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Merchant Services Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have less than perfect credit?

Although your credit history will be one consideration when applying for a merchant account, it's not the only consideration. Banks are also interested in the type of business you have, your average ticket and your monthly sales volume. Many of our clients have fair or poor credit and are now running successful online businesses with their Credit Card Merchant Account. You should note that your credit does not affect your processing fees, only the rate at which you lease your equipment.

How do I apply?

Simply click the Apply Now link on the menu to the left. If you meet all the requirements, fill out our application form and we will process your application as soon as possible.

Why can't I just get a merchant account through my local bank?

If your local bank will work with you, you can get a merchant account with them. Unfortunately, most standard banks don't work with smaller, higher risk businesses, especially home-based businesses or Internet businesses. In addition, your bank will probably charge an expensive application fee and/or higher rates.

What kind of equipment do I need to process my customers' credit cards?

You have the option of using a state-of-the-art electronic terminal with keypad for processing your credit card transactions or a Virtual Terminal. A printer for your terminal is also available for a small additional fee.

What is real-time Internet processing?

With a secure, real-time Internet processing account, you don't need to install software on your computer. Your customers' credit cards are instantly and automatically processed directly on your Web Site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Orders can also be entered manually. Funds appear in your regular business checking account within 48-72 hours. It's the easiest and most convenient way for eBusinesses to process orders on the Internet.

How much time does it take to get my merchant account set up?

AIS Media has the quickest and easiest set-up in the industry. Simply complete the short application contained on this web site and receive pre-approval. Once your application has been submitted to the bank, you can have your merchant I.D. within 2-4 business days. It's really that quick and easy!

How much is the application fee?

You may have seen other merchant services that charge $195.00 to $350.00 or more, just to look at your application. With AIS Media, you pay no application fee.

What kind of credit cards can I process with my merchant account?

You can process all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diner's Club. You can also process debit cards at a small additional monthly charge.

What company name will appear on my customers' billing statement?

This is a very important point many merchants don't initially consider. Unlike third-party processors, your company name and telephone number appears on your customers' billing statements. That way, if your customers have any questions, they can call you directly. Your company name on the customer's billing statement also provides your company with additional credibility.

What is a discount rate?

A discount rate is the percentage of each transaction that Visa and Master Card and the bank charges to handle the transaction for you. Your discount rate is determined by the type of business you have. Discount rates typically range between 1.6%- 2.75% for merchants who have walk in traffic and "swipe" the credit card. For Internet merchants, the discount rate typically falls within the range of 2.29% - 3.75%. High risk businesses such as adult sites, gambling sites, etc., typically pay the higher rates.

What other charges besides my discount rate are there?

The standard charges affiliated with merchant accounts are your discount rate, a transaction fee ($0.25-$0.30), a batch fee ($0.25-$0.30 per day), a monthly statement fee ($25), and monthly minimum fee ($25 a month). Internet businesses that utilize a real-time processing solution also pay a monthly $19.95 gateway fee. The gateway is your 24/7 connection to the processor. While some merchant services providers bundle these rates into your discount rate, we prefer to list them separately for you so you know exactly what you're paying. All of these rates are determined by the type of business you have, the products/services you're selling as well as your monthly volume.

With other companies, it's taken up to several weeks for funds to appear in my business checking account. How soon can I expect to have funds available when I obtain my merchant account through AIS Merchant Services?

You may have come across other merchant services companies that require you to set up a separate checking account for your credit card transactions and make you wait up to 30 days or more before your money is available to you. When you obtain your merchant account through AIS Media, your funds are directly deposited into your existing business checking account and available to you within 48-72 hours.

Can you help international businesses obtain a merchant account?

Currently, US banks can only issue merchant accounts to companies that have established a presence in the US. Therefore, we cannot offer credit card merchant services to international businesses at this time.

Is there someone I can speak with that can answer additional questions for me?

Yes. If you have any questions simply complete your application to the best of your ability and submit it. A qualified eCommerce Account Executive will pre-approve you within one (1) business day. If your question is of an urgent matter, you may email us at: cs@aismerchantservices.com or call our office at: (800) 784-0919.

