I applied to the bank to be able to use the credit card machine and I was denied.

Geez, how am I supposed to "grow" my business without being able to accept the credit cards? Everything is plastic nowadaws!

Sigh,

another thing to do on my "TO DO LIST"

call bank on Monday...

After I opened up my business account (and locked into a two year contract) I discovered that paypal also allows vendor sales FOR A LOT LESS FEES than my bank merchant account. Personally I wish I would have thought of paypal first. You might want to check it out; it certainly didn't require the documentation that my merchant account did.

Good luck and hang in there!

Lorri

What about accepting credit cards on line through paypal? That's what I do. I even have a "Buy Now" button on my website.

Ahhh that sucks!! I thought you contact Visa,MC,AMEX personally and they are the ones who give out the machines ...Try that!!!

nah, didn't want to do the "pay pal" thing...I ordered a book from Europe and someone got a hold of my cc number and ordered a 1,000 computer!

and some ebay junk...that they are still billing me for!!!

I had to do the police report thingie and all....lol

wow you're not paying for that stuff are you? Your cc company should not be billing you for things you didn't actually purchase - did you contact those companies the orders were placed with? Most of the time they will put "fraud" on the account themselves and will credit you back for those orders placed w/ your card that you didn't order..... good luck with that! You can look at other online merchants or you can call the companies and ask for machines. Good luck!

Was your credit card compromised or are you trying to set up a merchant account to accept payment by credit cards?

tired to get a merchant account...

I've been with Paypal for like 7 years now and haven't had any problems. I also accept Paypal on my website and its a great way to get deposits and prepayment from customers. I have the Paypal debit card too, which is great.

You can get scammed if you are not careful to go to the "real" Paypal site (https://) and also you have to be careful when you buy foreign stuff on Ebay. Just watch for red flags and be careful who you deal with and usually it works out ok.

If you are a member of Costco (or maybe if you aren't a member) they have a merchant account program. Just because your bank denied you don't think they all will. There are many other companies but make sure you understand all the extra charges (get them to put it in writing). You can pit them against each other too and say well my bank offers this, Costco offers this rate, cornerstone offers xyz can you beat it?

i agree.... if your bank doesn't - someone else will... keep trying

also - did your bank tell you why.... maybe its something you can try to fix or something that you can work on...

I get mine thru this company: http://www.rbslynk.com/

My bank gave me their contact info. They've been great to work with.

If you join the Retail Bakers of America, you will have a member option to participate in their credit card program. They also offer other member features, such as insurances, etc. It's where I am going to go when I start my business.

Theresa

I use the merchant account available through Quickbooks (the business accounting service). It's very slick and easy. I make the invoice. When the order is filled, I click "receive payment." Zip. The card is charged and (a few days later) the money is depoisited in my bank account. All the information is automatically recorded in the accounting software. I love it.

I used to use www.propay.com to accept credit cards. The interest rate is a little higher than going through a processing company but you don't have equipment fees or a bunch of junk fees. You get the cc info from your customer and just type it in... It's very simple. I almost wish I had stayed with them instead of leasing a machine for 2 years...but I need to be able to run the cards at the shop and I don't have internet access there.

Also, visa and mastercard are fairly easy to get approved for...amex is not. Did you ask your bank if the processing company denied you completely or if amex did and there for assumed you didn't want the account? I don't accept amex because they denied me....the idiots denied me as I had an amex card in my purse