I already know few credit card processors like propay.com
I also like 2co but I do not think 2co like shell companies.

I already using paypal but there is limit on countries where paypal are accepted.

but what I need is

1. very very cheap - less than $50 for setup fee.
2. accept most credit cards.
3. reasonable fee per transaction.
4. ability to check orders before charge the credit card.
that mean Im allowed to ask customers for scan of their credit cards and call them and check them out.
5. support for recurring charges, like charge per month.
6. ability to transfer money into my bank account easily.

What country are you in? And when you say shell company, well what is your definition of shell company

USA


shell company is that you sell bncs, psybnc,s IRCds, eggdrop shell, and irc hosting. usually you have freebsd dedicated server on 100mbit and sell shell accounts.


anything related with IRC.

OK - sorry you said shell accounts in the title, but you said shell company (which can mean something totally different).

With you being in the USA, there are a number of options available to you actually. Have you had a problem finding a company?

I guess no one help me :/

I do have ways to check the orders. scan credit cards and verify them and stuff.

You should have no problems finding a US merchant processor. What happens when you contact them?

I suspect it is high-risk business for US processors. That's why there is the problem to get a merchant account for it.

It should not be high risk actually. I would think most would classify him as Computer and Data Process

You might check out Corey on here. I referred a frind of mine over that does shell accounts and he had no problems getting a merchant account. He applied on a Monday morning and by Tuesday morning, he was accepting credit cards via the LinkPoint gateway

Thanks John as always for the recommendation. Always a pleasure!

I still not get it, what is a "shell account" ?

I mean I know shelf companies ! :confused:

"Shell accounts" means you sell access to your Linux server to run some tasks and etc
Another words you rent a room in your Linux house :)

Yes trinitron - that had me there as well, Shell accounts in the subject & then shell companies in the message. That was why I needed clarification. :)

Originally posted by touol
"Shell accounts" means you sell access to your Linux server to run some tasks and etc
Another words you rent a room in your Linux house :)

Okay, thank you for the information. ;)

Yes trinitron - that had me there as well, Shell accounts in the subject & then shell companies in the message. That was why I needed clarification.

Yes it sounds strange. However now we know what it is :emlaugh:

Shell accounts are a form of virtual hosting that has been around for awhile but it is definitely more of a niche segment for very specific needs.

I wouldn't forsee any problem at all getting approved for a U.S. merchant account for that business category - it would be a "4816"-category account like most other Web hosting businesses.

Banks/processors sometimes don't want to make special investigations to see that. It is like many banks don't process incest niche in adult because many guys ask them : "Do you process incest sites?" . Banks think that it is illegal as it is asked specially. But if you read VISA/MC terms , you won't find any restrictions about incest adult niche. :)
I think the same problem with that biz type.

Actually, MasterCard has been known to terminate merchants due to "brand damaging content" and I've seen them do that first hand... they will find a site with what they consider to be damaging content and run through a transaction and see what BIN and MID it leads to.

I'm not sure if Visa is equally as aggressive in its policies but any content like that which you are describing could be potentially subject to the above.

The other thing to keep in mind is that while Visa and MasterCard's operating manuals may not specifically list every unacceptable business type, the verbiage is set as such that no processor will want to take on a business that conducts illegal transactions or which would subject them to potential legal action(s) or other issues.

Whereas, something like providing shell hosting accounts is just a unique form of hosting. Nothing illicit or illegal about it, really. See what I mean?

I'm actually interested in suggestions as well.

I know 2Checkout.com definately does not allow the processing of payment for Unix/Linux Shell Account (as in EGGDROPS and BNCs)

http://www.2checkout.com/products.htm :

The following products and services CANNOT be sold:
...
IRC Chat Hosting, Game Server Hosting, Shell Accounts


If anyone knows of a solid merchant type CC processor which allows them (for cheap), please be kind enough to let us know. Thanks!

What country are you in int.?

Originally posted by coreybryant
What country are you in int.?

Canada

to answer the "why" part of it.

Advertised "shell accounts" attract huge amounts of fraud.
20 x the fraud of normal hosting services.
(note, I didn't say 20% more, it is 20 times as much)

Originally posted by int.
Canada
You might contact Derek over at http://www.digitallyjustified.com/merchant.php to see what he can do

Originally posted by cdgcommerce
Shell accounts are a form of virtual hosting that has been around for awhile but it is definitely more of a niche segment for very specific needs.

I wouldn't forsee any problem at all getting approved for a U.S. merchant account for that business category - it would be a "4816"-category account like most other Web hosting businesses.


Hi

What is the Merchant Category Code (Mastercard): 4816 ? is it for web hosting? or Services?

I guess I use propay.com

it is only $60 a year and I could transfer money to my bank account.


I already know shell company who use propay.com

a). Lol! :D
NEVER use the word "shell companies" these days if you want to deal with financial institutions world-wide.
The term "shell company" just as "shell bank" in accordance with USA financial terms is used by financial authorities as a term describing a company (or a bank) which exists only on paper, usually on some offshore island and is used for money laundering or terrorist support activities. The USA Patriot Act forbits very strictly to all USA based banks to work with "shell financial institutions" and even to work with OTHER banks who MIGHT work with shell financial institutions worldwide, and thus the term "shell" probably sounds to any banker almost the same as "Bin Laden" if not worse. :D

Seriously.

b). MCC 4816 : Computer Network/Information Services

Good point, Ido. :)

A similar point of confusion can exist with "gaming" accounts.

Some processors think of "gaming" as being the same as "online gambling/casinos" etc., when in the hosting sense - the merchant often means "online game hosting" which is something completely different.