Tutorial and Frequently Asked Questions

How Does America Merchant Accounts pair me up with a credit card processor?

Our knowledgeable experts work diligently to pair businesses with the best credit card processor to suit their needs. This means we need to consider factors such as the type of business you have, your account history, and even your long term business goals. By working closely with you, our experts are able to pair you up with a credit processor that will help your business be a success today while also being able to handle your future goals. Since we have contacts with dozens of different credit processor banks, including domestic and offshore processors, we can meet the needs of just about any business.

How is America Merchant Accounts able to offer this service for free?

We are able to offer our services free of charge to businesses because we receive a commission from the credit processing companies when we send new business their way. You don’t have to worry about us sending you to a company just for the commission, however, as we receive money from all of the card processors. In addition, in order to receive a commission, we need to send you to a processor that is likely to approve your application. Sending you to a processor that is a poor match would be a waste of your time as well as ours. Therefore, it benefits us as well as you if we send you to the processor that is a perfect match right from the beginning.

What rates will I pay?

We cannot quote you a rate for credit card processing without knowing more information about your business. Beware of other outfits that quote you “teaser” rates that are unrealistic and are used to draw you in, but you are charged many other hidden charges and fees. Merchant banks that we work with determine rates on a case by case basis. The more volume you do and the higher the risk of a chargeback, typically your transaction rates will be a bit higher.

What is a Terminated Merchant File?

A Terminated Merchant File (TMF) is a message indicating that your merchant processing account is being cancelled. There are a number of reasons for receiving a TMF message. >These include:

• Having a high number of charge backs
• Suspected or confirmed abuse of the system
• Exceeding the pre-set account limits

If the card processor determines you are too risky of a client, you will receive a TMF and you will have a difficult time being approved for an account. As a result, you will be expected to pay highest fees in order to get an account and will typically have to go offshore.

What is a charge back?

A charge back is when a charge is inappropriately placed on a customer’s credit card statement and must then be removed. There are many possible causes of charge backs, including fraudulent use of a credit card. A charge back may also be placed on a card if a customer pushes the submit button too many times when making an online purchase or if a clerk swipes a card too man times. If the customer is unhappy with a product or service or if the product never arrives, a charge back may also be necessary. Posting charge backs can be costly to a business, so care should be taken to prevent them from needing to occur.

Why are travel-related businesses considered high risk?

Travel-related businesses are considered high risk because there is an elevated likelihood of charge backs being applied to the credit card. This is because travelers typically make plans well ahead of time, but events can occur that cause the traveler to cancel the reservations. Therefore, travel-related businesses are at a greater risk of experiencing a large number of costly charge backs. As a result, travel-related businesses typically have to pay higher fees for their transactions and having too many charge backs can put a business at risk of having its charging privileges revoked.

What are the benefits of using an ACH credit rather than a written check?

ACH credits can be posted to your account within 48 hours rather than taking up to a week to clear. In addition, your customers will appreciate being able to use this system because it will save them postage and there are no fees involved with the process. In addition, this method is more secure for customers than writing a check. Using ACH credits also eliminates the need for having accounts receivable clerks for processing your checks. ACH credits can also be set up to be automatically removed from a customer’s account, which is more convenient for the customer and also helps guarantee you receive your payments on time.

Getting Setup with Visa/Mastercard/Discover Steps