Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#1

Post by jandy » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 10:24 AM UTC

There are a couple of posts on the frontpage right now about people using Stripe, and how great it is etc... Unfortunately, all the hip new providers (such as Stripe, WePay, Dwolla, Samurai) are only available to US customers.

What alternatives are there for a UK startup? Particularly interested in providers which don't appear to be from the late 90s.

In my personal situation, PayPal, Google Checkout, and Amazon Payments are all off the cards due to our business falling outside of their terms and conditions; so those aren't an option even if I wanted to go with them.

Right now I'm investigating MoneyBookers, OKPay, and CharityClear.org, and of course just doing it ourself with a merchant account.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#2

Post by DannyCooper » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 11:25 AM UTC

SagePay (sagepay.com) is one option, it also integrates with CheddarGetter (cheddargetter.com)

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#3

Post by maushu » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 11:57 AM UTC

FastSpring (fastspring.com) seems pretty decent.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#4

Post by jandy » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 12:02 PM UTC

maushu wrote: post #3

FastSpring (fastspring.com) seems pretty decent.

Yes they do. I investigated them too, but sadly we also violate their terms and conditions.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#5

Post by chris_dcosta » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 12:28 PM UTC

jandy wrote: post #4

maushu wrote: post #3

FastSpring (fastspring.com) seems pretty decent.

Yes they do. I investigated them too, but sadly we also violate their terms and conditions.

Could I ask what it is that you are doing that violates the terms? Just out of curiosity...

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#6

Post by ig1 » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 1:16 PM UTC

If you're going outside their terms and conditions I'm guessing that means you're operating in a high-risk sector so your best bet is either to go with a payment provider that specialize in your sector (they'll have risk models that can handle your situation better) or get a merchant account directly (they'll probably ask that you put down a significant deposit to mitigate the risk)

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#7

Post by ashconnor » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 4:04 PM UTC

Without more information this is going to be impossible to answer.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#8

Post by jandy » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

ashconnor wrote: post #7

Without more information this is going to be impossible to answer.

Impossible? I'm not asking for a personalised quote here, just what options are available to UK startups. I probably clouded the water by mentioning my personal situation, but really I'm just interested in what's out there.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#9

Post by jandy » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 7:14 PM UTC

chris_dcosta wrote: post #5

jandy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes they do. I investigated them too, but sadly we also violate their terms and conditions.

Could I ask what it is that you are doing that violates the terms? Just out of curiosity...

My app falls into the rather broad category of "gambling, gaming, and adult". This means all US providers (I've seen) aren't interested due to their gambling regulations, and UK providers consider it high risk.

Re: Ask HN: Payment providers for UK startups?

#10

Post by jandy » Fri, Dec 09, 2011, 7:16 PM UTC

ig1 wrote: post #6

If you're going outside their terms and conditions I'm guessing that means you're operating in a high-risk sector so your best bet is either to go with a payment provider that specialize in your sector (they'll have risk models that can handle your situation better) or get a merchant account directly (they'll probably ask that you put down a significant deposit to mitigate the risk)

Thanks for the insight. I've done some asking around and it sounds like a lot of the UK payment provider restrictions are actually due to the merchant provider they use; there's a possibility that I could use any UK provider as long as I negotiate my own merchant account directly with a bank.