Merchant Account service for the UK?

[johnnyleeds]

Hello

Can anyone recommend a merchant account service which is suitable to use in the UK? I have heard you can use a merchant account instead of Paypal which cant be bad if it frees you from the constraints of Paypal and their ridiculous regulations etc. I looked briefly at the HSBC bank merchant account service but this requires a £250 set up fee which is a bit much for a service I am not sure how much I would be using. Does anyone else use a merchant account service in the UK? I usually turn over about £300 - £400 a week of sales on eBay so maybe I should just stick with Paypal but if anyone has any advice I would be very grateful to know.

Cheers!

Johnny

[johnnyleeds]

If people do not wish to reveal information openly on the forum please feel free to send me a private message through this forums PM service.

many thanks!

Johnny

[tardiscentral]

I do not believe you can use a merchant account instead of Paypal in the UK. If you could it would solve problems for me too...

[oompaloompa]

no we are in the good old uk, just paypal.

[GreenBean]

What has happened to NOCHEX? Have you looked into it?

[johnnyleeds]

What a joke! Not only do eBay have all the restrictions and monopoly on payment methods but they apply different rules for different countries?!? I hope something happens soon that will burn eBay down and free me from this nightmare... I could have got a proper job years ago when I left uni but I kept pedalling at this eBay thing and it just became more and more of a fiasco until I now have a house full of unsold stuff that I have £1000's of pounds invested in yet I cant bear to just throw it out neither cos that would leave me with nothing but an empty house and no job / prospects!

[tardiscentral]

I think it is just a matter of time before all eBay sites across all countries require Paypal. It is a joke really...

[oompaloompa]

If you look at forum on actual uk ebay site sellers are miffed about paypal monopoly, you have to state you accept it, only other methods are cheques/postals etc.

[johnnyleeds]

I did in the past accept direct payments via online banking or people would deposit cash directly into my account at their local branch of my bank, which was not only instant if depositing cash or using the new Fast Payment Service online but free from any paypal fees. Of course eBay / Paypal would have buyers believe that this method of payment was unsound for buyers as it means that they were completely bypassed. When I recommence selling on eBay I am just going to add the cost of the Paypal fees onto the buyers postage. I have never overcharged buyers on postage and I used to get package delivery deals for larger items via eBay itself - I sent a vintage Raleigh Chopper bike by 24 hour DHL courier delivery for only £6.95, it would have been closer to £30 sent via Parcelforce! So adding a pound or two to the postage cost to cover Paypals fees will hardly kill my buyers, plus they see what postage I am charging before they bid so if they have agreed to pay this delivery charge they can hardly complain.

[mantisinc]

You won't be able to use a merchant account on eBay.

But if you want one for your personal website, I can reccomend Nochex for sure. They were fantastic for me, in the time I used them.