[Business Thread]- Pay Site Billing Question

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  • Jim_Gunn
    Confirmed User
    • Feb 2003
    • 5702

    #1

    [Business Thread]- Pay Site Billing Question

    I am launching an affiliate program starting with three separate lesbian sites each with their own unique tours on three unique urls. But I intend to market the sites as a "network" like many other programs do with their sites where the surfer can join any one of the three sites and get access to all three site's content.

    So the question is, with a 3rd party processor like CCBill or Epoch doing the processing (and using their software to run the backend affiliate program for the webmasters to sign up under) am I stuck paying for the Visa approval fee for each site separately($750 x 3= $2250) just to get the affiliate program started?
  • Marshal
    Biz Dev and SEO
    • Jun 2005
    • 15223

    #2
    a bump for your answer, Jim_Gunn...
    ---
    Busy ranking websites on Google...

    Comment

    • Iron Fist
      Too lazy to set a custom title
      • Dec 2006
      • 23400

      #3
      Bump for an answer..
      i like waffles

      Comment

      • F-U-Jimmy
        Confirmed User
        • Apr 2006
        • 6853

        #4
        The fee is for you or your company not for every site you own.
        icq. 176240424 44.years as a pornographer !!!!!!!!!!!

        Comment

        • Jim_Gunn
          Confirmed User
          • Feb 2003
          • 5702

          #5
          Originally posted by F-U-Jimmy
          The fee is for you or your company not for every site you own.
          Well that's good news- that means even if I launched ten sites, I'd only have to pay the $750 Visa fee one time? Can any CCBill or Epoch rep confirm this? If it's true I am signing up with one or both processors today. :-)

          Comment

          • Barefootsies
            Choice is an Illusion
            • Feb 2005
            • 42635

            #6
            Originally posted by F-U-Jimmy
            The fee is for you or your company not for every site you own.
            Should You Email Your Members?

            Link1 | Link2 | Link3

            Enough Said.

            "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

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            • tdfcash3
              Registered User
              • Nov 2006
              • 65

              #7
              theres no fee if you are european :D


              ICQ - 421-515-010

              Comment

              • candyflip
                Carpe Visio
                • Jul 2002
                • 43069

                #8
                As far as I'm aware, you have to pay it with each processor. I hope I'm wrong on this.

                To me it seems like Visa would be double dipping, if it's the company paying and in both instances Visa is taking the fee.

                Spend you some brain.
                Email Me

                Comment

                • justsexxx
                  Too lazy to set a custom title
                  • Aug 2001
                  • 13723

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Jim_Gunn
                  Well that's good news- that means even if I launched ten sites, I'd only have to pay the $750 Visa fee one time? Can any CCBill or Epoch rep confirm this? If it's true I am signing up with one or both processors today. :-)
                  You pay the fee for your 'program/company' Every site under your 'main' account is basically free.

                  I'm not sure if you pay 750 fee for both companies. I read somewhere that you only have to pay the fee ONCE. When you start at ccbill, you don't have to pay the 750 fee at Epoch(and vice versa) Not 100% sure, but I'm sure ccbill or epoch will know the answer
                  Questions?

                  ICQ: 125184542

                  Comment

                  • candyflip
                    Carpe Visio
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 43069

                    #10
                    Bump for a definitive answer.

                    Spend you some brain.
                    Email Me

                    Comment

                    • Sebastian Sands
                      Confirmed User
                      • Mar 2005
                      • 5223

                      #11
                      sub accounts, that's your answer.. you sign up with ccbill they give you a main account, underneath that account you create sub accounts. you do not have to pay $750 per site, only for your main account.

                      If you want to cascade and ad Epoch for example then you would have to pay another $750.

                      Comment

                      • Mutt
                        Too lazy to set a custom title
                        • Sep 2002
                        • 34431

                        #12
                        you have to pay the $750 fee at each processor as far as i know - if not I am going to be very pissed at Epoch!
                        I moved my sites to Vacares Hosting. I've saved money, my hair is thicker, lost some weight too! Thanks Sly!

                        Comment

                        • tony299
                          lurker
                          • Aug 2002
                          • 57021

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Mutt
                          you have to pay the $750 fee at each processor as far as i know - if not I am going to be very pissed at Epoch!
                          Yep for each processor.

