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NIFTYPAY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


NiftyPay is used to mean both NiftyPay and NiftyPay 2 Play on this page, except where noted

GENERAL QUESTIONS


  • In a nutshell, what are NiftyPay's services? Do I have to use them all?
  • How does NiftyPay's process work?
  • Why should I use NiftyPay?
  • My business is based outside the United States. Can I use NiftyPay?
  • Will my order forms need to reside on NiftyPay's server?
  • What fields are required in my order form for the process to work?
  • How do I (the merchant) get paid?
  • What information do my customers provide for order processing?
  • How do my customers keep track of the transaction?
  • How long have NiftyPay's services been in use?
  • What prevents the interception of account information on the Internet?
  • What about my customers who aren't on the Internet?
  • Can I upgrade from NiftyPay 2 Play to NiftyPay later?
  • When Do I get billed for NiftyPay 2 Play Transactions?

  • CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE (NIFTYPAY or NIFTYPAY 2 PLAY)


  • How do I accept credit cards online?
  • I already have a merchant account. Do I need a new one?
  • I already have a NiftyPay account, but want to get a new merchant account with you. How do I get one?
  • Do I need a credit card terminal or processing software?
  • Does NiftyCharge perform address verification (AVS)?
  • Can I post a credit to a customer's card?
  • Can I void transactions online?
  • What is the XML version of NiftyPay?

  • ONLINE CHECK ACCEPTANCE (ACH / EFT)


  • How do I accept payments via ACH / EFT?
  • Do I need a merchant account or any special hardware or software?
  • Can ACH / EFT transactions be returned by my bank for non-sufficient funds (NSF), etc.?
  •  



    In a nutshell, what are NiftyPay's services? Do I have to use them all?

    NiftyPay: Real-time credit card acceptance
    EFT: Check payment acceptance (via electronic funds transfer)
    Auction PayMe: Accept winning eBay bid payments
    FormWizard: Easy website order form creation

    You don't have to use all of these services. Registration with any NiftyPay service allows you to use as many of them as you'd like.    



    How does NiftyPay's process work?

    Please see this brief summary.    



    Why should I use NiftyPay?

  • More Sales. With the explosive growth of Internet shopping, you can't afford not to accept payments online. NiftyPay allows you to give your customers multiple payment options; whether they choose to pay with a credit card or a checking account, they can make their payments immediately--and securely--at your website.
  • Simplicity. NiftyPay provides hands-off payment acceptance. Though you are welcome to enter your customers' orders manually, NiftyPay is designed to spare you that effort. You don't need to handle any transactions yourself. Your customers can enter their own information--24 hours a day--and NiftyPay will automatically do the rest.
  • Speed. Your customers' orders are processed in real-time (immediately). Each transaction takes only 5-30 seconds, depending on Internet traffic and the speed of your processor. This enables you to allow access to member-only areas, allow instant downloads, etc.
  • Quick Payment. With NiftyPay, it takes very little time to receive payment for the orders placed on your site. Funds can be deposited directly into your business checking account.
  • Flexibility. Your customers can place and pay for their orders online--automatically--or you can take their orders by phone, by fax, or in person, then enter the information via the online virtual processing terminal.
  • Security. The fact that you never have to handle your customers' payment information greatly increases its security. All orders are placed via NiftyPay's secure server, eliminating the risk of information theft. Your web site can be hosted on any server without compromising the security of your customers' data. (See Security Information.)
  • Price. NiftyPay's prices are exceptionally competitive. (See Pricing.)

    (See Products & Services.)    (Register here.)    



    My business is based outside the United States. Can I use NiftyPay?

    No, sorry. In some cases those in Canada can use NiftyPay as long as the CCMA processing network is First Data - Canada    



    Will my order forms need to reside on NiftyPay's server?
    If so, how will I get access to change them when necessary?

    Your order pages can reside wherever you'd like, giving you complete control. You simply "post" your order form to NiftyPay's secure server. After your customers place orders, NiftyPay redirects them to the URL of your choice. (The URL can also be a Perl/CGI, ASP, or PHP script.)    



    What fields are required in my order form for the process to work?

    Please see this FAQ concerning required and non-required fields.    



    How do I (the merchant) get paid?

    NiftyPay: Funds are deposited into your bank account according to your agreement with your merchant credit card processor (generally within 48-72 hours).

    ACH / EFT: Funds are electronically transferred into your bank account.    



    What information do my customers provide for order processing?

    For NiftyPay:
    Information as listed on the customer's credit card statement, including name, address, phone number, credit card number, and expiration date.

    For ACH / EFT:
    Information shown on one of the customer's checks, including name, address, phone number, and the routing number on the bottom of the check.

    In all cases, the customer is also asked for an email address.    



