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A2Z Online Services

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Protecting Yourself Against SPAM and Online ID Theft

Small Business Tool Kit

Basic Business Plan Format
Definition of Mission, Goals, Objectives and Strategies
Putting Together a PR Media Kit
Sample of a Press Release
Smart Marketing

Printing

Paper Basis Weight Chart
Printing and Marketing Glossary
Envelope Size Chart

Online Payment Systems

Like any business decision, selecting an online payment system requires quite a bit of homework on your part. A2Z does not recommend any one online payment system, but will work with you to design your website using the online payment system you choose. Be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions of any online payment system, and to compare it with other systems. Things to look for include:

How long have they been in business?
Choose a payment services provider that is well established and credible.Your provider should also have in-depth experience in and a strong track record for transaction security.
Customer Service
Is the business only a faceless entity on the internet, or can you easily contact a real human being? Do they readily disclose their corporate phone numbers and business addresses? Are they located in the USA, or in a foreign country (which may subject them to different laws)? Some companies intentionally make the phone number very difficult to find in order to "save costs." If you have a problem, you deserve the courtesy of a real human-to-human contact instead of being shuffled off into the empty abyss of online email form replies. You might even try calling the listed phone number to verify the ease with which you can access their customer service.
Disclosure of Terms of Service
If you plan on doing very large volumes of financial business from the internet, you would be well advised to run the online payment system company's Terms of Service past a lawyer who specializes in business transactions. Be forewarned that some online payment services have been charged with not completely disclosing their Terms of Service upon signup and leaving some "conditions" undisclosed. Your money may be100% at risk.
Do they have a policy that allows them to arbitrarily "freeze" your account?
Some online payment systems have a reputation of completely cleaning out customers' accounts, (including checking or savings account) with no appeals process available.
How do they handle disputes?
Do the Terms of Service allow you to opt for a jury trial or allow you to retain a legal option to dispute the company's decisions? Be aware that some online payment systems act as their own investigator, judge, jury and executioner in disputes with their company. In these cases, if they make a decision to keep your account locked, you cannot appeal the decision
How do they handle payments made with stolen credit cards?
If you are paid with a stolen credit card or if a customer "disputes" the charge, your account can be flagged as "criminal behavior" resulting in the confiscation of all funds -even funds not involved in the disputed transaction - in your account.
What do they charge for their services?
Some online payment systems charge excessive fees for services. You might be better off to just establish a phone or fax merchant account with Visa and MasterCard. We advise you to carefully compare rates between services.
Real-time Authorization
Make sure your payment gateway provider offers real-time credit card authorization results.This will
ensure that the credit card has not been reported as lost or stolen and that it is a valid card number.

Verisign
To read Verisign's helpful Online Payment Processing Guide: What You Need to Know, click here.

PayByWeb
Set up your own merchant account. Not only take credit cards, but also checks instantly! Since 3 times more people have checking accounts than credit cards, the e-check thing is a big market. In business since 1992.

Propay.com
You get a real merchant type account, your business email address shows up on your customers credit card statement, so they know who to contact in case of questions, and their rates are reasonable. Plus no monthly fee!

Merchant-Systems
No application fee, no certificate required. About $30/month.

Intelli-Collect
StormPay
Money Bookers

PayPal
While PayPal is one of the most recognized names on the internet as an online payment system, there is a lot of controversy right now about the ethics of PayPal's business practices. At this point, I cannot recommend the PayPal system to my clients. To read about the specifics of the complaints, review the comments on this site:
http://www.nopaypal.com

Other information:

Helpful information for entrepreneurs and small business owners:

Small Business Administration (SBA)
Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE )
INC. Magazine for Entrepreneurs
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME)
Oregon Economic & Community Development Department
Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
Washington Office of Financial Management
Better Business Bureau
National Association for the Self-Employed
Federal Trade Commission

Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division
Need to register a business name, or find out if someone else in the state has a name registered? You can do all that, and much more here.

Washington Secretary of State Corporation Division
Take care of business needs via this site.

This page was last updated on June 1, 2003

This site is maintained by THUNDERBOLT DESIGNS
P.O. BOX 294 " THE DALLES, OREGON 97058 USA " 541-980-4832
Email the Web Concierge at:
WEB SITE URL: http://a2zgorge.info

DISCLAIMER: A2Zgorge.info is an information and referral service provider and is not liable or responsible for direct services provided by any individual, business or organization listed. Please report any problems you experience directly to the business or organization in question. If you do not receive satisfaction, we suggest you file a report with the Better Business Bureau . The information on this site is for information purposes only, and not to be considered legal advice, or to take the place of consulting an appropriate medical or mental health professional. Would you like to make a correction or an addition?

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