 Frequently Asked Questions - Merchants
 What is a Merchant Account?
Why does any business need to accept credit cards from my customers?
How does accepting credit cards increase my business?
How does one apply for a free merchant account?
How long will it take for the applications to be processed?
What credit cards can be accepted in the business?
What type of equipment should be used to process credit cards and checks?
Is there any cost to get started for any business?
Will statements be sent on the transactions processed?
How will payment be received for each transaction?
Does your software integrate with most websites?
Are my funds guaranteed?
What is Address Verification Service?
How do I get technical assistance?
What is a Merchant Account?
A merchant account is a commercial bank account established by contractual agreement between your business and the banks we represent. A merchant account enables your business to accept credit card payments from your customers.
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Why does my business need to accept credit cards from my customers?
By accepting major credit cards you can increase your credibility, customer convenience, and best of all, your sales. Statistics say accepting credit cards can increase sales by 30 to 100%! Millions of cards carried in the U.S. by people who take their cards where ever they go - to the mall, on vacation, to the post office, out to eat, to the dentist and surfing the Internet. These consumers enjoy the convenience, the flexibility and the security credit cards cards offer. For years, card acceptance has been expected at places like retail stores, hotels, restaurants and airlines. But today, consumers expect to be able to use their cards for a much broader range of products and services, including health care services, groceries, tuition payments, movie tickets and recurring payments such as cable or utility bills. And the list will only continue to grow. As a result, businesses who accept cards are not only gaining more customers, they are gaining more loyal customers and customers who spend more. In addition, these merchants and service providers are gaining real bottom line benefits for their business.
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How does accepting credit cards increase my business?
Credit cards acceptance offers your business a wide range of benefits in terms of reduced operating costs and increased profitability, including:
- Increased Sales : Consumers can take advantage of specials, stock-up on the products and services they need most, and in the case of health care services, obtain treatment when it's needed.
- Faster Payment : With credit card transactions, you receive payment within 24-72 hours, improving your cash flow.
- Reduced Costs : You can save time on the management of billing, sending statements and tracking receivables, reducing your overhead and related expenses.
- Fewer Processing Problems : Reducing the number of checks you take in diminishes the likelihood of problems resulting from processing checks. So you'll avoid redeposit fees and the cost of processing additional transactions.
- Improved Customer Service : Consumers enjoy the speed, convenience and payment flexibility that cards provide. Card acceptance lets you accommodate these consumers and offer increased payment options with monthly, quarterly or semiannual billings.
- Plus, we offer specific programs and materials targeted exclusively for your industry
How do I apply for a merchant account?
Simply, link to our online application and submit the requested information. You may also email us at ecxoc@ecx.com or call ECX Orange County at 1-800-418-9285 for further assistance on setup, or other processing related questions.
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How long will it take for my application to be processed?
In five working days your company will be able to accept credit cards from your customers. Our processing department specializes in expediting your application so you can immediately start accepting credit cards from your customers. All necessary paperwork will be sent next day via FedEx, and a next day scheduled prepaid pickup for fast return of all documentation.
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What credit cards will my business be able to accept?
We will apply for your business to accept all 5 major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club. A separate application is required for American Express, Discover and Diner's Club.
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What type of equipment should my business use to process credit cards and checks?
We offer your business four options for processing credit card and check orders:
- QuickCommerce / Pay-Me-Now: Secure, real-time credit card and check processing for your website.
- Merchant Master Software for PC's
- Macintosh and DOS for your Mail/Phone order business.
- Swipe terminals and supplies for retail merchants.
We have the software or terminals(s) your business will require at competitive lease and purchase prices.
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Is there any cost to get started for any business?
NO! It is all FREE!
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Will my business receive a statement on the transactions processed?
As a FreeMerchantSource / ECX Orange County merchant you will receive a comprehensive statement detailing your credit card transactions. This also comes with 24-hour customer service to assist you with all merchant account related questions. Customer service and merchant account statement fees are $10.00 per month.
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How will my business receive payment for each transaction?
Once the transaction has been approved your customer's charges are deposited directly from our credit card processor to your bank account. Transaction deposits range from 24-72 hours from the date of the transaction.
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How does QuickCommerce / Pay-Me-Now integrate with my website?
QuickCommerce / Pay-Me-Now setup is quick and easy. The merchant or webmaster simply establishes a link between the QuickCommerce / Pay-Me-Now secure server and the merchant's website.
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Are my funds guaranteed?
Any customer has the right to dispute a credit card charge from the card's issuing bank. If a charge is challenged, a retrieval request will be sent to the merchant asking for proof that a sale had been made by the customer. In addition, the merchant's credit card processor has the right to discontinue service for many reasons. And finally, a merchant should take due diligence to protect against someone trying to order merchandise with stolen cards by becoming familiar with the process.
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What is Address Verification Service?
AVS is a service that is built into the authorization process to help prevent fraudulent transactions. The numerical portion of a consumer's address is sent along with the transaction data and is matched against the address that is registered with the consumer's credit card from their issuer's bank. A response code is sent back with the approval (or decline) message that indicates a match or not. Currently, a match or mismatch is simply reported back to the merchant and does NOT result in a transaction decline. The merchant then has the option to contact their customer to confirm the correct address before they ship any goods.
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How do I get technical assistance?
After you have consulted our technical manual and still require additional support, we ask that an email to support@ecx.com or contact your agent detailing the question at hand will allow our technical service advisor to research the question at hand (please include with question your business name, phone number, and contact name.) Premium Support Gold is for those with complex web site linking and shopping cart integration.
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