Banks Cut Off Companies Listed by FDIC as High-Risk Merchants; Payscout, Inc., Maintains That the Solution Lies in Reputable Merchant Processors
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 25, 2014 -- A recent list that was published (and later withdrawn) by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) listed over 30 merchant categories, ranging from nutraceutical companies to travel agencies, which were considered to be high-risk (managed-risk). (1) Shortly after the list was published, banks hastily cut ties with businesses that fell into these categories. The resulting action left many merchants scrambling to find a suitable merchant service provider willing to process their transactions. Payscout, Inc., a global merchant service provider that specializes in managed-risk processing, maintains that as a consequence, the United States’ eCommerce growth rates will suffer.
Managed-risk merchants are categorized as such because statistics show that they tend to have high chargeback rates and significant numbers of payment disputes. These companies include nutraceuticals, online dating services, travel agencies, etc. (2) However, these companies find credit card processing services to be crucial to their success.
The recent FDIC report incited these merchants to fight back in order to continue to survive in the marketplace. Payscout CEO Cleveland Brown asserts that the reaction of banks in severing ties with merchants not only puts merchants out of business, it also stunts the growth of the eCommerce industry’s projection to surpass $300 billion. This growth will be driven by the technical innovation of managed-risk merchants.
“There is no way to avoid the risk of merchants’ industries, as it is the ethical behavior of both the consumers and the merchants that are dictating the risks,” said Brown. “Instead, it can only be moderated by a managed-risk processor with expertise in this arena. This will allow for the continued success of merchants, facilitate smoother transactions with consumers, and continue to drive the innovation needed to sustain the growth of our eCommerce industry.”
As eCommerce surges in popularity, companies are encountering more issues in locating reputable merchant service providers to process their card-not-present (CNP) transactions. Merchants are struggling to find processors that will allow their business to stay afloat without an inundation of fees or threat of cancellation.
For this reason, Payscout recommends considering the following five factors for managed-risk companies who are seeking to establish themselves (3):
1. Find a merchant provider who specializes in managed-risk businesses.
Companies with expertise in the field will be more in tune to the various niches of each industry, and have better relationships with banks less likely to charge high fees.
2. Maintain a good business and personal credit score.
Part of a company’s risk is determined by their credit score. When all bills are paid timely, there’s a better chance of receiving low rates for merchant accounts.
3. Minimize chargebacks.
Be sure to give thorough and accurate product descriptions, as well as a fair return policy.
4. Employ practical marketing.
Marketing that promotes unrealistic results is more likely to result in chargebacks. Practical marketing increases your chances to have access to credit card processing.
5. Always offer superior customer service.
Banks check customer reviews and web sites for assessments of a company’s products and consumer satisfaction. Good customer service will lead to more positive reviews by consumers, fewer chargebacks and better relationships with banks.
Brown maintains that when following these steps, a managed-risk merchant can stay on pace with the booming industry of eCommerce and avail themselves of opportunities to be profitable.
Payscout’s clients range from SMBs to Enterprise eCommerce companies. For more information about Payscout and its services, visit http://www.payscout.com.
About Payscout, Inc.:
Payscout is a Global Merchant Service Provider (MSP) and Payment Service Provider (PSP) with tier-one bank sponsorships in the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Payscout assists SMBs and Enterprise companies with payment processing solutions for brick-and-mortar and eCommerce transactions. Payscout is one of the few providers with a true Global Payment Solution, encompassing all merchant risk verticals. Payscout is a new generation provider of merchant banking services, specializing in online/eCommerce retailers with a predominant proportion of card-not-present transactions. Payscout’s services are provided on a state-of-the-art, web-based user portal, incorporating expert interaction directly between their highly-trained staff and the customer business owner or senior management. With clients in every state, Payscout serves the credit card processing needs of thousands of businesses, across a multitude of industries. Payscout’s global partnerships include VISA USA, Bank of America Merchant Services, VISA Europe, VISA Latin America, VISA Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide, China Union Pay, Deutsche Bank, First Data and Payscout Brazil. For more information about Payscout, visit http://www.payscout.com.
1.Blackwell, Rob. “FDIC Withdraws Alleged ‘Hit List’ of High-Risk Merchants.” American Banker RSS. N.p., 28 July 2014. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. americanbanker.com/issues/179_144/fdic-withdraws-alleged-hit-list-of-high-risk-merchants-1069031-1.html.
2.“5 Ways to Prevent an E-Processing Bust from Halting Your E-Commerce Boom.” Press Release. Digital Journal, 01 Aug. 2014. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. digitaljournal.com/pr/2096601.
3.“High Risk Credit Card Processing | High Risk Merchant Account Provider.” High Risk Credit Card Processing | High Risk Merchant Account Provider. Payscout, Inc., n.d. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. payscout.com/high-risk-credit-card-processing.htm.
Karla Jo Helms, JoTo PR, +1 (888) 202-4614 Ext: 802, [email protected]
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