General
How long will it be before I can start taking payments?
Less than twenty-four hours from the time your merchant account application is approved. Merchant account applications usually take 3-4 business days to be approved.
Can my not-for-profit company use SimplePayments to accept transactions other than donations?
Yes. SimplePayments clients accept payments for all types of transactions, such as contributions, gifts, donations, membership payments, event registrations, tithes and sponsorships etc.
Do you provide on-line Auction services?
SimplePayments can accept the proceeds of auctions; however it does not manage the full inventory logistics management.
How is the SimplePayments service different from PayPal®?
SimplePayments is very different from PayPal®. SimplePayments is a completely customized and personalized payment solution that is fully integrated with your own merchant account, so funds are deposited directly into your bank account. Payors see your organization's name on their credit card or bank statement. SimplePayments also provides your payors with a personalized receipt sent automatically via email. These features allow you to establish a better, longer lasting relationship with them.
SimplePayments integrates a low cost merchant account with your SimplePayments payment forms so that you pay very low processing rates and affordable monthly fees. If you are serious about providing your payors with a professional online payment experience at a reasonable cost, SimplePayments is your solution.
Is SimplePayments compliant with credit card industry security standards and are SimplePayments payment forms secure?
Yes. SimplePayments is a VISA/MasterCard PCI-DSS compliant service provider. All SimplePayments payment forms are hosted on secure servers. All payment data is transferred over SSL (an industry standard secure transfer mechanism) using at least 128 bit encryption. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) compliance requirements were developed by the credit card associations.
Does SimplePayments use the information it gathers from my payors?
No. When your payors access the SimplePayments payment platform their information will never be misused. SimplePayments does not sell, trade, rent, or otherwise disclose payor information to any third parties.
Can I use SimplePayments if my school or organization is based outside the United States?
No. At this time SimplePayments is available only to schools or organizations that reside in the U.S. Check back for international availability.
What payments can I process using SimplePayments?
SimplePayments will facilitate payments using the four major national card types (Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover®, and American Express®, as well as online check payments. We will assist you in acquiring an American Express merchant account if needed, or we will integrate the American Express merchant account with your SimplePayments account at no additional charge. If a convenience fee model is desired, additional restrictions may apply.
Fees
Does SimplePayments charge a monthly fee for its service?
Yes. SimplePayments charges one low flat rate monthly fee for its service. All charges are billed to our client's merchant account statements each month and debited from their bank account at the end of the month. There are a number of low-cost and no-cost processing packages available, so please call 800-599-6811 to review options with a member of the SimplePayments team.
Does SimplePayments charge additional processing fees other than the fees charged by the credit card companies?
No we do not. Some of our competitors charge additional processing fees as high as 4%-6% over and above the fees that VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express charge for processing credit and debit card transactions. At SimplePayments, we know that every penny is vitally important to the success of your organization. We believe that you should receive the lowest processing cost available and keep as much of your funds as possible.
How much does it cost to accept American Express with SimplePayments?
There is no fee to sign up with American Express as a SimplePayments client. There may be a small per transaction fee based upon the pricing plan for which you are eligible. The American Express processing fee is generally between 2.75% and 3.00%.
Merchant Accounts
What is a merchant account and why do I need one?
A merchant account is simply an account that facilitates the process of transferring funds from your payor's card-issuing bank into your business account. Without a merchant account you would not be able to accept credit or debit card transactions directly into your organization's bank account.
Can SimplePayments set up our merchant account?
Yes, we provide you with a low cost online merchant account from our bank partner and then integrate it with your SimplePayments secure online payment forms. Your merchant account is connected to your bank account so that funds are deposited directly into your own bank account. All you need to do is complete the merchant account application form that we send to you after signup and return it to SimplePayments. We will take care of everything else from that point on.
Can we use our existing merchant account with the SimplePayments service?
No, you need a specially designed merchant account to accept transactions through the SimplePayments online gateway. A standard phone or terminal-based merchant account cannot be used for SimplePayments transactions. Your organization must have an "online" merchant account acquired through SimplePayments to use the SimplePayments service.
Funds Processing
How will I know a payment has been made through my portal?
You will receive a copy of the e-mail receipt that your payor receives in real time. You can also access transaction information via the secure SimplePayments Report Manager.
Whose name will appear on our payors' credit or debit card statements?
Your organization's name will appear on the credit, debit or bank statements of your payors or members. Payments made using USTuition's convenience fee program will show a separate item paid to USTuition, LLC.
Does SimplePayments hold our funds and release them to our organization at a later date?
No. SimplePayments ensures that all funds processed through your SimplePayments portal are deposited directly into your own bank account via your merchant account. Unlike many of our competitors, we do not hold your funds.
Voids/Refunds/Chargebacks
How do I issue a refund or credit?
Please contact your SimplePayments support representative at 800-599-6811. We can quickly issue a refund on a payment made through your portal.
What is a chargeback?
A chargeback results when a payor disputes a charge on their credit card. This happens very rarely if you have your own merchant account, as your organization's name is displayed on your payor's credit card statement, ensuring that they know exactly to whom they made a payment. SimplePayments will assist you in dealing with the credit card company if a chargeback is requested by one of your payors.
What is a voided transaction?
This is a transaction which is cancelled before it is submitted for settlement. Voided transactions are not sent to the merchant bank for processing and do not appear on the payor's credit card or bank statement. They are in effect 'erased'.
What is a refunded transaction?
Unlike a void, a refund is a reversal of a transaction that has already been settled and processed by your bank. A refund will be debited from your account and credited to your payor's credit card balance. This credit will be listed on you payor's credit card statement.
Can I issue partial refunds?
Yes. Please contact your SimplePayments support representative. We can quickly issue a full or partial refund on a payment made through your portal.
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