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Tutorials WordPress

What Is the Best Way To Accept Payments Through WordPress?

In this tutorial, we’ll talk about some of the best ways to accept payments on WordPress. Spoiler alert: the best way to accept them is through Payment Page!

1. Find a Payment Gateway in Your Home Country

You need to find a payment gateway that accepts credit cards and other types of payment methods in your home country. Many companies support this type of payment method.

On Wikipedia, there are a lot of payment service providers that accept credit cards and other types of payments in your home country. Before you start working with a payment gateway, it’s important that you thoroughly research the various features and fees of the company.

There are a lot of payment gateways that accept credit cards and other types of payments, such as PayPal, 2Checkout, and Stripe. However, there are also many other options.

2. Locate a Compatible WordPress Plugin

Before you start working with a payment gateway, it’s important that you thoroughly research the various features and fees of the company. If you don’t want to pay for a specific plug-in, you can start by searching the WordPress.org repository.

Most plug-ins for WordPress will allow you to accept payments without additional features. However, if you want to add additional features, such as subscriptions or mixed payment options, then a paid extension is required.

Ask yourself the following when investigating WordPress plugins:

•Is there customer support offered?

•What are the reviews?

•Is there enough documentation of the plugin to make an informed decision?

•Will the plugin be easy to set up and use?

•Are there 3rd party integrations available?

Some payment plugins will require you to use a third-party payment gateway to handle the various features of their functions, such as the checkout flow. Some will also require you to use a separate payment engine, such as MemberPress or WooCommerce.

3. Set Up The Plugin and Begin Accepting Payments!

If you decide to use a payment gateway plug-in, you’ll need to make sure that you have the necessary configuration to connect your website to the gateway’s API. This will allow you to securely process payments. The documentation of the payment gateway and the WordPress plug-in should explain the steps involved in setting up the system.

Finding it Difficult to Accept Payments Using WordPress?

There are a lot of articles and guides on how to accept payments using WordPress and PaymentPage. We have a variety of articles and guides that explain how to set up a payment gateway and implement various payment methods. If you have any questions about the payment gateway or the instructions in these articles, please contact our support team.

Payment Page is a fantastic way to start accepting payments on your WordPress site. Check out our pricing for details or download the free version.
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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept Bancontact Payments through Stripe: A Guide

When running an eCommerce store, transaction options are one of the biggest factors determining whether or not a customer will go through with their purchase. While website design provides visitors the opportunity to experience your brand and the products they put out, a hosted payment page system will allow them to turn that into reality. 

Payment page builders are extremely important for a streamlined checkout process. However, their importance is not stressed nearly enough. Offering a variety of payment options on a clean and easy-to-use payment page ensures that customers aren’t given a reason to leave. In a world where hundreds of other options are available at their fingertips, you can’t afford to lose them.

Bancontact

Bancontact is Belgium’s leading online payment method, in which it is utilized in up to a third of their online transactions. Founded in 1979, they have since been able to expand their reach and create a network for payments that work for the Belgian people. It is estimated that only less than 20% of businesses in the country do not offer the hosted payment page technology and it is reported that 27 million payments were processed in 2015. 

Bancontact payment details are normally single use but can be programmed to allow businesses to retrieve the bank account details of customers for subsequent payments to be completed. This can be done with the appropriate mandate authorization and links to the SEPA Direct Debit system for easy access. 

Fast Facts About Bancontact

Bancontact is a Belgium-based company that accepts payments via an authenticated bank debit system. Thanks to its customer-authenticated system, this offers safety and security for transactions, providing users with peace of mind. Since it accepts Euro currency, this is best suited for European Union countries looking for a good way to integrate this program with a Stripe payment system. Additional features include an immediate payment confirmation, as well as the ability to handle both refunds and partial-refunds in case of any issues. 

One of our favorite Bancontact features is its ability to set up recurring payments through SEPA Direct Debit, making subscriptions incredibly easy!

How To Accept Bancontact Payments Through Stripe

If your e-commerce site has a hosted payment page, Bancontact can be chosen as an option for checkout. There are two potential next steps, the first being when the customer is redirected to Bancontact’s page for payment credentials to be entered, which will notify the customer once the payment process has been completed. After the completion of this process, the customer will be returned back to the business’ site for the order details and other information. 

