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Starhugger -> Payments without credit cards (5/15/2006 19:41:15)
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I'm expanding my service business and am getting new clients from all over the world. I'm trying to investigate the easiest way for a client to make a payment (online or offline) when they don't have a credit card. This kind of client could be in any country in the world, although I would expect most to be in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. (I'm in Canada.)
Unfortunately, PayPal requires a credit card for account holders in some countries, so having the person set up an e-check type of account may not be an option in many cases. I currently have a potential client in this situation and I'm sure I'll get more like this as time goes on. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to receive payments from clients in other countries who don't have a credit card. (My current potential client happens to be in the Netherlands.)
I'm wondering what others have found that works well. From the research I've done so far, it seems you can save on processing/clearing time by spending more money on service charges (e.g., wire transfer, like Western Union). Or, you can save on service charges but it takes forever for the payment to clear. (e.g., snail mail cheque or money order, which my bank tells me can take 20 business days to clear. Yikes!!)
I'd like to find a method that is (relatively) cheap for the sender, as well as for me, doesn't take half the year to clear, and doesn't require me to chase all over the city in person to find the transfer company to retrieve the money (as some wire transfers do). I don't ask for much, do I? [;)]
What have others done to make their products or services available through offline or non-credit card payments? Does anyone know of a good online alternative to PayPal that might be more flexible about non-credit card payments from various countries?
Thanks very much for any help about this.
Starhugger
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