Hi all. If a potential client lives in a country that doesn't use credit cards what options are there? In this case the person is from Cambodia and evidently there is no credit card usage in that country. I have no idea whether they have international money orders there or not. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Terry

For third world countries that don't have credit card facilities in that country, then the alternatives would be for your client to send the money to you by:

a) Bank draft drawn in your name/company and at your end you can just bank in the cheque in the normal way but it will probably take 2 weeks to a month for the cheque to be cleared before you get your money.

b) Postal/Money order where you have to collect the money at your local Post Office end but you have to furnish your client(s) the address/location of the nearest Post Office where the details will be needed by your client(s) in order for the money to reach you.

Hope this helps.

Western Union seems to have branches in Cambodia.

Thanks guys. Forgot about wiring the money. :D

Terry

He can send the money using www.sendmoneyorder.com :)

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE HERE! :D

Never ever ever setup an account or register a domain name until you have cash in hand. That is, don't accept "the check is on its way - we urgently need this account setup"...wait until you get the check and it has cleared your bank.

--Tina

Everything should wait for payment. Additionally, after you offer a couple of sound alternatives such as those suggested, the prospect should take quick action. If they make excuses at that point or say they tried but can't get it to work, then time has arrived to get skeptical. Again, until they get you the money, don't do anything, regardless of the sad story they give you.

Rest assured, legitimate business persons in countries such as Cambodia have faced this problem before and they already have sound solutions.

One additional note: From site gocambodia.com. First credit card in Cambodia launched, but requires twice the card limit to be on deposit with the bank.

Yeah, I've been burnt before (once!) by someone from another country who said they were desperate and needed the account right away - of course they would overnight me the funds (yeah right).

Anyway, I setup the account and they promptly sent 50,000 spam mailes through one of our servers. :(

So now, no matter how sad or believable their story is - I always wait until we have check payment in hand from new customers.

--Tina

i am glad my host didn't share ur opinion, he set up my account immediately and it took him more than a month to get the money BUT he did get it...

but i can understand your apprehension...

Western Union works well :) I think we have several customers who pay this way and it's really easy.