricing, once only reserved for corporations like WalMart. Saving money on your credit card processing rates & fees has never been more important for convenience store merchant account owners, as we move into a slowing economy.

OTHER C-STORE PRODUCTS:

Convenience store owners looking to reduce their expenses should grab their current statements and give me a call to immediately cut their current credit card processing costs. We look forward to working with you.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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PAY AT PUMPS | MERCHANT ACCOUNT | SAVE THOUSANDS


Gas station owners are in a very competitive business. Every possible edge over the competition is a must to compete in this industry. Saving money on credit card processing can be a lucrative edge over your competitor down the street, who has not analyzed his merchant account expenses.

When you are working on pennies, your credit card processing rates and fees matter. Understanding what those transactions cost workout to on an average basis is key. If your average gas purchase is $40, you need to understand what your current cost is on that card transaction. This cost could really be eating away at your profits, if this goes unchecked.

We can offer you an interchage plus pricing program, at a small fraction above true interchange cost. This program is usually reserved for high volume accounts, but we are now offering it to independant gas station owners of all sizes. We can even included your in-store sales of food & convenience products. We even offer Fleet-Card acceptence like Wright Express and Voyager cards.

Grab your most recent credit card processing statements and give me a call. I’m confident that we can save you money, making your business more competitive.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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As we face these uncertain times in the worldwide financial markets, it seems that Ecommerce Sales may be resilient, even if we face a economic downturn and potentiel recession in the United States. According to a recent article in Barron’s, Jeff Lindsey reports that dispite a slowing economy, he forecasts Ecommerce Transactions to grow 14.3% in the US in 2008.

Online merchants should also benefit from the rising cost of fuel, as many customers would prefer saving the time & gasoline expense of traveling to make a purchase. Ecommerce merchants offering Free Shipping will really make it a “No Brainer” for the consumer looking to save money.

Lastly, online merchants selling products abroad, will benefit from the “Lower Dollar”, as foreign consumers can purchase products & services at a discount.

If you are looking to save money on your credit card processing fees and merchant account rates, please feel free to give me a call on getting your overall cost a an affordable level.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Getting the best rate on credit card processing is most important for any business with a mercant account. Many merchants were never really trained properly and small mistakes could be costing them unnecessary costs. First of all, transactions must be batched or setteled out each evening or you run the risk of all those transactions being surcharged as Non-Qualified transactions by Visa or Mastercard. Be sure that you are closing all batches within 24 Hours to avoid the penalty.

Next, if you are “Keying” a card number rather than “Swiping” it, Visa & Mastercard require that AVS Information be attempted and passed-through with the transaction data. This includes the “Street Number” and “Zip Code” of the customer, along with the “CVV2″ code on the back of the credit card. If this information is Not Attemped, the transaction will be surcharged as a Non-Quailified transcation by Visa or Mastercard. Aside from avoiding a surcharge, this information will assist merchants in reducing the risk of an expensive chargeback and the fees associated with them.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COSTS:

If you are looking to reduce your overall cost on credit card processing, please grab you current processing statements and give me a call. We can do a line-by-line comparsion and save you hundreds if not thousands, on your current credit card processing costs.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Visa has announced changes in Interchange Rates, due to take effect on October 3rd, 2008. For the most part, the average merchant should not feel any pain. As most of you know, “Interchange” is a complcated mass of different catagories for different transaction types. Seems that for the most part, the major change is the addition of the following New Interchange Catagories:

Debt Repayment -This category allows agencies that take payment for auto loans, student loans and mortgages to pay a lower rate. This Interchange category does not apply to past due debt such as items in collections.

Pay at the Pump - This fee is a reduction. Consumer credit cards used at gas pumps have been lowered by as much as .50 basis points. Prepaid gas cards will also now be to “Partial Authorization.” Some examples of these types of cards are Shell Cards and Wright Express cards.

Tax Payments - This program is a requirement for all merchants. There will be no cost for the program until April 1, 2009, but a convenience fee may be assessed. This fee may vary for consumer credit cards and commercial credit cards. For consumer debit transactions, a flat fee may be assessed and cannot exceed $3.95.

Government to Government - This category has gone up by .25 basis points for transactions over $8,750. The $5,000 minimum has been removed and Level 2 and Level 3 data is not required.

Again, most business owners will not be effected by the changes. Gas stations actually will benefit and will hopefully pass that savings on to the consumer, as Visa had intended to help consumers with the high cost of gasoline in this change.

If you have any questions or are looking to Save Money On Processing Costs, please give me a call.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Found a good resource for getting a fast merchant account for your business to accept credit cards from customers and clients. Seems the site offers a 5 minute online application with NO PAPERWORK. Their paperless application features an online signature with no documents to sign or fax. Most accounts are approved instanly online with very liberal underwiting.

Merchant accounts are provided by National Merchant Bancard, a regestered ISO/MAP with HSBC Bank USA of Buffalo New York. Aside from Fast Merchant Account approvals, company also offer free equipment such as, terminal, software, and ecommerce. Company also have no contract term, no cancellation fee, no application fee, and many other benefits.

Seems this iso is fairly new and is poised to make a huge impact on the industry. 

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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Today is one of the best times in history to apply for a merchant account to accept credit cards at your business. You will find free credit card terminals being offered by many offices in return for your business. Credit card processing has become a must for most businesses and the competition between providers is fierce. This competition in my opinion is the result of the internet, with business owners being more educated by searching for the best deal on credit card processing.

Free equipment like; free credit card machine, free credit card software, and free ecommerce solutions are slowly becomming the norm on the internet. This competition was sparked a couple of years ago and may continue for the near future. No one know when they will “Pull The Plug” on free equipment, but for now it is available and everyone should take advantage of it.

If you are thinking about setting up credit card processing for your business or are thinking about switching your provider, for a much better rate, please give me a call to discuss your needs. We offer free equipment on all new merchant accounts for credit card processing.   

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

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