Does anybody use Cardservice International to process credit cards online? I am using their LinkPoint Basic, and they charge me 5 cents for every address verification that they run with every transaction. Is there any way to avoid or to lower that fee if you have an account with Cardservice or is it standard for everyone? Maybe there is some other software that people use with their Cardservice account that lets them pay less for AVS?

They are horrible don’t process with them They have suspended our account without a reason, And after that ask me some silly questions. They are holding our money around 2k
Best thing is we have no chargeback’s tats why I said they are horrible?

They are not horrible. I used them for years. Everyone situation is different. Use them and see how they work out for YOU!!

Now to answer your question, I don't believe you can avoid this process unless you process so much and make so much money that you can get them to re-negotiate the fees. Hopefully, the 5 cents should mean you're doing good business.

Good luck.

I wouldn't agree that they are horrible. I have been processing with them for four years, and it has been fine so far.

About the fees. The 5-cent AVS fee that I was asking about is being charged by Cardservice on top of their regular transaction fee of 25 cents. I was wondering if that fee is negotiable at all with them or maybe the fee structure is different for their LinkPoint API product.

CaHostNet is correct. I believe you can only negotiate these fees once you reach a certain level of processing. But when you DO reach that level, they are more than happy to bend over backwards for you.

Charging an AVS fee is not unusual. But they should have disclosed the true cost of the transaction as being the "per trans + AVS cost = total trans cost".

The really problematic thing about CardService is their termination/cancellation policy. Once you sign up with them, you are STUCK unless you cancel within a specific time window during a specific set of intervals... and if you don't do it that way, you will be hit with a very hefty fee.

My suggestion? Ask ANY merchant processor you consider working with about their termination/cancellation policy and whether they will waive it completely for you.

After all - if a merchant processor is truly confident that they can deliver great service and good rates do you, why should they have to try to "lock you in"? See if they will put their confidence into writing. :)

They are good for you all coz you all are USA people and have SSN. But as far as I am concern They have approved my account and once I started to process with them they suspended my account and hold my money all this is without informing or warning me. As I know any legitimate company should inform there valued clients before playing with people’s money now here I am totally stuck. What they now telling is that they can’t accept me coz i am not a USA citizen. Then why did the approve my account they should told me this before?

Yes, U.S. credit card processors can't process any transactions for foreign businesses. How did you manage to apply for their account without having a SSN? Wasn't there a required field on the application form for SSN?

Originally posted by jeffcol
How did you manage to apply for their account without having a SSN? Wasn't there a required field on the application form for SSN?

Not sure where 123x is located, however, in Canada it is illegal for companies to REQUIRE a SSN/SIN on any application. So if he is in Canada, he may not have filled it in as it is not required here. Really, it just speeds things up to put it down though. You are still signing over permission for them to access your credit history, you are just giving them the run around by NOT supplying it.

I know, some Canadian laws make sense, others don't. ;)

U.S. credit card processors can't process any transactions for foreign businesses? Is this true?

Because now I am talking with another provider (US) they told me that they can approve me and now in the process.

And I am not Canadian or US So I didn’t fill the SSN Field.

Originally posted by 123x
U.S. credit card processors can't process any transactions for foreign businesses? Is this true?

Yes and no. Some US credit processors will process for foreign businesses by setting up a US address/bank account for them. Thus giving a simulated a US presence.

It is true that U.S. merchant processors can't process transactions for a foreign company -BUT- if that foreign company sets up a U.S. business entity and bank account, it ceases to be a "foreign company" at that point.

That's the only way it can be accomplished. The tricky part is that a background check can't be done on the principals unless they have an authorized officer here in the U.S. with a SSN#. Hence, the risk is a lot higher and that is why most banks won't due it under any circumstances.

The few that will do it - require risk reserves to help offset some of the risk they are taking on the account. Only exception is if its a huge company that has strong financials.