The other potential next step occurs when someone already owns a Bancontact account. First, the option is selected at checkout, then is redirected to Bancontact’s site containing a QR code to be scanned. The user will then enter their pin code and will be given a notification that the payment has been completed and will redirect them back to the business’ website. 

These can be integrated into Stripe’s system through proper programming and customization. 

What About Disputed Payments?

Thanks to the requirement of bank authentication for payments, the risk of fraud, or other kinds of unrecognized payments is low. This means that there will be no disputes that turn into chargebacks with funds withdrawn from a hosted payment page system (e.g. Stripe).

How About Refunds?

Bancontact payments have a refund period of up to 180 days after the original payment date. 

Advantages Of Using Bancontact As A Hosted Payment Page System

The best feature of the application is real-time confirmation and the guarantee of payment. For Belgian residents, this system is familiar, secure, and is extremely easy to use for any kind of customer. Additionally, the mobile application is well-optimized and is well integrated with online and mobile banking. 

Advantages For Merchants

Similar to the advantages for customers, Bancontact provides real-time payments that are low to no-risk and is a trusted payment solution by all of Belgium’s major banks. Because of this trustworthy and well-optimized system, sales are a breeze! The automatic enrollment system that utilizes QR codes and the application on mobile to make payments further expedites the process of making a purchase.

Conclusion

Hosted payment pages are important in running an eCommerce business, which is why investing in a premium payment page is worthwhile. The general rule of thumb is that the more steps a customer needs to take to buy something online, the more likely they are to abandon their cart. By utilizing streamlined payment pages like Stripe or Bancontact, the transactions made are easier and will make people think less about buying things from your store. 

Payment Page is a premium payment page builder that aims to assist international businesses of any scale craft easy-to-use and hassle-free checkout processes using apps like Stripe. We believe that the biggest factor that hampers an eCommerce store’s ability to sell all over is the lack of proper payment page builders, which is why we are here to help.

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept Giropay Payments through Stripe: A Guide

Giropay is a bank debit payment method used in Germany. Nearly all German banks link with it, including Sparkasse, Volksbanken, GLS Gemeinschaftsbank, Deutsche Kreditbank, Bankhaus Ellwanger, Bankhaus Bauer, and more. It lets customers transact online and pay through their savings or debit account.

Customers verify payments through this option with either a two-factor authentication system or a PIN. Paying through here is suitable for business models that need guaranteed payments. Once the customer has verified his security details, the funds are automatically transmitted. This method is similar to Bancontact from Belgium, Malaysia’s Financial Process Exchange (FPX), and iDEAL, from the Netherlands.

How to transact online through Giropay

Using this payment method is straightforward and does not take more than five steps. An e-commerce store looking to present it as a choice for customers can use a payment page builder to integrate it with their store.

  1. First, the customer lands on the checkout screen at the merchant’s website. When he selects Giropay as the payment option, he will be redirected to the page for finalizing payments.
  2. On Giropay’s page, he enters his bank details and confirms the purchase. Once he has done this, he will receive an SMS with his authentication number.
  3. The user enters the number into the redirect page, and hits send. Instead of two-factor authentication, some people get a second redirect to their bank’s website, where they will input a PIN they have set for online transactions.
  4. After confirming the purchase a second time, the Giropay redirect screen will confirm that the payment is complete.
  5. Some merchants redirect the shopper back to their website after this entire process. If he has an account with the e-commerce site, he can view their order’s progress.

What are the benefits of using this method?

Giropay serves as a gateway, letting customers transfer funds between local banks or purchase online via bank transfer. The system uses AES 256-bit encryption with TLS 1.2, which means your money will be safe when you use this method.

Payments made through this option are free for the customer since these are coursed through their banking partner. Furthermore, Giropay can be integrated with international money transfer services like Skrill and PayPal, which lets users enjoy greater flexibility, especially when purchasing items from international sellers.

How secure is Giropay against fraud?

Fraud and unrecognized payments are unlikely with this method since the customer is the one who authorizes the transfer of funds. Since there are no recurring payments, there is no dispute process that might result in a chargeback and withdrawing of funds.

If one happens, a dispute is likely to be between the customer and their bank and will be handled between them. There will be no dispute information on the dashboard.

Are refunds possible on this platform?

You can apply for refunds for transactions completed through Giropay, but there is a window for it. Applications for a refund may only be processed within 180 days from the original charge date. After this, the user can no longer refund the charge.

