Actinic Payments Integration

[Ginnys Attic]

I've had a look at the Actinic Payments system which i was like a lot of people was going to be an awesome solution for taking payments but like a lot of other people have been less than impressed so far.

Anyway i have just been looking at the system again and feel it is just to damn fiddly and not overly user friendly (for our customers) and adds further clicks to the process which is already to long winded which is a well documented complaint on these forms.

For example:

Checkout Page 1: Simply lists the items purchased and asks the customer to select there country.

Checkout Page 2: Again lists the items purchased but now asks for name, address, email etc and gives the customer the chance to select shipping methods and confirrm they agree to the terms and conditions.

Checkout Page 3: Again lists the items purchased and now also asks the customer general questions, delivery address and to select there payment method.

Now at checkout page 3 if the site is using an SSL and processing the transaction offline the cutomer simply enters there credit/debit card details and the process is complete. For me this is acceptable and casues no concern.

But if you are using a PSP or Actinic Payments the customer has to again click next to be taken to a page which will hopefully bounce them to the payment page of the PSP or Actinic Payments (so far an extra click and an extra unnecessary page for the customer) if the bounce doesn't work they again at this stage would have to click next (2 unnecessary clicks are required).

The customer will eventually end up at a page where they enter there payment details and are then bounced back to the original site (again this bounce will not always work) for a receipt so all in all this is time consuming and very un user friendly.

Surely there is no need for the bounce page after checkout page 3 in the first place and the next button should simply open the page which the customer will eventually be bounced to?

With Actinic Payments i feel this should also be improved even further and would like to see the the credit/debit card details entered within the site where the customer is actually shopping (on checkout page 3) and not bouncing the customer off to the shockingly plain, boring and un-confidence inspiring Actinic Payments page.

Can the Actinic Payments not be actually integrated in and actually function within the Actinic shop (EG simply replace the current enter your card type, number, start, expiry, issue number and CVV on checkout page 3) using java, I Frame or even a small pop up similar to how the 3D secure opens or something so that there is no further unnecessary clicks or pages for the customer and it appears to them that they are still actually using the site they think they are?

I just don't see the need for the whole bounce page and customers continually clicking next all to get to another page which unnecessary repeats there name and address, delivery name and address but does ask for the card details and it doesnt' currently in standard form show them what they have purchased (i assume that will never happen), over powers the sites name and total amount spent with an Actinic Payments Logo which means nothing to anyone and is all on a page that looks like it was knocked up in 1990 using Front Page.

Wheres the scrolling marque and flashing text or are these options going to be added in the next update to the Actinic Payments service?

[outdooraction]

I dont think actinic payments is at fault here as the same process is for all payment service providers. I think the generall layout of the first 1-3 checkout could well be brought douwn to the one and then the bounce page kicks in. This is not a actinc payments fault and for me [a user of actinic payment] has done exactully what i wanted it to do, and has done as it says on the tin.

I think actinic developers on the softwear are at fault as im sure everyone agrees the checkout process is the worst thing about actinic [aprt from stock], not the psp providers.

[TraceyHand]

I'm inclined to agree with Andrew.
While the Actinic Payments page itself could do with some serious looking at by Actinic, from a design POV, (a discussion that has already taken place on the forums) the whole checkout procedure is nothing to do with Actinic Payments as a PSP and is a whole other debate that has also been discussed at length on the forums over a period of several years.

We moan about it, they 'listen', another release comes along and, hey presto, no changes.
Oh, we got a checkout indicator. So now, we can say "We know our checkout process is long so, here...let us give you an indication of just how long and what stage you're at"

It isn't the fault of AP though and, tbh, I don't want AP brought 'in store', it's a PSP, I just want it to look more professional.

[RuralWeb]

Its all been discussed at great length before - try a search and all the points have been covered - again and again

[leehack]

looks like it was knocked up in 1990 using Front Page.

Is that using an 800 or 1024 screen?

You need to understand the fundamentals of a psp operation to realise what crap you are talking. Java, Iframe or popup, sheesh if there was ever someone trying to illustrate how clever he is and publically failing, it is you. Give up, you talk 90% utter crap. The credibility of a PSP is the fact that it leaves an unknown store and uses a well known name. HSBC are your prime example of a page in between the bounce and they are the biggest, best and most successful!

