api integration support for canada (paypal falls out here) - don’t
want the member to leave our site
provides (virtual) merchant accounts (as our banks are still
placing the bar too high)
These two things are mutually exclusive. #2 is what is called a third
party billing company, and if you read the contract they are actually
the merchant. They all read a bit differently but the bottom line is
still the same, the underwriting bank considers them the merchant, and
the transaction must happen on their website. This applies in all
countries.
Although they may be considered the “merchant”, api access is
definitely possible (such as PayPal Websites Payments Pro).
As another example, InternetSecure (www.internetsecure.com) offers
full API support (customer doesn’t leave our site). They provide a
‘virtual merchant account’, and funds are deposited into our Canadian
bank account. Plus on the credit card statement, the buyer sees our
company name as the vendor. The tradeoff is of course transaction
commissions, but in the end we are the Merchant without negotiating
with a bank manager.
Cheers,
Jodi
General Partner
The nNovation Group inc.
www.nnovation.ca/blog
‘virtual merchant account’, and funds are deposited into our Canadian
bank account. Plus on the credit card statement, the buyer sees our
company name as the vendor. The tradeoff is of course transaction
commissions, but in the end we are the Merchant without negotiating
with a bank manager.
I wasn’t aware internetsecure did that. Paypal is a special case
since they do so much volume. Also, you are very limited in other
ways. For example with paypal payments pro you cannot save the
customer information such as the email address, it’s right in their
contract. They don’t seem to enforce it that I know of, but they can
if they choose. You also have to offer the regular paypal as a
prominent option.
What is the roadblock in canada, is it the price? Years back when I
did some work with IBM integrating with canadian banks you had to get
two merchant accounts, one for visa and one for mastercard. Is that
still the case?
definitely possible (such as PayPal Websites Payments Pro).
I wasn’t aware internetsecure did that. Paypal is a special case
still the case?
I don’t remember which one…
Good luck,
Chris:
I tried to get a merchant account a couple of years ago, and the
barrier was very high - they wanted multiple thousands of dollars
upfront, plus a business plan review in consideration. Much has been
said about Canadian banks (their enormous profits) and their risk
aversion. Their stance may have changed since then.
Zach:
Thanx a bunch for the reference. ActiveMerchant seems to support
TrustCommerce as well Moneris in Canada (not sure if Moneris provides
merchant accounts?).
TrustCommerce (www.trustcommerce.com) handles a ton of currencies
including Canadian. They also resale merchant accounts from a partner
I don’t remember which one…
Currency conversion happens at the bank, it’s automatic, and it has
nothing to do with the payment gateway, regardless of what they say.
Some providers offer a service that displays the conversion rate at
the time of purchase, but it really has no relation to the actual
conversion that happens at the bank level.
I’d be interested to see how Internetsecure is - I wish I had known
about them when I researched my options. In the end TC had the best
API support for what I needed at the time. Make sure you negociate on
the transaction prices.
Nothing has turned me off about TrustCommerce except that one sales
guy we had at first…
Actually I must say I’m very happy with them so far. They have a good
API, good documentation and very helpful support staff. At first I
had a few questions on how to implement a specific item with the API
and the response was within an hour or two.