Conclusion

Giropay is a secure and reliable way to transfer funds. Integrating this payment method will give Europe-based customers more options for transactions and personalizes their e-commerce experience.


Payment Page helps you tailor your audience’s shopping journey to your e-commerce store. Create a hosted payment page to integrate with your WordPress website and make online transactions easier than before. Join us today or get in touch for more details!

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Stripe Tutorials

How To Accept iDEAL Payments Through Stripe: A Guide

Ever since it was first used as an experimental addition in the transaction flows of small Netherlands-based businesses, iDEAL has become one of the frontrunners of European online payments.

With its simplistic system that seeks to quickly complete transactions through an authenticated bank debit, iDEAL makes online payments easy. Thanks to its user intuitive system and immediate payment confirmation, iDEAL has managed to become the most popular online payment method among the Dutch. This is evident in its 55 percent market share! 

Seen as the Dutch counterpart of other popular payment methods such as Giropay and Bancontact, it’s clear that this tool has become highly sought-after for the right reasons. 

If you’re an online seller looking to offer as many European payment options as possible, this Dutch-developed payment system is a must. Fortunately, integrating it is as easy as accepting iDEAL payments via Stripe!

A Step-By-Step Guide To Accepting Payments Through Stripe

Although it may seem quite complex, fine-tuning your website’s payment pages to accept iDEAL payments doesn’t have to be as difficult because Stripe has streamlined the process through its Sources tool.

With the help of this single integration path that seeks to create payments using any supported method, Stripe users in the United States (and Europe, as well) can quickly accept payments from Dutch customers. This tool is set to help ease up the process because a Source object can be created so that a customer is redirected to their bank’s website to make a charge request— thereby completing the payment. 

Let’s go over each crucial step that you’ll need to follow so that you can use Stripe (and the Payment Page builder tool integrated with it) to start accepting iDEAL payments: 

Step #1: Create a Source object that will start accepting payments

The first step you’ll have to take is to create a Source object on the client-side—a process that can be found in the iDEAL Bank Element Quickstart. With this step, you can help your customers streamline the payment process by selecting their bank online instead of browsing the interstitial bank selection page.

Step #2: Have your customer authorize the payment

Once you’ve set up the source object that will be responsible for accepting payments from the most popular method in the Netherlands, the next step is to have your customer authorize them.

When you create a source, its status is initially set to “pending”, meaning that it cannot be used to make a charge request. This is where your customer will have to authorize an iDEAL payment to make the source object chargeable— which can be done by linking them to the URL provided within the Source object’s “redirect[URL]” attribute. 

Step #3: Start charging the Source

After following the two steps mentioned above, you’ll notice that your assigned Source object’s status is now “chargeable” and no longer “pending”. This allows it to be used to make charge requests. To make a charge request using the allotted source, you can proceed with making a charge request by accessing the webhook handler and using the source ID as a value in the source parameter so you can complete the payment. 

Step #4: Make the confirmation that the charge has succeeded

By the time everything falls into place and the Charge in question succeeds (which will show in the form of a “charge.succeeded” webhook event, the final step that you’ll need to take is to notify your customer of the successful transaction. 

(For a more in-depth guide to integrating iDEAL payments using Payment Page’s integrated payment method, check out Stripe’s official guide here.)

Conclusion

Trying to meet the needs of consumers in the Netherlands entails giving them payment options that make completing a purchase easy. If you see Dutch customers visiting, yet to bounce and abandon their cart in the latter stages of a purchase, your payment options could very much be the reason. With the help of this guide, however, you can quickly and successfully tap into the Dutch market by accepting the country’s leading payment method through Stripe!


If you’re looking to accept iDEAL payments through Stripe with an appealing and effective form on your website, then Payment Page is for you. You can easily build a custom payment form or we can help you set it up, to help your business achieve more profit right away with our tools at your disposal. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept Klarna Payments Through Stripe: A Guide

Klarna is one of the largest Swedish banks today, offering online banking payment options to 85 million consumers through 200,000 merchants. The bank is in 17 countries, including Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands, the UK, and the US. Some of the world’s largest brands integrate with Klarna, including Timberland, Sephora, H&M, The North Face, and more.

One of the biggest draws to Klarna is how many choices it offers to customers regarding payment. There are three different payment options you can integrate using a payment page builder—Pay Later, Pay Now, and Slice It. With all of these options, the bank enables upfront payments, protecting both the customer and the merchant against fraud. 

