Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my application to be approved, and how do I start accepting cards?

Approval of your Merchant Account typically takes 1 business day from the time we receive your completed documents. Upon approval, eCommerce merchants will receive their activation instructions for Authorize.Net payment gateway.

1) We will build your Authorize.Net Payment Gateway account.

2) You will receive an email from support@Authorize.Net with the SUBJECT: Welcome to Authorize.Net containing your Authorize.Net Payment Gateway ID number and complete activation instructions.

How long does it typically take for funds to be deposited into my business checking account?

The typical time period is 2 to 3 business days for Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. American Express typically take 3 to 4 business days.

How can you offer Visa/MC Debit Card processing at rates so much lower than other processors?

Because we pass through the lower interchange costs that the Durbin Amendment legislated in October 2011.

Will I be locked into a contract I can’t get out without paying penalties or cancellation fees?

NO! You can terminate your Merchant Account agreement at any time. As long as you give us 30 days written notification, there are no penalties or fees of any kind.

I want to accept Debit or Check Cards in addition to credit cards. Do you offer that service?

Yes, you will automatically be able to accept Debit or Check Cards as well as Credit Cards. And many merchants that accept large numbers of Debit and Check Cards realize some of their most dramatic cost savings with our lower Durbin Debit rates and fees.

How can I get more information about your services?

You can e-mail us at sales@STARTmerchantservices.com, call us at 888-573-7587, or complete our online form.

How do I set up a Merchant Account with START Merchant Services?

To apply for a new Merchant Account, simply click Get STARTed NOW and complete our Online Application. In addition, feel free to e-mail us at sales@STARTmerchantservices.com and an Account Executive will contact you within 1 business day. You can also call us directly at 888-573-7587.

How do I find out your prices on point of sale equipment – such as terminals, printers, pin pads, etc.?

While we do focus on eCommerce business, we also offer Retail merchant accounts. Please e-mail us at sales@STARTmerchantservices.com and an Account Executive will contact you within 1 business day. You can also call us directly at 888-573-7587.

Can I use someone else’s merchant account to do my transactions?

No, this practice is known as “credit card laundering” or “factoring.” It is against the Visa® and MasterCard® agreement. Using someone else’s merchant account to process your credit card transactions can lead to heavy fines and perhaps more. In addition, you’ll also put that merchant’s credit card processing account in jeopardy.

What is a chargeback and what do I do if I get one?

A chargeback is a processed credit card transaction that is reversed (charged back) to a merchant because the customer or customer’s bank finds something wrong with the transaction.

There are several reasons a transaction can be reversed:
Authorization error—a transaction was allowed even though the authorization was declined
Processing error—incorrect calculation on the sales draft, invalid account number, or expired card
Customer disputes—the customer denies taking part in the transaction, claims purchased merchandise or services were never received and an attempt was already made to resolve the dispute, mail order merchandise was defective, or a promised credit was never processed

If you get a chargeback:
Follow the procedures outlined in the chargeback documents you receive in the mail. We provide detailed information on chargebacks, tips on how to avoid them, and instructions on how to handle all common Visa and MasterCard chargebacks.

Why open an online store if I have an existing retail outlet? Won’t I be competing with myself?

Selling online offers “brick and mortar” retailers a great opportunity to grow their businesses through a cost-effective additional sales channel. Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, an online store is not limited by time or geography. And electronic commerce offers many new avenues for building a broader customer base.

PLEASE NOTE: Your Retail Merchant Account cannot be used to process transactions in real time on your Website. Please contact us to discuss setting up your eCommerce Merchant Account and Authorize.Net payment gateway.

Why are Visa/MC rates higher for eCommerce and Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) transactions than Retail face to face transactions?

Face-to-face transactions where the credit card is swiped, and a signature is being obtained are considered less risky by banks and processors. Therefore, eCommerce and MOTO rates are higher because of the risk of fraud and chargebacks.

Do you offer recommendations for eCommerce merchants to minimize risk?

Yes. We have many years of experience working with Internet merchants and provide valuable recommendations to assist eCommerce merchants to help protect themselves by using common sense and best practices. In addition, Authorize.Net provides free basic fraud prevention with Address Verification and CVV settings. For a further level of fraud protection, Authorize.Net offers its Fraud Detection Suite (FDS).

What is PCI Compliance?

“PCI compliance” refers to compliance with one or more of the Payment Card Industry’s (PCI) Security Standards which have been put in place to protect cardholder data against potential compromise.

The PCI Security Standards Council (Council) currently maintains three standards:

• The PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is the standard to which merchants and service providers must adhere for the complete protection of cardholder payment data. If a business accepts or processes payment cards, it must comply with the PCI DSS.
• The Payment Application-Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) and PIN Entry Device (PED) security requirements support the overall implementation of PCI DSS by allowing merchants to choose from PCI l certified payment applications and PIN entry devices to further cardholder data security.

To learn more about PCI Compliance, please visit http://www.STARTMerchantServices.com/solutions/pci-compliance

How private and secure is your company?

START Merchant Services is committed to protecting your privacy. We know the information we collect is very confidential; that is why we keep it strictly private. Transactions are secure, and passwords are required to access the system. Only specific START employees are permitted to access electronic data. To find out about how we protect your privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.