Jun 20, 2012 11:03 AM
Credit card payments
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Hi Everyone,
We’re looking at accepting credit card payments through our villa’s website and was hoping someone could offer some advice in regards to the following issue. When we look at setting up a payment gateway and merchant account we are asked for business details such as a VAT number (for UK based credit card payment providers) or a Tax ID/Proprietor Social Security Number (for US based credit card payment providers). We have neither of these details as we are not a registered company.
Does anyone know of a way to accept credit card payments without these details? We know PayPal is an option but we were looking to see if it was possible to accept credit cards with the use of a merchant account.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
If you are using HomeAway for your listing, you can also use HomeAway's payment system, which handles all the credit card processing for you. Their credit card fee is smaller than what I used to be paying to my bank for processing when I was handling it myself. And guests get the reasurrance that they are dealing with the real owner of the house, the one who has paid HomeAway for the listing.
I don't think that the UK arm of HomeAway yet allows for credit card payments, though it has been announced as on the way soon.
Does anyone know when HomeAway actually plans to make credit card payments available to UK owners?
Each country's banking regulations are quite different, and international banking can be particularly onerous.
With all that said, good ol' PayPal may be your easiest answer if it supports the common UK and EU payment platforms you need. It's easy to integrate into a website.
You can also check out Authorize.net - the credit card handler we used before we transfered everything to the HomeAway credit card system. I somewhat recall when we openned our merchant account with them that they were supported in countries outside the US. I know I really liked their virtual workstation that let me enter the CC info and track payment histories, etc.
Although probably not ideal for your situation, but of use to others who may be reading this thread - a couple of well-respected international payment systems that can be added to a stand alone website are:
Google Checkout: https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=sierra<mpl=seller&continue=https://checkout.google.com/merchantSignInRedirect
Amazon Checkout: https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdui/business/cba
Won't PayPal let you set up a merchant or premium account from your current bank account? Either can take credit card payments and I don't think they both require business checking accounts, though we have both. Also, look into other Web and smartphone-based apps and services such as Venmo, Cimbal, PayPal "Here", Intuit"GoPayment", etc. until Reservation Manager is available in your area. Some of these even allow free person-to-person credit card transactions without a business account. Try calling VacationRentPayment directly too.
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