Successful merchants provide payment options that accommodate their customers. For many merchants, this means opening multiple merchant accounts, including one for phone payment. Known as a mail order / telephone order MOTO account processing, accepting payment by telephone allows a merchant to increase sales by serving a unique customer segment – people who prefer phone payment to more contemporary payment methods. More often than not, MOTO processing appeals to people who:

• Wish to speak with a live representative
• Are not familiar with making or accepting online payments
• Like the option of phoning in payments while on the go
• Choose to pay by phone out of familiarity

For merchants, MOTO accounts offer competitive account fees and faster processing than retail accounts.

How Are MOTO Account Payments Processed?

A phone merchant account processes payments in one of four ways: touch-tone processing, point of sale (POS) software, virtual terminal, or credit card terminal.

Touch-tone Processing

Touchtone payment occurs in three steps:

1. Customers can place orders through phone, fax, or mail.
2. Upon receiving the order, the merchant dials a number that connects to an automated credit card processor and keys in their account number.
3. The merchant keys in the payment information and awaits payment confirmation.

Touch-tone processing offers the primary advantage of processing payments without requiring card processing equipment or a computer.

POS Software

By installing POS software on a merchant’s computer, it transforms into a virtual payment terminal on the merchant’s end. POS software payment occurs in three steps:

1. Customers initiate orders through phone, fax, or mail.
2. Upon receiving the order, the merchant keys the payment information in the correct fields.
3. The merchant sends the information through a secure, encrypted payment gateway and awaits payment conformation.

The primary advantages of POS software are processing speed and security of payment information.

Virtual Terminal

A virtual terminal seamlessly integrates with an e-commerce merchant’s web store, enabling payment in three simple steps:

1. Customers place orders via phone, fax, or mail.
2. Upon receiving the order, the merchant keys in the payment information in the correct fields.
3. The merchant sends the information through a secure, encrypted payment gateway and awaits payment conformation.

The primary advantages of a virtual terminal are its cost-effectiveness, processing speed, security of payment information, and ability to be integrated with a merchant’s website.

Credit Card Terminal

Many merchants process MOTO payments using a credit card terminal.

Payment occurs in three steps:

1. An order is placed by phone, fax, or mail.
2. Upon receiving the order, the merchant keys in the payment information using the terminal’s number pad.
3. The merchant awaits payment confirmation.

The advantage of using a credit card terminal is convenience. For many merchants, a terminal is already in place to facilitate POS transactions.

AVPS Provides MOTO Account

At AVPS, we deeply understand the significance of MOTO accounts in capturing sales. That’s precisely why we provide MOTO accounts with competitive pricing and a wide range of service options. So, if your business requires a phone merchant account, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.