Choosing Pay Later for Klarna

Pay Later allows a shopper to complete a transaction and defer the payment for a couple of weeks. He is usually given 14 to 30 days to settle the full amount. When the customer selects Pay Later, he will undergo the following process:

  1. At the e-commerce store’s checkout screen, he chooses Pay Later as his transaction option. Then, he is redirected to the hosted page.
  2. At Klarna’s redirect page, he may be prompted to enter additional details like his birth date. After this, his order goes to the next step.
  3. The bank runs an automatic credit search using his bank details and the information he supplied on the redirect page. Once it finishes, the purchase is approved.
  4. The browser automatically redirects to the merchant website, where the user could see that the order is complete.

Choosing Pay Now for Klarna

If the customer wishes to pay at the instant that he transacts, he can choose Pay Now. This option accesses credit stored in a digital wallet; he can facilitate bank transfers or card purchases through it.

  1. At checkout, when the customer chooses Pay Now, his browser will redirect to the Klarna hosted page.
  2. If he is a new user, he will get a window prompting him to enter his account credentials. If not, he can use his previously saved information to go to the next step.
  3. Klarna confirms the transaction and debits the digital wallet. Then, the customer’s browser returns to the merchant’s website.

Choosing Slice It for Klarna

If a customer wants to make staggered payments, he can choose Slice It, which enables him to pay for the item over a period. There are various installment plans, allowing the shopper to select a payment scheme that fits his budget.

  1. A customer can select Slice It at the checkout screen, which will redirect him to Klarna’s hosted page.
  2. Once he is here, the shopper can choose the installment plan that best suits his budget. The bank offers anywhere from three to 36 months to pay, with varying interest rates.
  3. After he confirms, the browser will ask him for additional details, which the bank uses for its instant credit search.
  4. If the transaction is approved, the browser redirects to the merchant’s website and completes the checkout.

Conclusion

Klarna lets your customer choose the payment option that suits his budget. Payment confirmation is immediate for Pay Now in all regions. For most countries, Slice It and Pay Later are also immediate. In the US and the UK, merchants get a temporary confirmation, and the payment clears after five business days. Overall, it gives customers a simple, flexible way to shop on your website.

Make shopping a breeze with Payment Page. Provide your customers with various transaction modes through a hosted payment page, which integrates with a WordPress site. Join us today or get in touch for details!

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept Multibanco Payments through Stripe: A Guide

In a digitally-oriented and fast-paced business landscape, every day feels like a race against your busy schedule. Daily tasks like withdrawing money, depositing, or paying the bills can feel like a major hassle, but fortunately, advances in the banking industry simplify payment methods for people. 

That’s why online businesses are integrating  payment gateway methods in their system to make transactions more convenient for customers, allowing eCommerce businesses to grow rapidly on a worldwide scale. Payment processors dominate the international market, but what about integrating payment methods like Multibanco to your store? 

What is Multibanco?

Run by Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços S.A. (SIBS), Multibanco is one of the most innovative interbank networks in Portugal. It’s a revolutionary system that takes convenience to the next level for customers as it links ATMs of 27 banks in Portugal, making it easy to pay bills and other transactions using the ATM or online banking. 

When linking it to your e-commerce store, Stripe will receive the funds sent by the customer using Multibanco, which can take a few days to complete. When sending payment through online banking, the following steps take place: 

Online Banking From Multibanco to Stripe 

Step #1: Create a Source Object

If you’re looking to cater to customers in Portugal, using Sources is key to create payments that are supported by your store. Using either Stripe.js or source creation endpoint, these JavaScript libraries are platforms where you can build payment flows for your store. 

Step #2: Have the Customer Send the Funds 

Moving forward, clients or customers from Portugal can send their funds straight from their bank using either a reference or entity numbers you provided. They can initiate the transfer using either their computer, phone, or local ATM, which the merchants will display in the checkout flow and order confirmation email once the customer is pushing through with the purchase. 

As for the client, the source you created will only be set to pending, but it will change into chargeable once the customer transfers the funds. Be sure to charge the source to complete the process, or else the status will immediately cancel by default after six hours. 

Step #3: Charge the Source 

As mentioned above, the source’s status will change to “chargeable” once the customer pushes through with the transaction. It can take anywhere between minutes to days for the customer to send the funds, which is why it’s crucial to integrate webhooks to your system too as this can notify you about the changes to your source’s status. 

