FAQ
Documentation for all the Fast Charge Online Commerce Suite products is available at our payment gateway support page HERE.
To accept credit cards on your website you will need to obtain an Internet Merchant Account with an acquiring bank. This is an account designed to enable you to accept credit cards over the Internet. Not all banks currently support Internet merchant accounts. Contact your bank to determine if your existing account will allow you to process Internet-based transactions.
No. A merchant Account is set up separately through a Merchant Processing Bank. Fast Charge has partnered with multiple Processing Banks that can provide internet capable Merchant Accounts as well as ALL the major Processing Networks. Contact Fast Charge customer service for assistance in applying for a Merchant Account through a Fast Charge partner. Contact an Electronic Transfer/Fast Charge sales representative to get started, at 800-757-5453.
Yes, an Internet capable merchant account is required. Fast Charge is not a credit card merchant account provider. However, we can help facilitate the process of obtaining an account if you need one through one of our merchant bank partners.
For a new merchant account, please contact us for information about our merchant banking partners. We have partnered with banks that specialize in setting up new merchant accounts with very competitive pricing. If you have an existing merchant account or would like to use the bank of your choice, Fast Charge can integrate with most Internet ready merchant accounts that use one of our compatible authorizing networks.
Call Electronic Transfer Inc. (Fast Charge’s parent company) at 800-757-5453 to set up a new merchant account today.
The merchant bank that issues you a Merchant Credit Card Account contracts with a processor to handle credit card processing for it. The Fast Charge payment gateway provides a “bridge” between the merchant’s website (using a secure Internet connection from the merchant’s website to Fast Charge) and the processor (using leased lines from Fast Charge to the processor).
Fast Charge allows you to use your merchant account and process live, secure credit card transactions over the Internet. Fast Charge becomes your ‘card swiping machine’ over the Internet allowing you to accept credit card orders 7 days a week, 24 hours a day without the need of human intervention and with an entire back office environment to run your business.
Yes, if the bank your merchant account supports Internet transactions and uses an authorizing network that Fast Charge is integrated with you can use Fast Charge.
Offering your customers, a choice in payment method greatly increases your market potential. Studies show that for purchases over $25, almost half of all consumers prefer to pay by check with only 18 percent preferring credit cards. Over 90 percent of consumers have checkbooks and write over 30 billion checks every year. On the commercial side, about 15 billion checks are written business-to-business with an additional 10 billion checks written business-to-an individual.
You must have a US business address and a US bank account to process with Fast Charge.
No. Fast Charge is a transaction processing company, also know as Internet Payment Gateway. Through the Fast Charge Online Commerce Suite, an Internet merchant can process credit card via virtual terminal, recurring billing, and website shopping cart API.
Fast Charge does not deposit your funds. Your Merchant Service Provider deposits settled transactions.
Can I view a report of fees charged against my account by Fast Charge?
Your fee invoices are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply login to Online Merchant Center and select the Invoices/Fee Report under the Accounting menu in the left-hand frame.
How long does it take to receive funds after my transactions are submitted?
The amount of time it takes to receive credit card funds depends on your credit card merchant bank. Typically, the time is 48 hours, but you will need to ask them directly regarding when to expect your funds. Fast Charge/Electronic Transfer’s underwriting banks have next day funding available for most merchants.
Can I sign up with Fast Charge online?
Yes, the Fast Charge Signup URL is: https://fastcharge.com/contact-us/. After completing the online signup form, please print, sign, and fax the transaction processing agreement to 509-924-6621.
How will I know when the setup of my account is complete?
Once your account has been completed, you will receive notification via email.
How do I log into the Online Merchant Center?
Go to https://www.secure-fastcharge.com. Fill in the following fields: Acct Id, User Id, and Password. This information is sent via email during the setup process.
How long does it take to integrate the Fast Charge Online Commerce Suite into my website?
If you have a merchant account that is Internet ready, your Fast Charge account can be activated within one business day. The actual time required to begin processing transactions from your web site depends on the integration method you select and the technical expertise of your staff.
Which credit cards will I be able to accept?
Fast Charge Online Commerce Suite can process VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club and JCB. Contact your Merchant Bank to determine which of these cards you are approved to process.
Can I verify credit cards by telephone?
No, all transaction verifications are online. We do not offer a telephone verification service. However, we do provide you with the ability to bill a credit card you have verbally authorized through the Online Merchant Center Virtual Terminal.
What is the Recurring system?
The Recurring System in the Online Commerce Suite enables you to automatically rebill your customers’ credit card on a scheduled basis (i.e. weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.). Recurring billing can be configured via the Online Merchant Center Virtual Terminal, or one of the other integration methods. Refer to the Online Documentation for information on how to submit recurring transactions.
What do I need to do to cancel my account?
To cancel your account, Fast Charge requires an email expressing the need to cancel from the email address on file in the gateway. On the cancellation notice please verify the purpose of the account cancellation, along with the company name, 5-digit Account ID, signature of the primary contact on record, and an email address to which a confirmation can be sent. Please do not assume your account is cancelled until you receive confirmation via email and call our office 800-757-5453 to confirm the cancelation request was received.
How secure is my transaction information?
Fast Charge is 100% PCI/DDS compliant. The Online Merchant Center system protects consumer payment information while in transit over the Internet. Security mechanisms use algorithms to encrypt data before it is sent and decrypt the data as it is received. The Online Commerce Suite uses RSA or Triple DES for secured network transactions. For more detailed information refer to the Online Commerce Suite Integration Guide documentation.
What is AVS?
Address Verification System (AVS) matches the known address information on file at the cardholders issuing bank’s AVS database against the billing address information provided by the consumer/merchant. If the information does not match, the transaction is declined. Transactions declined due to non-match of AVS are still pre-authorized (reserved/hold amount that will decrease the consumers limit) by the credit card network, but the sale amount will not be charged to the credit card holder’s account and will not be deposited to your bank account.
Merchants have the option of selecting the level of match required for an approved transaction. Refer to the FRISK section of the Online Documentation for more information regarding configuring AVS options.
How long does it take for a transaction to take place?
Transactions submitted to the Online Commerce Suite payment gateway engine are processed in real time and take approximately 1-3 seconds to return a response.
