Merchant account just for xsales
 

So originally I was lead to believe I could process them without a merchant account (even had a programmer who was going to set it up), but recently a few members here have told me I need a merchant account, even if I'll never charge $1 to it even.

My business model will be get a completely free membership to my site, but you must accept this cross sale to join, something like clipcrypt.com/iframe

Whats my best option, being someone who does not have processing history but wants to get something like this started?

Thanks

As we discussed, I do think its possible to send sales in that manner. I believe clipcrypt/tube titans sale to one of their own sites so it's possible. But the model will not work if your own sites billing isn't involved.

There are a few reasons why this will not work. Namely, it's illegal.

you won't be able to manage the charge back rate in the account if you are sending 100% cross sells. The account will get fined, and then shut down.

Are you sure about that? If you wouldn't mind, I'd like some more information on how you know it's illegal, as I've seen a few sites with this biz model.

I wont be sending the cross sells to myself only, so there will be no chargebacks on the account at all, I will be sending the sales to other companies.

I already have companies lined up to take the traffic, just have to get my end set up and begin sending :)

It's doable without a merchant account completely even, but then I'm told even with a secure page and everything, I cannot be accepting the credit cards to be shared with the third parties without a merchant account (makes sense).

I think that merchant account would be revoked in just a few of weeks.

Guess it depends on who he goes through for the merchant account.
AdProfits,Feel free to get in contact with me.
I can point you in the right direction.:winkwink:

So basically:

- You want to give free access to a (your) site.
- You want the user to fill out their card details for 'age verification' to access your site
- The user will never get charged for your site, no initial charge and no rebills charges
- There will be a pre-checked x-sale, that would subscribe (and charge) the user to an x-sale partner's site if the user doesn't uncheck the xsale.

You do NOT need a merchant account for this, but you do need an account at a payment service provider. The easiest would be Netbilling. And get Nats as well to make it even easier with the join forms etc.

I don't think any third party processor such as epoch, netbilling or ccbill will allow you to even use their interface if your xsell is higher than your membership fee.