Offshore High Risk Merchant Account Services

Learn About Offshore and High Risk Merchant Accounts

About Offshore and International Merchant Accounts Offshore processors fill a very important niche for two kinds of merchants: First, for whatever reason(s) including poor credit or high-risk business types, or other reasons, many USA based merchants find it impossible to obtain a merchant account with mainstream domestic processors; their last resort is to find an offshore provider. Secondly, merchants physically located offshore, particularly in the Caribbean, Latin America and other areas, are limited to dealing with offshore providers when nothing local is available or feasible.

Dealing with an offshore merchant provider does not necessarily mean the merchant needs to be gouged pricewise. The key is to find honest, dependable and forthright offshore companies among the many out there who unfortunately do not feature these attributes.

Multi currency processing is a key component for Internet merchants whose customers extend worldwide. UK Customers for instance do not care to be billed in US dollars as their bank will charge them a foreign currency exchange surcharge to the credit card transaction purchase.

About High Risk Merchant Accounts Acquiring Banks perceive many e-commerce businesses worldwide as high risk since the customer is not present to sign the credit card receipt. Furthermore, having a significant percentage of transactions initiate offshore makes chargeback protection difficult or impossible, thus increasing the perceived risk factor undertaken by the processor. Extreme trading restrictions are imposed on the merchant that ultimately leads the business owner to search for a high risk merchant account. Examples of trading practices tha lead most banks to categorise businesses as high risk include:

accepting credit card payment over the telephone or mail (MOTO merchants)

accepting credit card payments over the Internet

free trial offers, then recurring weekly or monthly billing

high price points (average transaction value over $500)

high volume of Internet sales (above $25,000 per month)

Seasonal /sporadic online sales

Selling to International customers

Hosting the credit card payment page (PCI Compliance)

foreign currency processing and settlement

certain types of product or service being sold online

Many new web based business applying for an online merchant account

Offshore company applying for a merchant account

Start-up Internet business

Merchant with a high refund rate

Sole trader applying for an Internet merchant account not expecting to incorporate

Certain business locations

Certain delivery terms and conditions

MATCH list merchant (terminated merchant file) bank closed merchant account

Excessive chargebacks

Credit card billing descriptor not disclosed to the customer

Refund policy of the business

If you wish to learn more about offshore merchant accounts, feel free to contact us and consult with a professional representative at no cost or obligation.

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