1.1   How long does it take to get an approval?

After filling out our on-line application, and faxing us your supporting paperwork, your application can be approved within 24 hours.

1.2   What do I need to get started?

You only need a product or service you wish to sell, and a US checking account. That is all. We can supply you with everything else you need to start your internet business.

1.3   What is a Merchant Account?

A merchant account is a bank account that enables your business to accept payment by credit card online. Credit card transactions can only be processed through a merchant account. You must have a merchant account in order to be able to accept credit cards.

1.4   Can international companies have a merchant account?

At this time we are only able to set up merchant accounts for businesses that are owned by U.S. citizens or public companies that have a US presence. If you are a Canadian company, we can refer you to a merchant account provider for Canadian companies.

1.5   What if I do not have a business checking account?

If you are a sole proprietor of your business, you can use your personal checking account for your merchant account funds. You must have a business checking account unless you are a Sole Proprietor. If you need a business checking account, you can take advantage of www.goEmerchantbank.com 's free checking account offer.

1.6   What other cards do you offer?

Your merchant account will automatically be set up to accept Visa and MasterCard. We can also set up American Express and/or Discover for you, but you can add any other credit card you wish to accept once you are set up with the basic merchant account.

1.7   Do you have Recurring Billing?

The recurring billing option is available at no additional charge and can be used for items that must be billed on a regular basis. For example, if you would like an item to be billed to a customer's credit card once a month you could use recurring billing to do so.

1.8   Will I get approved if I am a new start up company without a credit history in my company?

Yes, the bank will look at your personal credit history, rather than the company's.

1.9   What if I do not have good credit?

If you are applying to process under $5000 per month in credit card orders and your average order is under $250, credit should not be an issue. If you expect to sell more than $5000 per month, credit is secondary to the type of product you are selling. As long as you are not currently in a bankruptcy, you can be approved.

1.10   What if I do not have a Federal Tax ID#?

If you are a sole proprietor, you may use your social security number in place of a federal tax id number.

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2.1   What type of equipment do I need to process credit card transactions?

All you need is a personal computer and an internet connection.

2.2   Are there any programs that I will need?

No. There is no necessary downloading or installation on your end. Everything is set up for you upon approval of your merchant account.

2.3   What options are available to non-profit organizations?

We have special pricing specifically for Non-Profit companies. Please contact our Sales department for a quote.

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3.1   What are NSF fees?

If the bank processor and/or GoEmerchant.com are unable to collect fees because of insufficient funds, a $25.00 charge will be assessed for each unsuccessful attempt the next time your account is charged. This charge is called an NSF fee.

3.2   When will the annual fee be charged?

A fee of $29.95 will be debited to your checking account on the 20th of the third month from your activation date, and then every year thereafter. For example: if your account is activated on February 28th, you will be charged on May 20th each year.

3.3   What is a batch header fee?

A batch header fee is a small fee that the merchant bank charges for submitting a batch of transactions to be settled. You will be charged a fee of $0.25 (25 cents) by your bank processor each time you batch your transactions. If you batch only once a day, you will be charged only once a day. You only need to batch on the days that you receive credit card orders. If you AUTO BATCH you will be charged for EACH transaction. (Note: the bank processor charges a penalty for not batching within 24 hours.)

3.4   When do I receive my funds?

Your funds will be deposited into your checking account two to three business days after you batch the transactions. Batching is a simple process that just requires you to review the transaction and then click to submit!

3.5   Is there a setup fee?

Yes. There is a $49.00 one-time non-refundable setup fee.

3.6   How much is the monthly statement fee?

Most merchant banks will charge a fee of $15.00 each month for the statement fee.

3.7   What is a chargeback?

A chargeback is when a consumer claims their card has been charged and the merchant has not delivered the product or performed the service. Your bank processor will notify you if a chargeback occurs and will ask you to provide information about the order. If you do not respond to the chargeback notice or if your bank processor does not accept your explanation, you will be charged a chargeback fee of in addition to the original charge to the consumer. Chargeback fees are usually around $25 and will be stated in your merchant agreement.

A chargeback fee is NOT charged when a merchant issues a credit to a consumer.

3.8   What is a retrieval?

A retrieval is a request made by the bank processor to receive a copy of the original sales draft involved in a dispute. The fee for this is usually around $10.00. This is often the first step in the chargeback process and is separate from the chargeback fee.

3.9   What is a transaction fee?

A transaction fee is a small fee charged for each credit card authorization obtained through your merchant account. Some banks will deduct this fee at the time of sale, while most will deduct all transaction fees at the end of each month.

3.10   Internet merchant accounts have a discount rate and a transaction fee for qualified transactions. How does that work?

Visa & MasterCard and the bank processor charge a fee for every transaction. On a $100 sale, with a discount rate of 2.35% and a transaction fee of 30 cents, the bank would deduct $2.35 plus 30 cents from the $100 sale. Therefore, on the $100 sale, the bank processor would keep $2.65 , giving you a net of $97.35.

3.11   What do you mean by "qualified" transactions? Will I be charged more if a transaction doesn't qualify?

Certain conditions must be met for an Internet transaction to "qualify" for the discount rate. If a transaction does not qualify, your bank processor may charge a higher discount rate and transaction fee for that particular transaction as stated in your merchant agreement.

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4.1   What is the Batch Upload Gateway?

The Batch Upload Gateway is offline transaction processing. With a simple file upload, you can process an unlimited amount of credit card payments. You can review your results the following day by downloading the Results file through your Transaction Center.

4.2   Are there any instructions for the Batch Upload Gateway?

Yes. Detailed instructions are provided in the Help Section of your Transaction Center.

4.3   What are the steps required for the Batch Upload?

Create a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file in the format specified by GoEmerchant. You can either create the file yourself or you can create it through your third party accounting software. Upload your CSV file through the Transaction Center by selecting "Upload Batch File for Processing." Follow the instructions to upload your batch file. Your transactions will batch overnight and will be settled the following morning.

4.4   How do I get the results of my Batch Upload?

Log in to your Transaction Center and click on "Download Processed Batch Upload." Follow the instructions to download your Results file.

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