Best Method/Gateway for Online Payments (Credit Card) in South Africa

[Brakanjan]

Hey everyone

I am looking for some advice or tips on the best method/gateway to use for accepting online payments (credit card) in South Africa. It has to be secure with all the other features one would expect. I am building a php application that needs this functionality. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

I see there are quite a few payment gateways (south african companies) that offer this service in our country, but I just wanted to hear if any of you had any recommendations?

Thanks

It is much appreciated.

Brak

 

[ITCynic]

Most of the payment gateway companies in South Africa provide sample code and some even allow test accounts. Make use of their samples but in my opinion one has to look at the costs of transactions and monthly fees as part of the global picture.

Just my 57c worth (vat incl)

 

[D3x!]

There are various ways to go, you can get a merchant account from your bank and use a processor like virtual card services or there are other guys that cater for smaller guys that then make use of a global merchant account, I.e you don't need your own merchant account. Obviously their fee will be higher.

Basically you need to establish what your volumes will be and go from there, also banks negotiate merchant fees based on volumes.

For some new small online shops the way to go sometimes is eft if your volumes aren't yet at the level to accommodate either.

 

[server-admins.net]

From my experience I would recommend Netcash and Mygate for CC transactions and other payment methods.

 

[ray-zin]

What does a merchant account cost +- I'm battling to get this information out of my bank. :-(

 

[D3x!]

What does a merchant account cost +- I'm battling to get this information out of my bank. :-(

well firstly what bank?

also your fee's would depend on volumes etc

you are not speaking to the right person.

 

[Ipwn 4]

We use payfast, it's free to use with 4% charged per transaction an 8% per withdrawal.

 

[ray-zin]

Ja. Well I'm waiting for the bank to call me back *sigh* - Spent an hour and a half in total trying to get this info. - nedbank.
re: payfast. thanks I'll check them. I assume you mean R8 per withdrawl?
I'm trying monstercash. 2.9% per transaction. but am already having issues taking payments with them.

 

[byron_spy]

We use payfast, it's free to use with 4% charged per transaction an 8% per withdrawal.

This is very easy to implement, Monster Pay slightly cheaper

Ja. Well I'm waiting for the bank to call me back *sigh* - Spent an hour and a half in total trying to get this info. - nedbank.
re: payfast. thanks I'll check them. I assume you mean R8 per withdrawl?
I'm trying monstercash. 2.9% per transaction. but am already having issues taking payments with them.

Dont know monster cash let me know if you decide on Monster Pay I have a contact there

 

[ray-zin]

Sorry.... I meant monsterpay... not monstercash! lol.
I signed up with them but they don't seem to be able to smoothly handle card transactions for large amounts. Grrrrr. Not going to work for me.

 

[D3x!]

Sorry.... I meant monsterpay... not monstercash! lol.
I signed up with them but they don't seem to be able to smoothly handle card transactions for large amounts. Grrrrr. Not going to work for me.

for nedbank this is who you want to call: 0860 114 966 http://www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/nedlink/contactus.asp

 

[byron_spy]

Sorry.... I meant monsterpay... not monstercash! lol.
I signed up with them but they don't seem to be able to smoothly handle card transactions for large amounts. Grrrrr. Not going to work for me.

Ok, before we go any further

Monster pay and payfast is great for online shops and so but if you want people to pay you R50k for whatever online then its a bad idea

What is your requirements ?

 

[alphabyte]

Not to hijack your thread, but a client of mine wants to use shopdirect (shopdirect.co.za) - any one here with experience or recommendations?

 

[ray-zin]

for nedbank this is who you want to call: 0860 114 966 http://www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/nedlink/contactus.asp

lol. Thanks. I've tried em. But now I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for them to call me back. I'll switch banks before I try calling them again.

 

[ray-zin]

Ok, before we go any further

Monster pay and payfast is great for online shops and so but if you want people to pay you R50k for whatever online then its a bad idea

What is your requirements ?

Well I mainly take deposits for my guest house. - but sometimes people pay in full so the amounts can be quite large. Its usually international guests that pay by card.... and they aren't used to all this card verification nonsense. - My first payment via monsterpay was fine. My second one was just over 11k. - Monsterpay blocked it and I almost lost a chunky last-minute-booking because of it. - their online help is great but not helpful in this regard. They also refuse to tell me waht amount is considered large enough to stop?!

 

[byron_spy]

Not to hijack your thread, but a client of mine wants to use shopdirect (shopdirect.co.za) - any one here with experience or recommendations?

Dont know them what does your client require ? All they basically do from what I can gather on their website is use some kind of scripting so it can be that bad

 

[byron_spy]

Well I mainly take deposits for my guest house. - but sometimes people pay in full so the amounts can be quite large. Its usually international guests that pay by card.... and they aren't used to all this card verification nonsense. - My first payment via monsterpay was fine. My second one was just over 11k. - Monsterpay blocked it and I almost lost a chunky last-minute-booking because of it. - their online help is great but not helpful in this regard. They also refuse to tell me waht amount is considered large enough to stop?!

Ok stay away from Monster pay

Do you have a credit card machine @ your Guest house ? as this will make it easy

https://www.paygate.co.za they also good but rather try to get your bank merchant account sorted

 

[ray-zin]

Ok stay away from Monster pay

Do you have a credit card machine @ your Guest house ? as this will make it easy

https://www.paygate.co.za they also good but rather try to get your bank merchant account sorted

If I had a credit card machine... i'd have a merchant account? ;-)
I'm not based at the resort so I take all payments prior to arrival.... I used to use paybridge (part of nightsbridge) - but now I'm leaving nightsbridge so cant use paybridge anymore. (pity!) - I'd love to use paypal... but the no ZAR thing is pathetic. I even tried contacting paypal about that and they cannot advise when they plan on adding ZAR as a currency. The guy from mygate seems quite helpfull... but again... I need a merchant account and yet I cant even find out how much this will cost.

is it R100 per month. R500? - who knows!!!!

 

[byron_spy]

If I had a credit card machine... i'd have a merchant account? ;-)

This just makes it easier

Cost wise going with a bank depends from about R200- R250 to about R2400 a month depending on volumes etc

Not 100% sure there best bet would be to go see the bank

 

[ray-zin]

This just makes it easier

Cost wise going with a bank depends from about R200- R250 to about R2400 a month depending on volumes etc

Not 100% sure there best bet would be to go see the bank

Will do. Thanks. ;-)