                          Comment

                          • datatank
                            Confirmed User
                            • Aug 2004
                            • 5471

                            #14
                            A. You only have to pay $750 once per company
                            B. You do have to pay $750 for each processor your company would like to use

                            Comment

                            • AmeliaG
                              Too lazy to set a custom title
                              • Jan 2003
                              • 10664

                              #15
                              If you have the sites under different companies, you would have to pay the fee for each one for each biller. It sounds like you will have them all under one umbrella, so the fees are once to CCBill and once to Epoch each year ($750 each to start and then like $375ish after)
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                              • aico
                                Moo Moo Cow
                                • Mar 2004
                                • 14748

                                #16
                                It would be $750 per processor, so $1500. Then I would suggest using Strongbox as it allows access to separate members areas, and it's $150 per site, so $450 for that.

                                Comment

                                • LiveDose
                                  Show Yer Tits!
                                  • Feb 2002
                                  • 25792

                                  #17
                                  OMG let's all continue posting the same answer lol... this could go on all night!

                                  Scammer Alert: acer19 acer [email protected] [email protected] Money stolen using PayPal

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                                  • aico
                                    Moo Moo Cow
                                    • Mar 2004
                                    • 14748

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by LiveDose
                                    OMG let's all continue posting the same answer lol... this could go on all night!
                                    Hey i added a little more

                                    Comment

                                    • candyflip
                                      Carpe Visio
                                      • Jul 2002
                                      • 43069

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by LiveDose
                                      OMG let's all continue posting the same answer lol... this could go on all night!
                                      I've never gotten a straight answer and from the looks of it, no one in this thread knows for sure either.

                                      Spend you some brain.
                                      Email Me

                                      Comment

                                      • Jim_Gunn
                                        Confirmed User
                                        • Feb 2003
                                        • 5702

                                        #20
                                        Thanks those who answered. Aico, that is also good info about Strongbox. I have to check my email history as I recall that I already purchased at least one Strongbox license for a site that I used to own but that I never used it on.

                                        Comment

                                        • datatank
                                          Confirmed User
                                          • Aug 2004
                                          • 5471

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by LiveDose
                                          OMG let's all continue posting the same answer lol... this could go on all night!
                                          Im just a sexy girl

                                          Comment

                                          • DWB
                                            Registered User
                                            • Jul 2003
                                            • 31779

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by F-U-Jimmy
                                            The fee is for you or your company not for every site you own.
                                            What he said. Your company pays the fee then you can use it on as many sites as you wish so long as those sites are approved by Visa.

                                            Comment

                                            • Verotel
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Oct 2002
                                              • 202

                                              #23
                                              Sorry if this sounds like a shameless plug but...

                                              Contrary to popular belief, not every processor charges $750. For example, with our TicketsClub account you are able to use all of our payment methods (including Visa & MC) and there are No Setup Fees, No Yearly Fees, No Visa registrations and No Monthly Minimums. You only pay a percentage of the transaction price!

                                              With our Verotel Classic account the Visa/MC registration fee is only $350 (one-time.)

                                              And since I get the next question so much, I will answer it in advance....

                                              Q: How come you guys don't have to charge the $750 fee?

                                              A. It is my understanding that the fees that you pay ($750 in the case of CCBill and Epoch and NOTHING or $350 in the case of TicketsClub or Classic) are not fees required by the credit card companies but are either processor or acquiring bank specific. In our case our TicketsClub bank charges nothing and our Classic bank charges $350.

                                              And just for good form...like everyone else said, the fees are only per account NOT per website.
                                              Darryl McDade
                                              Merchant Relationship Executive
                                              Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                              Comment

                                              • KRosh
                                                So Fucking Outlawed
                                                • Nov 2001
                                                • 5114

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by Verotel

                                                Q: How come you guys don't have to charge the $750 fee?

                                                A. It is my understanding that the fees that you pay ($750 in the case of CCBill and Epoch and NOTHING or $350 in the case of TicketsClub or Classic) are not fees required by the credit card companies but are either processor or acquiring bank specific. In our case our TicketsClub bank charges nothing and our Classic bank charges $350.
                                                You are incorrect!!!


                                                A VISA approved Internet Payment Service Provider or IPSP has to follow these rules.


                                                If you are a US-Based business and want to process transactions through the VISA network, VISA and the acquiring banks require that you do the following:

                                                1. Register your business as a VISA-sponsored merchant
                                                2. Pay an initial registration fee of $750, and an ongoing annual fee of $375 to maintain your VISA-sponsored merchant status.