[Ginnys Attic]

Surely with Actinic Payments the integration could be considerably better with an Actinic Store and surely it should function within the site better than being just another PSP?

As you both say the whole checkout process which has been discussed is the perhaps at fault but for those using an SSL a 3 step order completion is quite normal which takes me back to my thoughts that if the Actinic Payments could be either integrated in to checkout page 3 (replacing the current card details for SSL users) or if they moved the general questions, delivery address and payment selection to page 2 and the next button simply opened the PSP (rather than using a bounce page which is shockingly c**p looks unprofessional and serves no purpose imo) but for Actinic Payments a simple pop-up similar to the 3d security window where the customers enter there card details would be a major improvement and would resolve the bland, boring and un-confidence inspiring current Actinic Payments page.

I just feel that Actinic Payments will not inspire customer confidence, is slightly confusing in the sense that people will have never heard of it and therefore will be more cautious and that it doesn’t make the shopping experience any easier and is nowhere near as easy for the customers of the sites that use an SSL and process payments offline.

I think that by simply moving a few things around within the checkout process and adding something even as simple as payment option buttons for each method offered by the shop which when clicked transfers the customers directly to the PSP instead of them having to press next and then see a bounce page that doesn’t always work before being sent to which ever PSP and in the case of Actinic Payments the integration should be far slicker and if it is not possible to include the card details within checkout page 3 somehow that something as simple as opening a small popup for them to enter the card details would be far superior that’s all.

I like the Actinic Payments idea, I just am less than impressed with the final product and integration and as it stands there is no way we would possibly consider using the service which is a real shame and to me seems that it could so easily be tweaked to function within an Actinic shop so much better.

Something as simple as this on checkout page 2 would be at least a step in the right direction and if the customer selects the safe and secured checkout option for an Actinic Payments Pop-up to replace the dire current Actinic Payments page:

[RuralWeb]

Your just repeating what was discussed recently - go and read it all

[TraceyHand]

You have a 'thing' for pop ups, it seems and I disagree on this point in particular.
A payment page always needs to be just that...a page.. not a pop up, java-crap, i frame whatever-ma-jig

a) Actinic need to streamline the checkout (been discussed a zillion times before)
b) the Actinic Payments page needs to be MUCH better designed.

Anything else is just unnecessary waffle.

[Ginnys Attic]

You have a 'thing' for pop ups, it seems and I disagree on this point in particular.
A payment page always needs to be just that...a page.. not a pop up, java-crap, i frame whatever-ma-jig

a) Actinic need to streamline the checkout (been discussed a zillion times before)
b) the Actinic Payments page needs to be MUCH better designed.

Anything else is just unnecessary waffle.

I'm personally not keen on pop-up’s as they could easily be blocked but lets not forget that we are not transferred off to a different server or page when the small pop-up 3D security window opens for us to enter our details and that’s why I thought it could be a potential solution for the bounce page and horrible Actinic Payments page.

I agree and have read the other topics about Actinic checkout, I just feel that it is not necessary for the whole new Actinic Payments branded page which will mean nothing to anyone just so the customer can enter there card details and I just feel there could be and should be a better solution and better integration of Actinic Payments within an Actinic shop.

Is that using an 800 or 1024 screen?

You need to understand the fundamentals of a psp operation to realise what crap you are talking. Java, Iframe or popup, sheesh if there was ever someone trying to illustrate how clever he is and publically failing, it is you. Give up, you talk 90% utter crap. The credibility of a PSP is the fact that it leaves an unknown store and uses a well known name. HSBC are your prime example of a page in between the bounce and they are the biggest, best and most successful!

Oh dear here we go again and as expected it didn't take long for Tweedle Dee to rear his all knowing giant sized head and spout on with yet more off topic nonsense, next thing your be telling me that the 3d security window doesn't open in a small floating pop-up window and in fact opens a whole new page which is designed for 1024+ resolutions!

In answer to your carp Lee, A: I'm not trying to look clever like you claim in anyway shape or form but if the cap fits I guess that’s why you wear it on a daily basis whilst you patrol these forums and also why your mannerism is to snarl down your nose at people which you quite frequently do. I’m not the one attempting to be a smart arse or ridicule any of the users of this forum Lee you are so I suggest you take a closer look at your self!

