Quote:
Originally posted by Kevin2@Dec 7 2003, 04:36 PM
RedEye i love all this information and it is a learning experience for me. Thank you so much for posting it.
I have my own merchant account which I use for non adult. Would it be a good idea to start looking into processing some of my adult transactions through it or not? My bank didn't mention anything about Adult transactions at all and I don't want to mention it to them.
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That depends on where Your merchant account is and what volume.
But generally - no. It's not a good idea.
Each transaction is supposed to carry an MCC code, which is a descriptor code showing VISA what product was purchased.
Adult has it's own code (who remembers it? 5567 or some shit like that) and processing adult transactions on a different code is a violation so You'd have to talk to bank first.
However it depends on the bank and Your relations with them and the volume You have in adult.
If You know them for years and Your volume is around 50 000$ a month or so , not half a million You know, chances are they wont give a fuck about VISA rules cause nobody but them is going to notice it ever.
A guy I know has a rape fantasy site for 5 years in USA. One of the first sites like that in the net. He was kicked out from Ibill and CCBill and Paypal but he always used them secondary and processes his primary sales FOR FIVE YEARS already through his own USA merchant account and I doubt that unless FBI will come anyone ever going to stop him from the bank side.
But You will have to ask the bank. Dont do it without asking.
For sure. Cause the gateway and the bank will probably see what kind of transactions You have pretty soon and for sure when chargebacks come.
But generally I know quite a lot of people who process their own adult sites on non adult merchant accounts.
At the same time some acquirers are obsessive about it.
By the way , this MCC Code stuff, is the main problem of all gaming merchants. VISA will kick Your ass worse than if You sell child pornography featuring Ben Laden if You run a gaming site with generic MCC code because in this case US gamers are able to play, which they are not supposed to because US banks block gaming transactions right by that code.