Applying for Merchant Accounts and Payment Gateways

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A merchant account and payment gateway enable you to accept credit cards as payment for the purchase of goods and services. There are different types of merchant accounts. For example, if you have a traditional "brick and mortar" store, you can get a retail merchant account. If you want to accept credit cards on your Web site, however, you need a specialized type of merchant account known as an "Internet-ready" merchant account.

Internet-ready merchant accounts enable you to handle Internet transactions in "real time" without any human intervention. Because the risk of credit card fraud is greater when you are accepting credit cards over the Internet, these specialized merchant accounts also provide additional checks that can significantly reduce the chance of credit card fraud. Once the transactions are processed, the merchant account provider transfers the funds received from the credit card transactions from your merchant account to your bank account.

Payment Gateways

A payment gateway is a service that connects your online store with your merchant account provider. This service reads the information from the order forms and translates that information for the merchant account. The payment gateway also verifies that the customer's credit card account has the necessary credit available for the purchase. You can obtain a payment gateway separately from your merchant account. However, you may find it simpler to choose a merchant account provider that also offers a payment gateway.

Applying for  a Merchant Account

A number of companies offer Internet-ready merchant accounts including First Data Merchant Services and PayPal Merchant Accounts. When you sign up for an E-commerce plan with us, you can open an account with First Data at the same time in SiteControl. Of course, you are free to choose another merchant account provider.

To open a First Data account:

1	Log in to SiteControl and click Website.
2	Under the Ecommerce section, click Merchant Accounts & Payment Gateways.
3	Click the First Data logo or the Learn more about First Data link.
4	At the First Data web site, click Apply Now and follow their instructions.

 

NOTE: For questions or assistance with the First Data account, please contact First Data directly.