What is a merchant account? - GoFuckYourself.com

Calvinguy · 10-12-2002, 10:12 AM

Maybe a stupid question, but what is a merchant account exactly? And what does it require to get one?

Can I as a EU cititzen get a merchant account in USA and keep my comapany in EU?

My own country(Denmark) will not touch adult related stuff. Can I get a merchant account in the Netherlands and use with Ibill, Epoch etc.? And how?

UnseenWorld · 10-12-2002, 10:20 AM

A merchant account is an account with a bank that allows you to conduct credit card sales. Most website owners do NOT have a merchant account, and so they have companies like CCBill, GloBill, IBill, et al, do their credit card processing for them.

Unfortunately, in today's climate, you will almost certainly have to present yourself as a merchant for some non-Web-related product in order to get one. The credit card companies are not very friendly to web-based adult businesses, and membership sites in particular.

Your best chance is to start off as a dealer for sex toys, but even so, you may be required to have a "brick and mortar" (physical and accessible to the public) location in order to get an account.

I have a merchant account which I got in order to sell some booklets I wrote. While I do have a membership site now, I won't risk my merchant account by using it to process memberships, because I might lose it.

Bobo · 10-12-2002, 10:24 AM

Awww a newbie

2477 · 10-12-2002, 10:28 AM

W/ a merchant account, you will have your own merchant ID. Meaning you'll have more control over your business. It also means you'll have more accountability as far a chargbacks go. At least that use to be the case. However, with the new chargeback thresholds, IPSP sponsored merchants are now looking just about as accountable.

You'll need to be registered w/ both Visa & MasterCard totaling $1500. If you're an EU citizen, you'll need a US mailing address and a US checking account to qualify. It would be worth your while if you have existing sales volume and your chargbacks are in line..

2477 · 10-12-2002, 10:46 AM

Unseen is right about most banks not being too friendly to web-based adult businesses. Also , I would say that for the most part those bank who do accept adult business don't completely know what's involved in getting an adult content based merchant approved. It's important to make sure you're dealing w/ a bank who is up-to-speed on all the new and upcoming V/MC regs.

BTW...you don't need a brick and mortar store before approval.

DragonAss · 10-12-2002, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UnseenWorld
I have a merchant account which I got in order to sell some booklets I wrote. While I do have a membership site now, I won't risk my merchant account by using it to process memberships, because I might lose it.

Unseen: I've a merchant account also and, from everything I've gathered, it seems that this protection is now moot. If you register through an IPSP and get TMF'd, then you're personal merchant account is also TMF'd -- unless it's under a different name/company.

About the only real reasons to stick with our current IPSP('s) are:

1) if we like their software/admin setup
2) to keep existing rebills
3) to keep existing affiliate webmasters

If there's anything I'm missing here, please S C R E A M!!

Just getting the details of this shit-storm together is more bewildering than uninitiated oral sex from a total stranger on public transportation.

footguy · 10-12-2002, 04:01 PM

There may be something missing.

If we stay with our present IPSPs I think they will be forced to include the domain name of the web site on the subsciber's bill.

So if the bill reads CCBILL today, it will read
CCBILL/Screwinghookers.com (name used as an example only)
Nobody can be sure as to exactly what will actually happen but I have seen that pop up a couple times.

Assuming that does happen, it will probably kill off about 20-30% of recurring billing and may even raise chargebacks to an unacceptable point. In other words, Visa sank our ship, gave us a liferaft but made sure the liferaft had a hole in it.

I am considering using my merchant account with some pretty hard scrubbing. I make a decent living now and would much rather maintain it that be pissed off at scrubbing.

NETbilling · 10-16-2002, 09:45 PM

Calvinguy,

247 explained the merchant account situation right on. Netbilling can actually help you establish a merchant account right in Europe at a good rate and we will handle all of your proccessing, fraud scrubbing, customer service etc...

Let me know if you are interested and I will be happy to arrange a phone conference with our sales manager to show you our incredible system and get you setup.

