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Credit Card
Processing On The Internet
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By Ted Roxan
So you have finally finished your e-commerce
web site, hired the best web publisher, added all the bells and
whistles, outstanding graphics, and great merchandise. Now, how does
your prospective customer pay you for your products? Clearly, it is
necessary for your site to accept, and process credit card payments,
in real time. Failure to do so, would result in a failing
enterprise.
Before you can begin the application process, there are several
standards that all credit card processors have set. Follow this
checklist and you will save yourself a significant amount of time,
and aggravation.
1) The checkout, and transaction pages must be secure. This protects
the customer from credit card, or identity fraud, which has become
epidemic. You achieve this “security” by installing a secure socket
layer certificate, or SSL. SSL encrypts information being entered on
your site as it is sent across the Internet, so hackers are unable
to steal the transmitted information. This Certificate has become
very common, and any web host would be able to assist you.
2) A robust Shopping Cart software that utilizes the highest degree
of security, and is compatible with the credit card processor. This
program must be able to receive, and process orders. Collect
personal data, and securely transmit the credit card data from
software to the credit card processor. Most importantly, the
software should provide the building blocks for a complete,
successful customer experience.
3) Your server must have a firewall, especially if you plan on
storing the credit card information on your server. Basically, a
firewall is a combination of software, and hardware, that inspects
incoming data, and filters unwanted, or potentially destructive
packets of information. This firewall will not allow hackers to
enter your server, and steal sensitive information.
When all these conditions have been met, you are ready to contact
your bank to open a credit card merchant’s account. Once your
account is opened, your bank will suggest a credit card Gateway. A
credit card Gateway receives the customer’s credit card information
from your web site, approves or declines the charge, and ultimately
transmits money to your bank.
Although the process appears to be very complicated, it is quite
straightforward when you know what you are doing. Plan ahead, avoid
frustration, and provide your customers with an easy, secure
experience that will make them come back for more.
Ted Roxan is a contributing editor of Internet Credit Card
Processing Resource
For more details on Internet merchant accounts and Credit Card
processors go to: http://myinternet-credit-card-processing.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Roxan
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