In Layman's terms, how does a real-time Internet processing system work?

Behind the scenes, a real-time Internet processing system works just like a merchant accepting a credit card through a terminal. Data is entered, such as the transaction amount, the card number, expiration date, etc., and is then sent to the bank for real-time approval , and deposited into the merchant's business checking account (minus the bank fees associated with the merchant account). The same data as a terminal is used but the source is an order form on a web site instead of a terminal. After the data is input through the web site, the process is completed through the Internet. We utilize the latest encryption and secure server technology to protect the customer's credit card and personal information from being intercepted on the Internet.

What advantage does "real-time" verification give me when accepting credit cards online?

With real-time credit card processing, instead of obtaining customer's credit card information online and then processing it offline, transactions are verified immediately. Each transaction takes between 5-25 seconds, depending on Internet traffic. Your customer receives an immediate confirmation. If your customer makes a mistake when entering his/her account information, the system will reject it and he/she has the opportunity to correct the error. This eliminates the need of you having to call customers by telephone to correct processing errors. Since all orders are processed automatically, there is no need for you to manually send out order confirmations. It's all done for you. Furthermore, you can track all orders online to keep your records straight. Simply put, if you plan on growing your online business, you need to be able to focus more of your time on marketing - not doing tedious work like order processing. This type of real-time processing system also enhances your company's image and creates customer confidence. Note that orders can also be entered manually via a secure web interface.

What do I need in order to start processing credit cards online?

You must have an eCommerce-compatible credit card merchant account. Once the merchant account is established, the setup process takes just one business day. Your Web site can be hosted on any server without compromising the security of customer's data. To complete a free application and obtain a compatible credit card merchant account, simply click here.

Do customers need to belong to an online bank to use this purchasing system?

No. They only need to be able to get to your web site. You can also accept orders by telephone or mail and enter the payment information manually via a secure web link.

What information do customers need to provide for an order to be processed correctly?

Customers only need to provide their credit card account information; name, address and phone number.

How do my customers keep track of the transaction?

The transaction appears on the customer's monthly statement with your company name. An email notification is sent to the customer with complete order details, serving as a receipt.

Do I receive a monthly statement?

Yes. You receive a monthly statement from the bank that issued you your merchant account bank. You can view itemized totals from the online administrative area, where you can also issue credits and perform a number of other functions.

How are processing fees deducted?

Processing fees are automatically deducted each time a transaction is processed. Discover and American Express deduct fees at the end of each month (you will receive a separate statement from each company).

Does the Virtual Terminal use address verification (AVS)?

YES! Your Virtual Terminal has a fully integrated Address Verification System (AVS). This helps protect you from fraudulent credit card acceptance. You can "grade" transactions based on the degree of match between address data at the cardholder's bank and the data provided by a purchaser.

How do I track large numbers of credit card transactions and revenues from my online business?

Your Virtual Terminal maintains detailed transaction logs for every order you process. You can sort and print logs of transactions in multiple ways with just a click. Transactions can be sorted, viewed, and printed by date, by dollar amount(s), by type of credit card, by passed/failed criteria, and more. The system is so advanced that it's like having a real-time "window" into the credit card companies' billing systems. You always receive up-to-the-minute summary of all authorized funds cleared, settled, and transferred, for each type of credit card you authorize to accept. You no longer need to rely on monthly statements or telephone calls to your bank to resolve problems or reconcile sales and financial records with credit card statements. The Virtual Terminal tracks and displays this data with continuous updating 24 hours a day!

What if I need technical support?

AIS Media and the bank provides a range of technical support services. You can email your Technical Support questions to us or call our office directly anytime you need assistance. Our office hours are Mon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The bank and Authorize.Net also offers technical support 24 hours a day!

Does this system include a shopping cart?

No. This system does not include a shopping cart. However our systems are compatible with virtually any shopping cart program on the market. AIS Media offers a feature rich and cost effective cart that we can easily implement for you. For more information on Excerpo® Storefront is available here.

Can I use this system on several sites?

Yes. Once you've obtained your merchant account, you can use this system on as many sites as you see fit. The only condition is that all orders you process must be for products or services that have been approved by the bank when we establish your merchant account for you.