It seems as though it has never been easier for the online business owner to pick an internet credit card processing service. There is a wide variey of merchant systems to choose from. Yet this wide choice can itself be confusing. What is the most important factor when choosing a reliable service? Should it be cost efficiency, after sales service or the reliabilty of the processing software? The truth is that all these factors are important. We invited 220 small and medium sized businesses on the internet to rate the internet processing services they currently use in terms of these criteria. 114 business owners using 28 different services responded. The processing systems they use range from those which are 'free' (but have administrative high costs hidden in the fine print) to paid services with high monthly premiums. In this Hubpage we list the three services which received the best feedback in terms of processing hardware and software, competitive transactional fees and customer service.

Charge.com came out on top with an average rating of 28.2 out of 30 by the merchants who use this service. This was scored as follows:

Processing Hardware and Software (Reliability and user-friendliness): Average mark: 9.2/10

Transactional Fees: Average Mark: 9.4/10

After Sales Customer Service: Average Mark: 9.6/10

Summary: Merchants were generally impressed with the free set up and installation costs and were extremely satisfied with the low trasactional fees and monthly and annual rates. Overall this service seems to offer excellent all round value as overall costs were low and customer service was regarded as very good. One concern expressed by one of the merchants was that the contract period was for 3 years with a cancellation fee of $300. He did go on to say though that because the service was excellent he had no thoughts of cancelling.

CDG Commerce received an overall rating of 27.8 out of 30 by the merchants who use this service. This was scored as follows:

Processing Hardware and Software (Reliability and user-friendliness): Average mark: 9.0/10

Transactional Fees: Average Mark: 9.1/10

After Sales Customer Service: Average Mark: 9.7/10

Summary: Transactional fees and other costs are not as low as some of the competing merchant providers but the response from business owners who use CDG Commerce showed great loyalty to the company and satisfaction with the high level of customer service. One merchant who uses another service and is based in Canada did warn that CDG Commerce only accepts merchants who are based in the US. So, unfortunately for those merchants based elsewhere in the world CDG Commerce will not be an option. All in all a great service for any business owner who is looking for a reliable internet credit card processor in the US.

Paynet Systems received an overall rating of 27.1 out of 30 by the merchants who use this service. This was scored as follows:

Processing Hardware and Software (Reliability and user-friendliness): Average mark: 9.4/10

Transactional Fees: Average Mark: 9.3/10

After Sales Customer Service: Average Mark: 8.4/10

Summary: Paynet Systems scored extremely well for their low transactional fees and other costs and for the ease of use of their processing hardware and software. Some merchants did express disappointment with the after sales customer support but on the whole the score received for this was still above average. Paynet Systems is a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo bank and they handle tens of thousands of customer accounts. Satisfied clients reported in their feedback that with Paynet Systems there are no hidden fees and services, no contracts and cancellation fees and no annual fees. If Paynet had scored a bit higher in the customer service department they may have clinched the top spot. Still, positive feedback all round.