Which payment methods? Can you recommend please?

[Spark]

Trying to go live (very soon). I've set up a merchant account with Nochex but have not had any luck in getting them to reply to queries (i.e., non-Nochex customers can only spend £100 - would like this increased).

I'd rather delay getting a merchant account for the first 6 months of trading so need a service that does everything - what would you recommend? Do customers prefer some over others? Do you get what you pay for (i.e., Nochex is cheap but doesn't appear to have a reliable form of customer service)?

Thanks.

[pinbrook]

Without a merchant acct you have 2 choices

www.worldpay.co.uk or www.paypal.co.uk

both of these are preferable to Nochex, as they are more established

[Spark]

Thank you.

[delboy]

I only use PayPal to clear credit cards on my site and have had no problems either technically or with customers completing the sale.

I have seen some posts in this group which have said that if you use PayPal then you also need to set up another Payment Service Provider and Merchant account to clear cards for those people who do not have PayPal accounts. This is not so. You can turn off the 'required account' option in the PayPal control section and in this case clear accepted cards from anyone. I initially went down this route because I thought the monthly fee of £25 to the PSP and similar to the Merchant Account provider was a bit of a rip off.

It all depends on your sales volume. If you sell a minimum of £6k/month then that will cover your fixed differential charges and, if you go this route, my advice would be to join the Federation of Small Business's because your Merchant clearance charges will be significantly lower.

Delboy

[Spark]

Thanks - that's good to know. I've just configured a Paypal account too so I can offer Nochex & Paypal (and if people want to pay by cheque they can print out order I think). Slightly off track but I've been looking into the FSB too - are they worth joining? I was put off from a time point of view (meeting time required). I am quite tempted though - their offers seem really good - i.e., business account with the Co-op bank which stays free always (not just the first 18 months). Is their merchant service clearance through Co-op too?

[delboy]

Hi Sonia,

In the first year that we joined the FSB they saved us over £4,000 in card clearance charges; but there are many other useful beneifts to that organisation. So yes, I would recommend them to you.

Delboy

[Spark]

Hi Delboy - thanks for that - I'll give them a call to arrange that meeting after all.
Regards.
Sonia

[dickiedubs]

Protx very good IMC

give protx a go, I've used them for 12 months for my own site and several clients.

[Spark]

Thanks Richard.