How Does Credit Card Processing Work?
The way credit card processing companies make money for themselves can sometimes be a confusing labyrinth where fees are hidden, percentages are tied to things not listed on statements and the deal you think you are getting isn’t the best deal you can actually get. Host Merchant Services is dedicated to giving its merchants the lowest price guaranteed, and the company strives to maintain transparency with no hidden fees. So take a walk with us and see behind the curtain as you learn exactly where the money is being made when you swipe a customer’s credit card.
What Are Merchant Services?
If you have merchant service status, you can accept credit card payments from your customers. Merchant services may be offered by your bank or by specialized merchant service providers or independent sales organizations that offer payment processing. If you go through a merchant service provider rather than a financial institution, you may have the ability to buy or lease your credit card processing equipment, establish both a merchant account and an Internet Merchant account, take a wide range of credit and debit cards, and offer a wide range of other services such as telephone and mail services and mobile services.
How does credit card processing work?
Here's how the process works. Your customer pays with their credit or debit card. CardConnect, as your payment processor, receives the payment details and reviews them for potential fraud, before forwarding them to the card association or bank that issued your customer's card. Once we are able to verify your customer's credit card details, we relay that information back to you the merchant via one of our secure, online payment gateways, who may then complete the transaction. If verification is denied by the card association/issuing bank, we will relay that information to you (the merchant) who can then decline the transaction. All of this happens in a matter of just a few seconds.