When applying for Internet merchant accounts, you will hear the term “qualified rate.” The qualified rate it he lowest rate you will incur when having a credit card charge processed. Many merchants may be concerned about the fees associated with Internet merchant accounts. The fees and charges you might incur include:

• An application fee
• An authorization fee (this is a fee charged each time a credit card is sent to the institution, whether it is accepted or declined)
• A monthly minimum fee (to make sure you make a certain number of processes each month. If you don’t make it, you will be charged to satisfy that fee)
• A statement fee
• A batch fee (incurred each time you settle a terminal, which sends the day’s transactions to the institution for payment)
• A discount rate (a percentage of each transaction)
• And a per transaction fee (a flat fee charged each time a credit card is successfully processed)

Fees will vary from institution to institution, however all are based on Interchange. Interchange is the base rates used for all Internet merchant accounts and it determined by Visa® and Mastercard. Interchange bases their rates on tiers and include thing such as how easy it is for an institution to process the charge. For example, it is easier to process a credit card that is swiped through a terminal than it is to process one in which the credit card number is keyed into the terminal.

Internet merchant accounts are great ways to ensure you get your money with each online credit card transaction.

Labels: credit card transaction fees, interchange fee, internet merchant accounts, retail merchant accounts

These fees are charged per single transaction, and are used to pay the credit card companies for their services. In most cases, these transaction rates are less expensive for the retail stores than they are for the internet stores. This is because internet business poses a higher risk, so the credit card processing transaction fees are typically higher in order to cover that risk. A transaction fee usually consists of a discount rate, which is a percentage of each transaction (usually ranging from 2.10% to 2.40%), as well as a per transaction fee. This fee is usually anywhere from $.25 to $.40 per transaction. All of these fees will be shown on the merchant’s monthly statement so they will be able to see and track their charges each month. While it may seem like this is a high price to pay, it is absolutely worth it for merchants to be able to easily accept credit cards as payment.

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Labels: credit card processing, credit card processing fees, credit card transaction fees, credit card transactions, transaction fees

Visa® and MasterCard are both credit card companies that are governed by the rules and regulations of the banks unlike AMEX and Discover card, which are both privately owned credit card companies. Merchants must obtain a merchant account in order to accept these cards as payment. With this account there are several fees, including credit card processing statement fees, and credit card processing transaction fees. The statement fee is usually charged every month. This fee is exactly what it sounds like, a fee that is charged to cover the cost of maintaining and sending all merchants a statement each month of their transactions and charges. In most cases, the merchant service provider charges around $10 to $15 each month for credit card processing statement fees.

Labels: card transactions, credit card processing, credit card processing fees, credit card processor, credit card processors, credit card transaction fees, statement fees, transaction fees