As for HSBC, Paypal, Worldpay, Google Checkout etc each of these have an established brand which is widely know and trusted, Actinic Payment’s do not and this:

Is a million miles off having the credibility of any of the major PSP's.

Odd thing about Actinic Payments is that they also went for an 800 res to ensure usability to all users which is actually the same as the 50 odd major retail examples I previously listed for you who are all of which are quite clearly wrong because you are always right and lets face it the overall reality here is that because Lee Hackett doesn’t use 800x600 anymore nobody else in the world does either yet this is not the case as Lee Hackett is willing to design and use sites as examples of work such as http://www.tamscaff.co.uk or http://www.pickupandson.co.uk which are both designed to fit for 800x600 res which seems just a little more than hypercritical to me for someone with such an informed and correct opinion on the subject

Your entitled to an opinion Lee but your opinion is not factual and nothing more than an opinion, you are not God and I can assure you despite your own self inflated ego you do not know every thing and therefore I would appreciate if in future you do not directly reply to any of my posts or topics because quite simply your smart arse attempts to ridicule and undermine users including myself and on these forums is something I would expect from a 12 year old Sony Playstation fanboy arguing with an Xbox 360 owner because he can't play Halo 3 or Gears of War and therefore both games quite obviously suck on Eurogamer or Games Radar forums and not a serious, intelligent and well informed business man.

HSBC are your prime example of a page in between the bounce and they are the biggest, best and most successful!

You right again Lee they are the biggest and best and that must be why there are countless topics on these forums about the HSBC service being down and shop owners loosing business because they are unable to accept payments for days on end.

[outdooraction]

I think were all getting hot headed here.

Yes actinic doesnt have the name as hsbc does, but i have used it for over 3 weeks now, and not had any complaints or worry that the credit card page is not working or putting people off, i proberbly get about 1 maybe 2 a day that drop out which to me is not bad.

Actinic payments is working very well for me and i am happy with them, the only thing i dont like is the checkout process in actinic its self [as discussed].

Yes i think they could be intregated or made to look smarter, but at present they are treating it like any other psp and its doing its job. only time will see if it gets better intergration with the actinic checkout process

[RuralWeb]

CD has already posted that they are working on it - so we will see

[Ginnys Attic]

I think were all getting hot headed here.

Yes actinic doesnt have the name as hsbc does, but i have used it for over 3 weeks now, and not had any complaints or worry that the credit card page is not working or putting people off, i proberbly get about 1 maybe 2 a day that drop out which to me is not bad.

Actinic payments is working very well for me and i am happy with them, the only thing i dont like is the checkout process in actinic its self [as discussed].

Yes i think they could be intregated or made to look smarter, but at present they are treating it like any other psp and its doing its job. only time will see if it gets better intergration with the actinic checkout process

Very true it will take time and I’m sure over time it will improve. The intention of my post was to simply bring to Actinic's attention potential ideas for improvements that could possibly be made and for them to aim to be a solution for Actinic shops and not be just an alternative PSP.

The whole pre-authorisation, charging for goods etc from within Actinic is exactly what we would want, everything is other than the additional pages and clicking of next buttons, bounce pages and the horrible Actinic Payments page and of me all 3 of these things could quite easily be rectified with a little time and effort on Actinic’s part.

[cbarling]

The reason for not integrating the collection of the card details directly into the Actinic checkout pages is simple. If we went that way it would mean that everyone's web site would need to be PCI DSS compliant.

This would mean hosting with a PCI compliant host (last time I checked they were few and expensive), having intrusion detection etc in place and controls on your staff accessing the site. Altogether a load of hassle and cost.

Chris

[cbarling]

I should add that we do, of course, plan further improvements to Actinic Payments over time.

Chris

[Ginnys Attic]

The reason for not integrating the collection of the card details directly into the Actinic checkout pages is simple. If we went that way it would mean that everyone's web site would need to be PCI DSS compliant.

This would mean hosting with a PCI compliant host (last time I checked they were few and expensive), having intrusion detection etc in place and controls on your staff accessing the site. Altogether a load of hassle and cost.

Chris

Is there no way to improve the intigration then? Something like previously mentioned such as either removing the bounce page and also improving the ability for us to design the layout, use of a pop-up or floating window similar to whats used for 3d security or is the full page pretty much what it's going to be and the choice is accept it or use an alternative PSP?