                                                These fees apply to high risk businesses only!!!
                                                Last edited by KRosh; 12-18-2007, 03:42 AM.
                                                ICQ 115433750

                                                Comment

                                                • SCORE Ralph
                                                  Confirmed User
                                                  • Mar 2003
                                                  • 2090

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by KRosh
                                                  A VISA approved Internet Payment Service Provider or IPSP has to follow these rules.
                                                  What he said.
                                                  GetSCORECash.com | In the Biz Since 1991
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                                                  • Verotel
                                                    Confirmed User
                                                    • Oct 2002
                                                    • 202

                                                    #26
                                                    Originally posted by KRosh
                                                    You are incorrect!!!
                                                    A VISA approved Internet Payment Service Provider or IPSP has to follow these rules.

                                                    If you are a US-Based business and want to process transactions through the VISA network, VISA and the acquiring banks require that you do the following:

                                                    1. Register your business as a VISA-sponsored merchant
                                                    2. Pay an initial registration fee of $750, and an ongoing annual fee of $375 to maintain your VISA-sponsored merchant status.

                                                    These fees apply to high risk businesses only!!!
                                                    On one hand it's a matter of semantics...

                                                    In all fairness, I'm open to the fact that Visa US and Visa Europe operate differently. However, from a logical standpoint I have a problem with point #2 above simply because that would be like your plumber telling your electrician what he must charge you. Let me explain, I've always learned that Visa (and MasterCard) do NOT do business with merchants; they only do business with BANKS. As such, Visa being a smart company would NEVER tell acquirers what they MUST charge their merchants. They could however, charge a fee to the acquiring bank and then the acquiring bank could pass that fee on to the merchant (mrechant being either CCBill or the Website owner.)

                                                    Although what KRosh said may be effectively correct, I have never been able to find any Visa documentation that confirms or denies his standpoint nor mine........

                                                    until TODAY!!!

                                                    Visa USA:
                                                    Are there merchant fees associated with accepting Visa?

                                                    Visa Europe:
                                                    Fees
                                                    Visa doesn?t charge any fees to cardholders or merchants ? instead, our member banks do this. Our income comes from fees paid by our 4,500 member banks.

                                                    So once again semantics...it is NOT Visa that requires this but the acquiring bank...as I stated above!
                                                    Darryl McDade
                                                    Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                    Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Ben.Z
                                                      Confirmed User
                                                      • Sep 2004
                                                      • 1164

                                                      #27
                                                      I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that it costs absolutely nothing to open an account with WTS for ACH processing!

                                                      Let's catch up Jim!

                                                      Ben Zuckerman
                                                      Account Manager
                                                      Web Transaction Services
                                                      Toll Free: 1(866)735-5987 ext.1168
                                                      Fax: 1(512)263-3099
                                                      ICQ: 138827832
                                                      Credit Card Processing for Adult Merchants

                                                      Contact me: Ben Z. (ben|AT|CardReady.com) ICQ_138827832
                                                      Toll Free: 1.888.398.6001 Ext.212

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                                                      • Verotel
                                                        Confirmed User
                                                        • Oct 2002
                                                        • 202

                                                        #28
                                                        Originally posted by WTS - Ben
                                                        I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that it costs absolutely nothing to open an account with WTS for ACH processing!
                                                        Now THAT was a shameless plug...hehehe....
                                                        Darryl McDade
                                                        Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                        Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                        Comment

                                                        • KRosh
                                                          So Fucking Outlawed
                                                          • Nov 2001
                                                          • 5114

                                                          #29
                                                          Originally posted by Verotel

                                                          So once again semantics...it is NOT Visa that requires this but the acquiring bank...as I stated above!
                                                          Darryl,

                                                          these are fees that VISA definitely put in place -

                                                          VISA

                                                          Each Sponsored Merchant must complete a registration form that will be submitted to Visa on the merchant behalf.
                                                          An initial registration fee of $750.00 per company (not per url) will be charged to register each Sponsored Merchant. $500.00 of this fee is payable by the Acquiring Banks to Visa, the balance are administrative fees to the banks and processors.

                                                          Again we are talking about high risk IPSP - New regulations
                                                          ICQ 115433750

                                                          Comment

                                                          • Verotel
                                                            Confirmed User
                                                            • Oct 2002
                                                            • 202

                                                            #30
                                                            Originally posted by KRosh
                                                            Darryl,

                                                            these are fees that VISA definitely put in place -

                                                            VISA

                                                            Each Sponsored Merchant must complete a registration form that will be submitted to Visa on the merchant behalf.
                                                            An initial registration fee of $750.00 per company (not per url) will be charged to register each Sponsored Merchant. $500.00 of this fee is payable by the Acquiring Banks to Visa, the balance are administrative fees to the banks and processors.

