I was just about to return my application to Braclays but decided that I could do better than the 5.5% rate they offered. Streamline have now given me 3% instead. they seem respectable enough (they claim to process 1 in ever 2 credit card transaction in the UK!)

anyone using them and recommend them? any warnings? thanks!

Did you notice that they are in the same group as Worldpay?They are the Royal Bank of Scotland.I would think that what applies for WP would apply to these the same.
Barclays have been far less grasping about the initial payments,as they still have not taken anything,the deposit,the monthly fee etc.Worldpay took £500 then they wanted another £1000 in 2 days before we had even gone live.Barclays were the other way around.
They may be OK but get it out of them FIRST,before you pay them.>>ANY hidden costs!!.

good point about hidden costs. I'll have to get them to confirm, but so far it seems OK. Another thing i need to find out about Barclays is multi-currency support. Streamline asked for an additional £50 setup for every currency I want to process in. These are the rates I've been quoted from the high street banks:

Streamline Merchant account:
3%
55p debit card
£250 one-off fee

Barclays Merchant account:
5.5%
35p debit card
£250 one-off fee

also, Bank of scotland:
£150 setup
2.8% transaction discount
40p debit card
(however they won't accept my application as it turns out my transaction volume is too small for them)

Try Lloyds TSB Cardnet, they have always been reasonable

We managed to get our rates a bit lower by "nicely Arguing" our corner on the telephone.I do know that we can process in many currencies Worldwide.I find their sysytem of approval lightning fast so far.Also I have noticed a big jump in sales since carrying the Barclaycard logo on site.Could be people feel safer with them.

Streamline are the "real" merchant providers of the Royal bank of Scotland, and I think they now also provide streamline direct so you don't even have to go via worldpay for Internet transactions (I think).

They are a solid and safe company. Remember Worldpay (also part of the Royal Bank) concentrate on providing a 3rd party solution, and they have different rules - as explained by the streamline agent to me, on why they wouldn't accept our new product while worldpay (and Barclays) would, "they will probably do a deferrement deal" which both did!!!

Yes same but different to the RBS group.

Worldpay were bought by Natwest who were bought by the RBS group.
Streamline were Natwest merchant services group, and now the RBS group.

Cardnet I believe probably will not want you, until this year they only like big clients --- (but as I found out with Barclays give it a shot)

efunc, are your rates just for the merchant account ? You will most likely need to add on the gateway charges,

e.g. Barclays epdq £25 / permonth + 2% (unless you added this already)

Streamline - don't know

Worldpay approx 1.6% + 160/year

Protx £20/per month or 10p for transactions.

netbanx, secpay, datacash are others.

thanks for that information. I didn't know about cardnet and just sent them an email enquiring about their rates. I predict very low volumes initially for my startup so I'll have to put up with much higher merchant account rates than the rest of you. Barclays offered me 5.5% with 30 day deferred settlement. The rate includes the ePDQ gateway, but if I choose not to use epdq I still have to pay 5.5% in addition to my other gateway. I'll probably go with secpay who have a very reasonable £10 monthly charge and 1.9%.

I'm quite suprised that Streamline have offered me 3% as this makes them pretty attractive. I'll have to press them on the hidden charges and settlement period, etc.

I've also got in touch with Streamline. You see them used a lot in shops in the UK.
Be intresting to see what the sales rep has to say when they ring me back.
I'll keep you informed.

ok, i've just eliminated Barclays epdq as their fees are very high, non-negotiatable and they absolutely do not accept anything other than £ sterling. in other respects they seem fine and will probably be a good fit for some traders.

Cardnet has offered me the best deal so far. almost too good! I'll have to discuss it with the rep when he drops the application form over. However they only process Pound Sterling too so I'm not sure they will fit my plans.

Streamline seems excellent and I'll have them on hand as standby.

metacharge is cheap, easy and very interesting but you need to process a minimum of £5000 a month i think.

I'm still looking at co-op and BillPay Plus (A&L).

will report back.

efunc, do cardnet not have any minimum amount or transactions they require.

Out of curiousity, if you don't mind, but who do you bank with. I wonder if the banks are nicer to their own customers. (You don't have to answer).

Originally posted by onestar
Out of curiousity, if you don't mind, but who do you bank with. I wonder if the banks are nicer to their own customers. (You don't have to answer).
LOL! just the opposite. The only bank to turn me down flat was HSBC, who i've had 3 accounts with for about 25 years! I think it boils down to the fact that HSBC has seen massive growth in the past few years and really don't need any new business.

regarding Cardnet – they've offered me 2% (50p debit cards) with a setup of £250. I'm not sure if if they've fully considered for my transaction volume, which is very low, even though i supplied all the info to them originally. I'll have to get them to confirm this.

I've now found that the Billpay (A&L) internet merchant facility has been discontinued. Also co-op simply offer the HSBC services, so unless you're an existing customer it's easier to just go straight to HSBC.

So that rounds up the high street services as far as i can see.

What about that Indian processer called CC Avenue or something like that.I recall that they were given a very good name and were very reasonable.If many of the 3PP's are going to close down in the USA because of pressure from the Banks,then turning the other way EAST may not be such a bad option.Just an idea for you all.

Streamline never rang me back....
not a good start in my book....

Originally posted by Nick Jenkin
Streamline never rang me back....
not a good start in my book....

:( Unless you are important, most sales reps will only call once, doesn't matter if it was for 2 rings, or wrong number or anything. Barclays claimed to ring me, never leaving any messages, I ended up saying call me on my mobile, and checking my mobile was always in range - just to catch their call. In the end I kept pestering them, and eventually they started to leave a message if they missed me.

But I agree it is off putting.