It is not that difficult to get the merchant account when you work with the right company. It just takes a little time and patience but the benefits are well worth it.

Thank you, Mitch Farber

10-12-2002, 10:12 AM	#1
Calvinguy Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: European Union Posts: 1,752	What is a merchant account? Maybe a stupid question, but what is a merchant account exactly? And what does it require to get one? Can I as a EU cititzen get a merchant account in USA and keep my comapany in EU? My own country(Denmark) will not touch adult related stuff. Can I get a merchant account in the Netherlands and use with Ibill, Epoch etc.? And how? Last edited by Calvinguy; 10-12-2002 at 10:19 AM..

10-12-2002, 10:20 AM	#2
UnseenWorld Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 5,279	A merchant account is an account with a bank that allows you to conduct credit card sales. Most website owners do NOT have a merchant account, and so they have companies like CCBill, GloBill, IBill, et al, do their credit card processing for them. Unfortunately, in today's climate, you will almost certainly have to present yourself as a merchant for some non-Web-related product in order to get one. The credit card companies are not very friendly to web-based adult businesses, and membership sites in particular. Your best chance is to start off as a dealer for sex toys, but even so, you may be required to have a "brick and mortar" (physical and accessible to the public) location in order to get an account. I have a merchant account which I got in order to sell some booklets I wrote. While I do have a membership site now, I won't risk my merchant account by using it to process memberships, because I might lose it. __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, then you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60.

10-12-2002, 10:28 AM	#4
2477 Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Right behind you Posts: 414	W/ a merchant account, you will have your own merchant ID. Meaning you'll have more control over your business. It also means you'll have more accountability as far a chargbacks go. At least that use to be the case. However, with the new chargeback thresholds, IPSP sponsored merchants are now looking just about as accountable. You'll need to be registered w/ both Visa & MasterCard totaling $1500. If you're an EU citizen, you'll need a US mailing address and a US checking account to qualify. It would be worth your while if you have existing sales volume and your chargbacks are in line.. __________________ Coooostanza.....icq# 195813751

10-12-2002, 10:46 AM	#5
2477 Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Right behind you Posts: 414	Unseen is right about most banks not being too friendly to web-based adult businesses. Also , I would say that for the most part those bank who do accept adult business don't completely know what's involved in getting an adult content based merchant approved. It's important to make sure you're dealing w/ a bank who is up-to-speed on all the new and upcoming V/MC regs. BTW...you don't need a brick and mortar store before approval. __________________ Coooostanza.....icq# 195813751

10-16-2002, 09:45 PM	#8
NETbilling Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 8,584	Calvinguy, 247 explained the merchant account situation right on. Netbilling can actually help you establish a merchant account right in Europe at a good rate and we will handle all of your proccessing, fraud scrubbing, customer service etc... Let me know if you are interested and I will be happy to arrange a phone conference with our sales manager to show you our incredible system and get you setup. It is not that difficult to get the merchant account when you work with the right company. It just takes a little time and patience but the benefits are well worth it. Thank you, Mitch Farber __________________ Mitch Farber CEO - NETbilling, Inc. Email / Phone: 888-357-8166 / 661-252-2456 Transaction processing & 24/7 call center services with exceptional rates and flexibility, since 1998!

10-12-2002, 10:24 AM	#3
Bobo Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,253	Awww a newbie

10-12-2002, 04:01 PM	#7
footguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: FL Posts: 30	There may be something missing. If we stay with our present IPSPs I think they will be forced to include the domain name of the web site on the subsciber's bill. So if the bill reads CCBILL today, it will read CCBILL/Screwinghookers.com (name used as an example only) Nobody can be sure as to exactly what will actually happen but I have seen that pop up a couple times. Assuming that does happen, it will probably kill off about 20-30% of recurring billing and may even raise chargebacks to an unacceptable point. In other words, Visa sank our ship, gave us a liferaft but made sure the liferaft had a hole in it. I am considering using my merchant account with some pretty hard scrubbing. I make a decent living now and would much rather maintain it that be pissed off at scrubbing.