FAQ'S and RAQ

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Credit Cards and Security

Who needs eCommerce (credit card processing) capabilities on their website?
Most websites can get by without eCommerce capabilities, but if you are selling products that can easily be purchased online, you will increase your sales by accepting payments directly from your website. There are many options for accepting online payments. In addition, you can choose to have a product catalog if it makes sense or simply allow users to purchase an individual product by filling out a single form.

What about security?
If you will be collecting sensitive information such as credit card numbers on your website, security is very important. Otherwise, hackers can see the credit card information passing through the Internet. To avoid this, you use something called a Secure SSL Certificate which encrypts all information between the server and your customer's web browser. Secure SSL Certificates can be purchased from Verisign, Thawte, Godaddy.com, NetworkSolutions.com and many more companies. Price can be as much as a few hundred dollars, and there are annual renewal fees that typically apply as well. Godaddy.com is now offering Secure SSL Certificates for under $30 per year. Please note that if you are processing payments using a third-party payment processor like PayPal, you don't necessarily need SSL security on your website because the order will be placed on PayPal's secure site.

I would like to accept credit cards on my site. Can ATAK help?
Sure. We design e-commerce websites that allow you to accept credit cards online. You will have a choice between setting up your very own merchant account and using a 3rd party processor. The amounts of products you have determine the price of your site. We can have a price quoted for you within 48 hours.

Will I need a "Merchant Account"?
A merchant account is a wise choice if you expect to be processing a lot of transactions, or if you want the ordering process to be as seamless and transparent as possible for your customers. Having a merchant account allows you to process the transaction completely on your website. Alternatively, you can use a third-party payment processor like PayPal for instance. With PayPal, you do not need a merchant account or even a registered business for that matter. PayPal is very recognized and respected, but using PayPal requires that visitors ultimately make the purchase on PayPal's site and then get redirected back to your site once the transaction is complete.

Are there additional fees involved for processing online payments?
If you have a merchant account, you have already negotiated fees with your bank. However, you may also use a payment gateway that makes it easier to process payments on your website, helps protect you from online credit card fraud, and provides detailed reporting and virtual terminal capabilities. Gateways typically charge between $15 and $40 per month and sometimes apply a cost/fee per transaction as well. ATAK Interactive can help you make the best choices for your needs and budget. If you are using a third-party payment processor like PayPal, there aren't any monthly fees...but per transaction fees are higher. This can be a good starting point if you will begin with a lower transaction volume or want to start simple. You can always upgrade to a merchant account and/or gateway when you are ready.