Once you do confirm the status change, you can set it to “charge” to complete the process. 

The Bottom Line: Payment Page Simplifies the Process of Accepting Multiple Payment Methods Across the Globe 

Bank payments and digital wallets are at an all-time high, but now online shopping is easier than ever as payment gateways like Stripe bridge the gap between businesses and foreign markets. Unfortunately, integrating different payment methods to your store is not as straightforward as it seems.
The process can be complex for you and your customers, especially when it comes to creating a seamless and easy-to-navigate payment checkout process. That’s where Payment Page comes into play, coming to you either as a WordPress plugin or a Website-as-a-Service (Waas). With our help, we can make the payment process and page setup easy in just a few clicks.

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept Przelewy24 Payments Through Stripe: A Guide

Przelewy24, also known as P24, is a payment method hailing from Poland. It’s regarded as one of the most preferred payment methods in the country, as it is tasked to facilitate transactions and fund transfers between 165 major Polish banks and businesses. Polish regard the payment method highly, especially since it allows them to pay for online transactions using direct online transfers from their bank accounts. 

The platform is also highly secure, as it ensures a 3D customer-authenticated payment completion. Payment confirmation is also immediate and should any issues arise, refunds and partial refunds are readily available for customers. Seeing as the Polish prefer P24 as their preferred method of payment, reaching this target market requires you to adopt Przelewy24 on your business platform. 

The question now stands: how do you do it? This guide seeks to help you understand exactly just that. Through Stripe, you’ll be able to offer P24 as online payment, further winning the engagement of prospective Polish customers. Here’s how:

How will it work for my business and potential Polish customers?

Step 1: Your customers will be directed to your checkout—Stripe will then enable them to select Przelewy24 as their preferred method of payment. 

Step 2: To pay with P24, they will then be led to another secure online environment. Here, they will be asked to authenticate their payment by logging into their respective banks. Account credentials will be inputted, to be then secured through the 3D authentication method. 

Step 3: Once the customer’s details are verified, they will receive a confirmation of the payment being successfully completed. Funds will then be transferred to your business, and the rest of the buying process will ensue. 

Note: Depending on your website’s structure, your customer can either be redirected back to the checkout site for confirmation. Refunds will also depend on your platform, as Stripe and Przelewy24 only serve as third-party payment gateways. Reversing funds fall entirely on the customer and business involved. 

Are dispute payments common? What are the risks involved?

Given Przelewy24’s nature, fraud and unauthorized payments are rare. Customers are required to authenticate their details upon payment, which is directly linked to their personal bank accounts. Due to this, cases of disputes rarely ever happen, but should the issue arise, a chargeback will ensue, to be withdrawn directly from your Stripe account. 

What else should I know about Przelewy24?

Przelewy24 operates under a time out method, meaning that shoppers are only given 15 minutes to complete their transactions. This is counted from the moment they enter the P24 payment page, including the choice of bank and re-direction to the said bank. 

Users are also given the chance to pursue an offline payment transaction, however, but will also be strictly under the 15-minute grace period. With that being said, merchants are advised to let their shoppers know accordingly—payments must be done immediately, or else they risk causing problems upon missing the time-out process. 

Enlist the Help of A Hosted Payment Page

Business owners in the modern world face a big problem—with such a competitive marketplace, ensuring that customers choose their brand can be difficult to accomplish. By choosing diverse payment options, however, you’re able to convince your customers to do more business with you. 

Such is the case with Przelewy24—as the leading payment method in Poland, you now open doors of opportunity to further your business reach. All it takes is the help of Stripe and a hosted payment page, and you’re all set!

If you wish to discover more payment options, work with Payment Page! We’re a payment page builder integrated with Stripe, making it easier for business owners like you to diversify their business operations. Through our special WordPress plugin, you’ll be able to witness secure and reliable options, best fit for a growing business! 

Accept payments from all over the world with us—reach out to us for more information!

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept SEPA Direct Debit Payments through Stripe: A Guide

Cashless payments in the European Union makes international commerce more accessible, which is the goal of the SEPA, or the Single Euro Payments Area. SEPA sets banking standards for direct debiting of Euro bank accounts in the region. Its direct debit system benefits businesses with customers in the EU, especially companies with recurring billing. 

