November 19, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Partner Payments

Partner Payments, a division of Partner Management Group, LLC. is a full -service, one-stop-shop payment solutions provider for all of your non-cash payment needs.

We are industry experts who not only offer reliable, secure, convenient and cost effective solutions, we show you how and why. We provide our clients More Value, Lower Costs from ONE Trusted Partner.

How long does it take to establish an account through you?

The average time from our receipt of your signed, completed application to your equipment delivery is less than 7 days. This time-frame covers credit underwriting, account establishment, and shipping time. Equipment is sent 2nd-day air, unless expedited shipment is requested (additional expenses may apply). Upon receipt of equipment, customer training is available immediately upon request and is typically completed in less than 3 days.


Do you help me get started?

Yes, one of our exceptional representatives will make sure you have all the information you need to get started. He or she will walk you through the simple equipment installation process, as well as explain how to use it. Our customer service center is available 24/7 to help, too.


Why do you need a credit check and/or my financials as part of the setup process?

Credit checks and business underwriting are required by certain payment networks and are necessary to determine if the business and business owners are financially responsible.


When can I begin processing?

Once you receive your equipment and go through a brief telephone training process, you can activate your account and begin processing right away. Your equipment is typically received within 2 business days after account approval.


How long does it take to get the money from my credit card purchases?

Funds are electronically deposited via an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction into your designated bank deposit account, typically within 2 banking days.


When do you charge my account for charges and fees?

Your designated bank account will be charged for all related fees on or around the 5th of the month following the activity, via an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction. The details of your charges will appear on your statement that would be received the first full business week of the month following the activity.


What is interchange and how does it affect my processing costs?

Multiple entities are responsible for the complete end-to-end processing of your credit card transactions. These include the card associations (MasterCard and VISA), a card-issuing bank, a processing bank, a service organization, a telecommunications network, and a settlement bank. Your pricing or discount rate reflects the various fees earned by each of the parties to enable you to securely accept credit cards. Interchange fees affect all industries and are evaluated annually based on an analysis of industry costs and economic conditions. Although Interchange fees are applied to all credit card processors equally, they fluctuate in amount based on a variety of factors. Discuss these with your sales representative to find out what options your business may have.


How can I save money on my credit card transactions?

Retail businesses can keep transaction costs to a minimum by taking steps to ensure they process “retail qualified” transactions. The “retail qualified rate” is the least expensive discount rate and in most cases it applies to a transaction in which you physically swipe the card and receive an electronic authorization for the transaction. In addition, for a transaction to be charged the “retail qualified rate” you must settle the transaction (electronically transmit the transaction for payment by the issuing bank) within 24 hours.


What about controlling card costs for non-retail businesses?

Processing costs are higher for non-retail businesses where the purchases are made with the customer in the card-not-present environment, but you can keep the costs to a minimum by “batching” or depositing in a timely manner and providing any additional information required by Visa and MasterCard on each of your transactions. Required transaction data will vary based on business type and processing environment but includes things like invoice or PO number, street address, and ZIP code.