Merchant Accounts /Gateway

[btimms]

I was about ready to sign up for a Merchant/Gateway account with securepay.com/pipelinedata.com and after seeing some negative info on a google search on them decided look further. Paypal is not an option here, and I've got a pretty good handle on rates, gateway fees, minimums and the like. I'm not sure about the contracts/chargebacks these guys have as they don't bring them up on their websites. However, in doing my search I feel like I'm dealing with a bunch of used car sales guys "come into my den said the spider to the fly ...". The business is seasonal with the winter months being the slowest and summer the best. Charges are expected to range from a few hundred in slow months to $5000 upward in the strong months. Can anyone offer any advice on what to lookout for or recommendations on reputable outfit?

[Connie]

I've done business online for several years. I've had a few charge backs that I lost. I have never been charged a charge back fee.

My merchant account is through Total Merchant Services and the Gateway is Authorize.net.

I hear about charge back fees all the time in a merchant group I belong to.

I don't know, but I think those kind of fees must be charged my the merchant account provider.

Regardless of who you use you will be subject to some minimum monthly fees if your sales are below a certain amount each month. You will pay a gateway fee, and a statement fee. Seems like there is something else but don't remember what it is. If I remember correctly it will cost you about $50.00 per month whether you make a sale or not.

When you meet minimum sales quotes in any month you will not notice those fees but they are there.

[btimms]

Thanks Connie - do they have a contract where you have to pay a bailout fee within some minimum length of time?