                                                            Again we are talking about high risk IPSP - New regulations
                                                            I'd like to see it in writing (preferably on Visa letter head or a link to the Visa site.) Yes, I'm talking about the new high risk regulations but once again, it could be different between the US and Europe because we also have IPSP status but we get no strictly Visa fee as you describe....only a "registration" fee from one of our acquirers and NONE from the other.
                                                            Darryl McDade
                                                            Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                            Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                            Comment

                                                            • Ben.Z
                                                              Confirmed User
                                                              • Sep 2004
                                                              • 1164

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by Verotel
                                                              Now THAT was a shameless plug...hehehe....
                                                              You bet it was! lol
                                                              Credit Card Processing for Adult Merchants

                                                              Contact me: Ben Z. (ben|AT|CardReady.com) ICQ_138827832
                                                              Toll Free: 1.888.398.6001 Ext.212

                                                              Comment

                                                              • SexPlayAlfa
                                                                Registered User
                                                                • Apr 2006
                                                                • 74

                                                                #32
                                                                I think VISA Europe is different , visa doesn't control the market as well in Europe as they do in the US and it would be stupid of them to already start being cocky at this time.
                                                                I am not a Sigwhore!

                                                                Comment

                                                                • shuki
                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                  • Aug 2004
                                                                  • 3070

                                                                  #33
                                                                  Do you have to do this for both Visa and mastercard?
                                                                  Looking to buy established paysites contact me [email protected]

                                                                  Comment

                                                                  • candyflip
                                                                    Carpe Visio
                                                                    • Jul 2002
                                                                    • 43069

                                                                    #34
                                                                    Originally posted by shuki
                                                                    Do you have to do this for both Visa and mastercard?
                                                                    No "start up" fee associated with MC. You can be set up and running MC with CCBill in about 24 hours, if not sooner.

                                                                    Spend you some brain.
                                                                    Email Me

                                                                    Comment

                                                                    • GreyWolf
                                                                      So Fucking Banned
                                                                      • Jun 2007
                                                                      • 2036

                                                                      #35
                                                                      Originally posted by SexPlayAlfa
                                                                      I think VISA Europe is different , visa doesn't control the market as well in Europe as they do in the US and it would be stupid of them to already start being cocky at this time.
                                                                      True - tho it's not only the European banking region which is different. No other banking region accepted VISA's modus operandi and the exception to this is the USA.

                                                                      It's really the global banking regions which control card companies - if they don't agree to whatever, nothing happens.

                                                                      Comment

                                                                      • shuki
                                                                        Confirmed User
                                                                        • Aug 2004
                                                                        • 3070

                                                                        #36
                                                                        Originally posted by candyflip
                                                                        No "start up" fee associated with MC. You can be set up and running MC with CCBill in about 24 hours, if not sooner.
                                                                        Thanks bro
                                                                        Looking to buy established paysites contact me [email protected]

                                                                        Comment

                                                                        • Verotel
                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                          • Oct 2002
                                                                          • 202

                                                                          #37
                                                                          Originally posted by SexPlayAlfa
                                                                          I think VISA Europe is different , visa doesn't control the market as well in Europe as they do in the US and it would be stupid of them to already start being cocky at this time.
                                                                          Originally posted by GreyWolf
                                                                          True - tho it's not only the European banking region which is different. No other banking region accepted VISA's modus operandi and the exception to this is the USA.

                                                                          It's really the global banking regions which control card companies - if they don't agree to whatever, nothing happens.
                                                                          Very true SPA and GW...and in Europe there's not only one country making the rules..but then we've got the European Union which is going in that direction...lol
                                                                          Last edited by Verotel; 12-18-2007, 11:38 AM.
                                                                          Darryl McDade
                                                                          Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                                          Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                                          Comment

                                                                          • Jim_Gunn
                                                                            Confirmed User
                                                                            • Feb 2003
                                                                            • 5702

                                                                            #38
                                                                            Lotta good answers here. Interesting about the semantics of the Visa issue. Despite the $750 fee, I am almost certainly still going to go with CCBill first, and add other c.c. processors later because my program is going to rely mostly on affiliate traffic and a lot of affiliates seem to prefer CCBill and/or Epoch since they are already signed up as webmasters.