How to make payments with SEPA Direct Debit

  1. At the checkout screen of the merchant’s website, the customer must select SEPA Direct Debit as the payment option. This action will take him to a hosted payment page.
  2. Next, the customer must provide his full name and account number in IBAN format. This has the country code, check digits, and the user’s Basic Bank Account Number.
  3. Once the bank details are verified, the customer will see a window notifying him that the transaction is complete.

Disputing a SEPA transaction is possible, and creditors maintain a “no questions asked” policy up to a point. SEPA automatically returns debit transactions to the customer if they make the dispute within eight weeks of the charge. 

After eight weeks, the customer may only dispute the payment if it is considered not authorized. In this case, the customer’s bank gets the mandate that the customer approved of the transaction. The bank also has the discretionary power to provide the customer with a refund.

If the customer’s bank is unable to debit the account because of insufficient funds or because it is frozen, the bank may reclaim the payment through a dispute as well. Decisions on SEPA Direct Debit disputes are final and may no longer be appealed.

Refunds of SEPA transactions

Refunds are only possible with SEPA within 180 days from the date of the charge. Refunds require three to four business days, and it may only be processed after the payment has been completed. If a merchant accidentally debits a customer, he should contact them immediately to prevent a dispute.

Refunds are not labeled as such when SEPA deposits money back to the buyer’s account. They process it as credit, and they include a reference to the original payment.

When issuing a refund, always inform customers that it takes five business days for the funds to clear. Long settlement periods mean a risk for confusion among the customer, the bank, and the merchant. For example, the customer might contact both his bank and the seller to dispute a transaction. If the seller issues a refund while the bank does the same, the customer might end up with two repayments for the same item.

What is a SEPA creditor identifier?

EU businesses need a SEPA creditor identifier, a uniform and standardized number that identifies the creditor clearly. Companies may have multiple creditor identifiers, but each one is unique and lets your customers locate their debit records  easily on their transaction history.

A creditor identifier also helps reduce disputed payments. You can request online for an identifier from your merchant bank. However, sellers need to specify that they are not seeking for the bank to process SEPA payments for them.

Conclusion

SEPA Direct Debit allows EU-based consumers to access their funds expediently. Integrating this payment method lets you provide more options to consumers from SEPA countries like France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and more.

Make paying for purchases even more convenient for shoppers by partnering up with Payment Page. Our hosted payment page integrates with various transaction methods, letting you provide a convenient e-commerce experience to shoppers. Join us today or get in touch to learn more about our payment page builder.

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Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept SOFORT Payments Through Stripe: A Guide

A popular bank transfer-based payment system in Germany and Austria, SOFORT banking is beginning to make its round across Europe. Without the need to create an account, SOFORT is convenient to use and incredibly safe. If you’re considering introducing a trusted and easy way for customers to pay for your products and services, here’s what you need to know about SOFORT.

How SOFORT Banking Works

If paying through SOFORT banking, customers are redirected from a hosted payment page to SOFORT’s online banking environment. Then, users will decide which account they want to perform the transfer from. The payment will then be authorized, and the client will return to the merchant site. 

Once authorization is successful, the funds will take anywhere between 2 and 14 business days to funnel into your business account. Once received, they can no longer be reversed other than through business-initiated refunds. When selling low-value or high-margin items, businesses can consider the initial authorization as one that is final and need not wait for the receipt of funds. 

Fast Facts About SOFORT

Currently active in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, payments made via SOFORT are accepted in the form of Euros. Payment methods occur exclusively through bank credit transfers and don’t accept recurring payments. If needed, businesses can grant full or partial refunds. 

Disputed Payments on SOFORT

Because customers are required to authenticate SOFORT payments with their banks, the occurrence of fraud or unrecognized payments is extremely low. As such, you won’t have to dispute chargebacks or have funds withdrawn from your Stripe account. 

Failed Charges on SOFORT

If a pending charge isn’t confirmed by customers within the cut-off period, the charge automatically transitions into a failed charge. On the other hand, if the funds are received only after the cut-off period, the customer is automatically refunded. 

On average, a small value of 0.2% SOFORT charges fail. This, of course, will vary according to your customer base and industry. To mitigate any risk to your business, consider your average payment amount and types of products being sold—then, depending on your ability to cope with failed charges, you can choose to fulfill orders only after you’ve received the funds. 

Refunds on SOFORT

As previously mentioned, SOFORT can shoulder full or partial refunds, sometimes automatically. However, they can only be submitted within 180 days from the date the original charge was made. After 180 days, your customer won’t be able to receive their refund. 

