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Visa Launches PayPal Alternative
An anonymous reader writes "Visa has entered the micropayment processing space with payclick, a pre-paid hosted service that will compete with the likes of PayPal. Payclick is aimed at teenagers purchasing online content like music and games where the value of the transaction is likely to be less than $20. Like PayPal, payclick is an online money repository that people can pay into with a bank account or credit card (Visa or MasterCard) and then use the funds to purchase products online. The service was developed and launched in Australia with a view for global markets. PayPal integration is not there yet, but parents can monitor the amount of funds their under-18 children have to spend online. For e-commerce sites, an SDK is available for payclick integration."
No matter how limited or simple it is at the moment, I'd rather wire money through my friend the ex-Nigerian prince, before using Paypal again.
They aren't thieves, or crooks, but they are a company with HORRIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES, and go completely unregulated, thanks to lack of oversight from any meaningful government agency.
So yea, any competition in this space is a welcome idea.
Most cards' grace period is now only 25 days. And the interest starts accruing from the purchase date, not the end of the grace period. Avoid credit cards if possible, as all their benefits are wiped out if you slip up once.
Most cards' grace period is now only 25 days.
Really? My statement date for my Visa+Mastercard account, for example, is 15th of the month. So, if I buy something on 15th, I get until the statement on the following 15th plus 25 days. 56 days.
And the interest starts accruing from the purchase date, not the end of the grace period.
If your card isn't fully paid off every month, yes.
Avoid credit cards if possible, as all their benefits are wiped out if you slip up once.
If I don't remember - which I do - then my calendaring software reminds me. And, as a last resort, I have a Direct Debit set up to automatically pay the minimum amount - this is managd by the same bank which issues my card. I could make it the whole payment amount, but because I have a secondary card holder the funds come from multiple places.
But yes, if you are terribly disorganised, you might want to get a credit card anyway while your salary+credit's good, then just not use it until you've learnt to organise your life better.
Excepting where you wish to remain anonymous - then cash wins, as always.
Nah, $2-$5 is micropayments. [...] I have no idea where you got $0.05 from.
Get off my lawn:
http://web.archive.org/web/19970601153143/http://www.millicent.digital.com/ (as low as 1/10th cent)
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20011223.html ("In addition to true micro-payments, some sites might have midi-payments ranging from 20 cents to a dollar, and perhaps even maxi-payments of several dollars.")
Sorry, but I regularly purchase $2 to $5 items on my credit card. Calling that a micropayment is ridiculous.
Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.