Whats the first port of call when choosing a PSP?

[Mark Crisell]

A private individual wants to use Actinic and a PSP, what's the first port of call they should head to when choosing a PSP?

[leehack]

A household name for maximum confidence IMO.

[Mark Crisell]

Indeed, but putting to one side the PSP's that we've used in the past that we're comfortable with and starting from a fresh piece of paper so to speak.

Where to start?

We all know the Worldpays, the Protx's and the Secure Tradings of this world, etc. but is there a guide anywhere that could be given to prospective customers that lists the PSP's and their features, in some form of comparrsion?

Someone has posted a link to such a site, but it seems to be down.

I've been asked the question, "Which PSP?" and I can't give a logical answer as to why I'd put forward any one of them.

[leehack]

It's subjective Mark though, so you will never get an impartial piece of advice. For instance i would currently say do not touch with a barge pole PPP or PROTX, cos with actinic there has just been too many problems.

I have never heard of a HSBC or Barclays problem yet and been as they are far bigger and better household names, for me, they are where my first enquiries would be aimed.

[pinbrook]

There's no blanket answer, the choice of PSP has to be personal to the business therefore the client needs to get on the phone.

Not all PSPs will take everyone on, some with jack up their prices if you do not fit their criteria, thus its one of those case by case scenarios

[Mark Crisell]

Don't worry guys, I wasn't asking who they should choose as a PSP, more so what is out there that will help someone choose?

I was sort of hoping that somewhere there would be a lovely little review that details things such as:-

- Multi-site capable with customised pages for each site including https hosting for logos, etc

- Delayed transaction processing with auto completion in your chosen no of days or by manual authorisation

- Actinic order no searchable against transactions

All these sorts of things... like a PC Pro Labs style of reviews

It would be foolish for me to walk in here and say "Which PSP should they choose?" as Lee says, it's very subjective. But I struggle to find an answer to that same question even when presented with the facts of a customers situation - most times it ends up with, "Well... such and such uses xyz and they're fairly happy".

[Cheapprices4u]

streamline will allow use of the merchant account on different sites as long as it is similar in nature
worldpay will give the vertiual terminal free to fsb members as part of the package

worldpay will not tough the "seedier" side of life
cardnet will

so as you can see many differnet aspects