If charges are still pending or unconfirmed, you can still submit them for a refund. If you’re making a full or partial refund on a pending charge, you’ll only be able to transfer the fees after its status shifts from pending to succeeded. If the charge happens to transition from pending to failed, full and partial refunds are canceled.

Conclusion

When considering SOFORT as a payment option for customers on your page, you enjoy the benefits of sourcing funds from only one provider. A SOFORT system is also easy to navigate, making account tracking all the more efficient. 

If your European business needs a custom-designed payment portal, use our payment page builder upon launch day! By signing up today, you can enjoy a 30% discount on beautifully designed templates and convenient payment options. 

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Stripe Tutorials

ACH Payments: How to Have This Payment Processing

If you’ve made an electronic payment through Venmo, PayPal, or directly through your bank account, you’ve likely participated in ACH payments as a consumer. However, not every eCommerce manager will have a strong grasp of its intricacies. If you’re thinking about accepting ACH deposits as a small business owner, understanding how it functions as an alternative to cash, credit cards, debit cards, and checks will determine whether or not you should stake your claim in this rising network. 

What is an ACH Payment?

An Automated Clearing House is a U.S. financial network that facilitates automatic transfers between banks. The network is regulated by the federal government and the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). 

ACH payments function in the form of:

  • Individuals making electronic deposits to other individuals via online banking, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle
  • Individuals paying service providers (cable, electric, gas, etc) online
  • Direct payroll deposits
  • Fund transfers between bank accounts
  • Direct tax refund deposits
  • Business transfer funds

The 2 Types of ACH Transactions

The two main types of ACH transactions differ based on the directionality of the processing. These encompass: 

  • Direct ACH deposits, in which deposit transactions made by consumers, businesses, or other entities are made directly to other bank accounts—whether their own or between individuals. 
  • Direct ACH payments, in which individuals, businesses, or other entities pull money from these accounts. This method is commonly used for recurring payments. 

How ACH Payments Work

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how ACH payment processing occurs. 

  1. Originators, such as individuals, banks, or businesses, initiate an ACH transaction through a payment form that is differentiated as a direct payment or deposit. 
  2. The originating bank or payment processor, known as an Originating Depository Financial Institution (ODFI) submits the entry. 
  3. The ODFI sends entry batches to an ACH operator according to a predetermined schedule.
  4. The operator sorts through batches of entries to determine whether they are deposits or payments.
  5. The operator then transmits these entries to their respective Receiving Depository Financial Institutions (RDFI).
  6. If the transaction involves pulling funds, the receiving bank ensures that there is a sufficient amount of funds in the ODFI. 
  7. The RDFI will then debit or credit the receiver’s account depending on whether the transaction is a deposit or payment. 

How Safe are ACH Transactions?

For an ACH payment to be transmitted, it will require the exchange of sensitive bank information such as routing numbers, bank account numbers, and the type of account involved. Recurring payments will require the exchange of business bank account details as well. 

However, as previously stated, this information is regulated and protected by the federal government and NACHA, under which financial institutions, businesses, credit unions, industry providers, and government agencies must abide by strict guidelines. Hence, the safest payment processors are those that comply with NACHA regulations. 

ACH Payment Processing Times

ACH transactions are usually processed in batches three times a day during business hours. If your business accepts these types of payments, it may take a few days for the funds to be delivered to your business bank account. To be eligible for same-day payment processing, you may need to fund an expedited service. 

The Pros and Cons of ACH Payments

If you’re considering an ACH payment processor for your small business, consider the following advantages and drawbacks. 

Pros

  • Lower processing fees determined as a flat rate or percentage of the transaction
  • Easy to accept from paying customers across the country
  • Transactions are automatically recorded and can be easily accessed through an online portal

Cons

  • Accepts only domestic transactions
  • Not every provider offers same-day fund processing

Conclusion

On the whole, integrating an ACH payment processor into your transaction scheme is a simple process. However, it’s important to consider whether the costs of this transaction method outweigh the benefits it guarantees to  your business . Note whether your customers are willing to provide their bank information and if  payments for your products and services are easier facilitated using cash or credit. 

If you’re accepting online payments, Payment Page caters to clients from all around the world. Create a more seamless payment process for easier purchases with a hosted payment page that is as stunning as it is functional.