What is a Merchant Account?
Tips To Make Sure Your Merchant Application Gets Approved
Merchant Processing Terms & Definiations
Any merchant who wants to accept credit card payments directly requires a merchant account. The way most retail businesses process credit card payments is to swipe the credit card through a card-swipe terminal that transmits the transaction data to the merchant processor that then returns an approved/declined message back to the terminal.
In the case of card-not-present transactions, which include mail order, phone order, fax order, and Internet order, there is no physical credit card to swipe through a terminal. The payment gateway essentially acts like a card-swipe terminal for these card-not-present transactions.
There are effectively two primary components to the gateway:
So, if you wish to accept credit card payments from your customers directly, you will need to apply for a merchant account. If you will process transactions using card-swipe only, you will need a credit card terminal in addition to a merchant account. And, if you wish to process card-not-present transactions, you will also need an Internet payment gateway in addition to the merchant account.
It's important to note that card-not-present transactions require a special type of merchant account known as a "MOTO Merchant Account". MOTO is an aconym for "Mail Order / Telephone Order" but is used for any card-not-present credit card transactions. You are able to process card-swipe transaction using a MOTO merchant account, however, if your merchant account is approved for retail card-swipe only, you will not be able to use it with a gateway.
Apply for a Merchant Account
Signup for the Payment Gateway
An Internet Merchant Account is sometimes referred to as a "MOTO" (Mail Order & Telephone Order) Account because they all require the ability to process a credit card payment when there is no physical credit card present to be swiped. A standard retail "swipe" merchant account does not allow processing of these "card-not-present" transactions.
If the domestic banks are denying your merchant application because they believe your industry is considered high risk, CyoGate can help! We have an offshore network of merchant processing partners that enable us to provide low cost, high risk merchant solutions to a much wider range of businesses and industries.
The CyoGate Internet Payment Gateway offers one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to accept and process credit card and electronic check payments online. Our payment gateway works with most existing merchant accounts and supports hundreds of popular web shopping carts and eCommerce platforms.