Mail Order Credit Card Processing

Promotional ads, catalogs, and money mailers are not foreign to anyone with a mailbox. These types of flyers and promotional materials are everywhere. This method of selling goods or services has been around for a long time, however, some of the options have changed in how they take payment for their products. Paper checks are quickly becoming a thing of the past and are no longer being accepted by the majority of these businesses. E-checks, online payment systems, and telephone credit card processing systems are carving their way into the digital age and any business that wants to stay ahead of the curve will recognize the importance of providing these options to their mail-order customers.

Payment Options for Customers and How to Process Them

There are basically three main options available for customers who enjoy purchasing goods or services seen through promotional mailers and ads. These options include telephone credit card processing, online credit card processing, and processing that is completed through written correspondence.

Telephone Credit Card Processing

Many mailers and catalogs include a phone number—generally toll free—for customers who do not have the time, patience, trust, or ability to complete the mail-in forms and get them sent off in a timely manner. These called in orders are usually processed by an agent in a call center or from devices set up in home offices and can use a few different methods for processing credit card over the phone.

Online Credit Card Processing

Catalogs and mailers now mostly include a website or e-mail address where orders can also be completed. This requires the ability in some way to process credit cards and other forms of payment online. Web sites are generally easier because an online credit card processing system can be set up through a virtual shopping cart that is secured. E-mail orders are not recommended to include credit card payment information unless they are sent through a secured network and have the appropriate protection systems in place.

Written Correspondence (Mail-Order) Credit Card Processing

Most everyone has seen these mailers or catalog order forms with boxes for each number and letter of your shipping and billing information. Once these cards are filled out, placed in a sealed envelope and mailed to an office or other specified location, they are processed by a correspondence specialist or team. These staff members can call in the credit card information to be processed through a touch-tone phone or they may have a terminal or network of systems into which the information in entered and processed.

Which Mail Order Credit Card Processor is the Best?

Creditcardprocessing.tv is a unique review site that has been developed to assist merchants in determining which credit card processing company makes the best fit for their business. At the top of this page are our reviews of the three mail order credit card processing companies that ranked highest in their field. Our reviews are based on site uptime (the amount of time the system is up, running and available for use), fee schedule—including cancellation fees and per transaction fees, length of contract, and percentage rates.