                                                                            Comment

                                                                            • Verotel
                                                                              Confirmed User
                                                                              • Oct 2002
                                                                              • 202

                                                                              #39
                                                                              Originally posted by Jim_Gunn
                                                                              Lotta good answers here. Interesting about the semantics of the Visa issue. Despite the $750 fee, I am almost certainly still going to go with CCBill first, and add other c.c. processors later because my program is going to rely mostly on affiliate traffic and a lot of affiliates seem to prefer CCBill and/or Epoch since they are already signed up as webmasters.
                                                                              Nothing wrong with CCBill...and it does really depend on your niche and who those affiliates prefer. At any rate, glad we could provide some interesting information. Hit me up via e-mail if you have any additional questions in the future.
                                                                              Darryl McDade
                                                                              Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                                              Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                                              Comment

                                                                              • aico
                                                                                Moo Moo Cow
                                                                                • Mar 2004
                                                                                • 14748

                                                                                #40
                                                                                Originally posted by Jim_Gunn
                                                                                Lotta good answers here. Interesting about the semantics of the Visa issue. Despite the $750 fee, I am almost certainly still going to go with CCBill first, and add other c.c. processors later because my program is going to rely mostly on affiliate traffic and a lot of affiliates seem to prefer CCBill and/or Epoch since they are already signed up as webmasters.
                                                                                Keep in mind that Epoch has MPA3 powered affiliate system that allows you to cascade and use CCBill (among others) as a secondary and still pay your affiliates no matter which gets the sale. So I would actually suggest starting with Epoch.

                                                                                Comment

                                                                                • GreyWolf
                                                                                  So Fucking Banned
                                                                                  • Jun 2007
                                                                                  • 2036

                                                                                  #41
                                                                                  Originally posted by Verotel
                                                                                  ..but then we've got the European Union which is going in that direction...lol
                                                                                  Sure - just give them more time and they'll have a complete office block to handle cross-border banking relationships - complete with 500 clueless staff trying to read 400 reams of proposed legislation *lol*

                                                                                  That's what happens when govt's become more centralised - they need to find something to do and total crap to discuss US is a prime example.

                                                                                  Comment

                                                                                  • Verotel
                                                                                    Confirmed User
                                                                                    • Oct 2002
                                                                                    • 202

                                                                                    #42
                                                                                    Originally posted by GreyWolf
                                                                                    Sure - just give them more time and they'll have a complete office block to handle cross-border banking relationships - complete with 500 clueless staff trying to read 400 reams of proposed legislation *lol*

                                                                                    That's what happens when govt's become more centralised - they need to find something to do and total crap to discuss US is a prime example.
                                                                                    and you forgot: assess a fat tax for ALLLLLLL the extra work they'll have to do...lol

                                                                                    anyway...guess we're off topic here...sorry about that...
                                                                                    Darryl McDade
                                                                                    Merchant Relationship Executive
                                                                                    Verotel Merchant Services BV

                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                    • Rand
                                                                                      Industry Vet
                                                                                      • Jan 2002
                                                                                      • 2663

                                                                                      #43

                                                                                      Ugh... messy thread.

                                                                                      Here is the way it breaks down.


                                                                                      - Visa US charges a registration fee. Visa itself is an association of banks.

                                                                                      - US HRIPSP's collect the Visa fee of $750 per company (not site). The majority of that fee goes directly to Visa US and the remainder to the acquiring bank and the processor.

                                                                                      - If you use multiple US HRIPSP's you will pay the registration fees per processor.

                                                                                      - There are no registration fees for MasterCard.

                                                                                      - There are no registration fees in the EU region.

                                                                                      I hope this clears up any remaining confusion.


                                                                                      BTW - An FYI for you all. Visa reads GFY. (I'm not kidding)

                                                                                      -- Rand


                                                                                      Payment Industry - Communications - Quality Assurance

                                                                                      Comment

                                                                                      • nemocnice
                                                                                        Registered User
                                                                                        • Feb 2008
                                                                                        • 25

                                                                                        #44
                                                                                        If there's no fee for VISA with Verotel, is it a good or bad idea to have both CCBill (and/or Epoch) without VISA and VISA cards directed to Verotel? It seems shady. But is it acceptable?

                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                        • Buster Cherry
                                                                                          Registered User
                                                                                          • Apr 2007
                                                                                          • 57

                                                                                          #45
                                                                                          Originally posted by aico
                                                                                          Keep in mind that Epoch has MPA3 powered affiliate system that allows you to cascade and use CCBill (among others) as a secondary and still pay your affiliates no matter which gets the sale. So I would actually suggest starting with Epoch.
                                                                                          CCBill just recently implemented their own cascading billing system, where you can use Epoch as a secondary biller. We haven't set it up yet so I don't know how it compares to Epoch's system, but I would bet that is does the same thing.

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