    How do my customers keep track of the transaction?

    With each order, an email notification is sent to the customer with complete order details. The transaction then appears on the customer's monthly credit card or checking account statement.    



    How long have NiftyPay's services been in use?

    The original gateway powering NiftyPay was launched in 1994. NiftyPay, an extension brand, was launched in 2005.    



    What prevents the interception of account information on the Internet?

    NiftyPay's security standards are unsurpassed. Since account information is never transmitted unencrypted or stored on the Internet, there is no danger of interception. Account information is never sent via email.    



    What about my customers who aren't on the Internet?

    NiftyPay's services are not limited to Internet transactions. As long as you have an Internet connection, we can also process transactions you receive via phone, fax, or in person.    



    Can I upgrade from NiftyPay 2 Play to NiftyPay or NiftyPay XML later?

    Yes. You will also need to pay the normal setup charge for NiftyPay, however your existing merchant and ACH/EFT accounts used with NiftyPay 2 Play can be re-used in the new upgraded account, if desired. Your annual fee and per transaction fees charged for the NiftyPay 2 Play service will be discontinued immediately upon upgrading. To request an upgrade, use our Contact Form to initiate the request.    



    When Do I get billed for NiftyPay 2 Play Transactions?

    Depends. Billing is normally done within the first 2-3 weeks after the close of the previous month. If you have 5 or less transactions during a month, we will not bill you and absorb that expense for you and count it covered by your $45 annual maintenance fee.

    If billing is under $15.00 for a particular month plus any previous months, we may defer billing until a later time, and at our choice. If we do not bill your account for a particular month, it may mean we have deferred builling and will add it to future billings, but spanning no more than 6 consecutive months.

    To request a an overview of your transactions for a previous month or range of months, please contact us at Contact Form to initiate the request.    



    How do I accept credit cards online?

    1. Register with NiftyPay.
    2. Obtain a credit card merchant account (can be done at NiftyPay registration, if needed).

    Once you have completed these two steps, we can set you up with our NiftyPay or NiftyPay 2 Play service within one business day.    



    I already have merchant account. Do I need a new one?

    No. Any merchant account will work, provided that it utilizes one of the main processing networks (see the list on our CCMA page).

    If you don't have a merchant account, we can help you obtain one at the time of restration or afterwards.    



    I already have a NiftyPay account, but want to get a new merchant account with you. How do I get one?

    Use our Contact Form and select "NiftyPay - New CCMA-Merchant Account Needed" and submit the form with the rest of the information filled in. We will then contact you via email for more information in order to begin the application process.    



    Do I need a credit card terminal or processing software?

    No. NiftyPay eliminates your need to lease or buy credit card processing hardware or software.    



    Does NiftyCharge perform address verification (AVS)?

    All of the major credit card processors will accept transactions that do not pass AVS. The fact that processors do not reject non-AVS transactions is a great concern of ours.

    Because of this, NiftyPay has introduced one of the first AVS systems for the Internet. Our system allows us to disallow transactions that are allowed through the processor without passing AVS, a setting each merchant makes within their merchant control panel. If you select not to accept non-AVS transactions and a non-AVS transaction is allowed through by your processor platform, NiftyPay's system will not allow the transaction to be processed and will issue an error message to the customer.    



    Can I post a credit to a customer's card?

    Yes. NiftyPay is a fully-functional Point-of-Sale (POS) service. Merchants can post credits (full or partial) to customers' cards. This function is performed on NiftyPay's secure server in a password-protected environment, the online merchant control panel.    



    Can I void transactions online?

    Yes. This can be done in real-time in a secure, password-protected environment, the online merchant control panel.    



    What is the XML version of NiftyPay?

    The XML version allows you to submit your customer's complete payment details to NiftyPay without using our hosted payment forms. XML requires that you have your own SSL security certificate on your web site. XML is not available in the NiftyPay 2 Play service.    



    How do I accept payments via ACH / EFT?

    1. Register with NiftyPay.
    2. Set up an account with an ACH / EFT provider.

    Then, when your customer chooses to pay from a bank account, they simply provide their account information in an online order form. This information is relayed securely to the ACH / EFT processor for approval. Once approved, NiftyPay sends both you and your customer a copy of the order via e-mail. Funds are electronically transferred from your customer's bank account into your own.    



    For ACH / EFT, do I need a merchant account or any special hardware or software?

    No.    



    Can ACH / EFT transactions be returned by my bank for non-sufficient funds (NSF), etc.?

    If your customer provides invalid account information or doesn't have sufficient funds to cover an order, their EFT transaction will be declined by the EFT processor. Transactions will only be submitted to your bank after they have been screened/processed by the ACH / EFT provider. This alleviates the risk of bank-assessed returned-item fees.    


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