After auditing the European offers (for France and Austria), I found several providers (AtosOrigin for France and Mpay24 for Austria). Anyway, these providers cost more than any US third party providers (average of 10% per transaction + €0.5).

I was wondering:

Would it be better to open an US bank account to be able to get a US merchant account? If yes, how? Who should we contact? Is this legal?
Would it be better to continue with third party payment gateways and wait the opportunity, in a near future, to switch to a better EU offer (as soon as it will be available) ?
Is there any other EU alternatives I am not aware of?


This question is, I guess, a redundant question to all NON-US businesses. Some countries may offer interresting alternatives to their customers but here, in EU, it seems there is still a lack of offers.
Maybe I wasn't able to find the good providers and some members here already found the beauty pearl.

Please share your lucky finds. :D

With Chronopay fees are between usually 3 and 5% depending on what product the merchants is selling online. Other options might be for instance be WorldPay.

I would recommend staying away from attempting to open a US merchant account via the US Address, Delaware / Nevada Corp route. Its very difficult to get approved without a social security number, and without being physically located in the US.

10% seems awfully high for anywhere, unless its a very high risk business.

10% is high even for some high risk businesses, check some providers in other countries since you can get merchant in any eu country

With Chronopay fees are between usually 3 and 5% ...

Thank you infinite.
Is Chronopay a third party processor like Worldpay or 2CO?

Sounds that both of you (businessamrica and u4t2) are the right peoples to ask for such informations.
Userful resources on your websites.

Thank you infinite.
Is Chronopay a third party processor like Worldpay or 2CO?

Sounds that both of you (businessamrica and u4t2) are the right peoples to ask for such informations.
Userful resources on your websites.
____________________________________________________________________________

You can have a look to these pages or their site for more information about them; http://www.chronopay.com/en/products/business_solutions/retail
http://www.chronopay.com/en/products/clients_benefits

Thank you very much infinite.
Chronopay has nice offers. I have to agree that they are proposing the best rates around and sound to be a "solid" enterprise.
Anyway, i guess they are also third party gateway.
How reliable are their services, regarding to frauds and chargebacks?
As said, we are still processing all our orders manually but we would consider any secure system to automatize the process.
Do you have any experience with them?

contact to the people of valisinternational.com

They can incorporate your company, get a EIN, US virtual office (postal address and phone), a business checking account, merchant account (usually cardservice international) and AuthorizeNet.

contact to the people of valisinternational.com

They can incorporate your company, get a EIN, US virtual office (postal address and phone), a business checking account, merchant account (usually cardservice international) and AuthorizeNet.

Is that legal either?
I heard around that the Patriot Act was prohibiting such operations.

If not, I will contact them for sure as long as they have interresting packages.
But previously I would be sure that I won't fall into any laws infrigment.

it is still possible to do this in us, but it is not worth doing it, you can for example do this offshore in locations like Panama, Belize, Nevis

... like Panama, Belize, Nevis

And still get an US merchant account ??? :s
Can you elaborate your idea a bit further?

yes, is 100% legal

chronopay is not a 3d party
they can setup your own MA, they are Visa/MC certified IPSP
very serious people behind this company

I would suggest to stay away from offshore merchant accounts due to low level of merchant protection (they can freeze your account and funds for NO REASON and here nothing you can do about it - suing somebody on "banana islands" will be a headache and in most cases impossible).

A lot of peoples belive in "tax-free" haven in offshore - but they don't understant that here is no security of any kind :) Pay your taxes in USA (or your country) and sleep well...

I would suggest to stick to trusted solutions such as Worldpay.com (I using them and recommend them) or Chronopay (never use them, but see many other use them and have good reviews).

My $0.02...

chronopay is not a 3d party
they can setup your own MA, they are Visa/MC certified IPSP
very serious people behind this company

Really?
Then this is really what we are looking for.
I was not able to find the information and presumed they were a third party gateway like 2CO and Worldpay (which are not also stating it clearly.)
Sounds to be then a very interrsting package. I will investigate further in that way.
Thank you very much Atomium. (Btw, are you belgian?)

I would suggest to stay away from offshore merchant accounts due to low level of merchant protection (they can freeze your account and funds for NO REASON and here nothing you can do about it - suing somebody on "banana islands" will be a headache and in most cases impossible).

A lot of peoples belive in "tax-free" haven in offshore - but they don't understant that here is no security of any kind Pay your taxes in USA (or your country) and sleep well...

I would suggest to stick to trusted solutions such as Worldpay.com (I using them and recommend them) or Chronopay (never use them, but see many other use them and have good reviews).

My $0.02...

I totally agree with you Steven.