Third Party Ticket Sales Merchant Account

[simonbrown345]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for a merchant account provider which will enable my business the ability to act as a third party ticket seller for local music events. Any suggestions?

Cheers

Simon

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Hi Simon

I am pretty certain nobody will offer you such a facility because you are selling on behalf of a third party.

That is an absolute no no for any Merchant Account Provider..

The rule is you cannot take payments on behalf of a third party business through your businesses merchant account.

If you do find somebody, it will probably be very expensive, good luck however.

Mark

 

[simonbrown345]

Hi Mark

How is it that companies such as ticket master, Skiddle, See tickets, ticket arena, The Ticket Sellers, Brown Paper Tickets, I want Tickets etc all have the ability to do so?

There must be some company out there that can help?

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Hi

It all depends on the Merchant Processors appetite for Risk and how they perceive the sale is processed.

In the majority of cases the businesses that are selling tickets are Corporate businesses so have more clout with the Processors, so I suspect they have special contractual arrangements in place to protect both parties.

I know we will not take on this kind of Business, but that is not too say others will not, but the odds are most definitely stacked against new businesses going into this field.

The OP could always try PayPal but I am not sure if they would even consider such a business.

Rgds

Mark

 

[simonbrown345]

Hi

Our business will be very low risk, we have close working relationships with all the events organizers and will place strict terms and conditions in regards to the use of our site and sale of tickets for their events. We are looking to create a not for profit ticket agent for local events, donating profits to local charity organisations. Surely this is something that a merchant account provider would want to work with?

We have spoken with Paypal but they declined our application.

Would be great if anyone else has any suggestions for us to contact?

Cheers
Simon

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Hi Simon

Unfortunately what you think is a low Risk business is not what the Merchant Service Providers would consider low risk..

The problem is you are selling a product/service on behalf of a Third Party, and Merchant processors do not like these type of businesses.

Re alternatives, I would suggest you go to www.cardswitcher.co.uk this is a good comparator site, and you can try and see if any providers on there will work with you ?

Kind regards

Mark

 

[Sparx]

Hi

Our business will be very low risk, we have close working relationships with all the events organizers and will place strict terms and conditions in regards to the use of our site and sale of tickets for their events. We are looking to create a not for profit ticket agent for local events, donating profits to local charity organisations. Surely this is something that a merchant account provider would want to work with?

We have spoken with Paypal but they declined our application.

Would be great if anyone else has any suggestions for us to contact?

Cheers
Simon

Yes you will be perceived as high risk, but it might be worth a shot applying through Cardsave who use Streamline for the merchant account.

If the sales manager agrees they may be able to present an application to Streamline then try; typically if you are as upfront as possible with the business model while proving you are doing your best to safeguard all parties risk and exposure, they may be willing to play ball and provide you with a merchant account. They won't waste your time and will tell you when you call if it is worth the effort to apply before filling in any paperwork.

The worse that can happen is they say no.

 

[surfershort]

Hi Simon -looks like we are looking for the same thing

ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=302628

We are using PayPal but id really suggest not....its extremely hard to get a merchant account for ticket sales due to the high risk of charge backs due to event cancellations.

The big agencies have large rolling reserves and cash in the bank that makes it feasible - although we have sold a very large amount of tickets over two years and had zero charge backs...im really hoping somebody could help us out...

Cheers
Al

 

[URBAN COLOUR]

I am looking at setting up a ticket sales site and am talking to these guys

Not sure if they can suggest something

http://www.webticketmanager.com/

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Who are you talking to re your Merchant Account, as few Processors will look at this business..

That's what the OP is desperate to find a processor who will consider this kind of business.

Rgds

Mark

 

[PayVector]

Hi

Our business will be very low risk, we have close working relationships with all the events organizers and will place strict terms and conditions in regards to the use of our site and sale of tickets for their events. We are looking to create a not for profit ticket agent for local events, donating profits to local charity organisations. Surely this is something that a merchant account provider would want to work with?

We have spoken with Paypal but they declined our application.

Would be great if anyone else has any suggestions for us to contact?

Cheers
Simon

Mark is correct in that you cannot sell anything for a third party. Tickets or anything else. The reason for this is the credit risk, in the case of tickets lies with you the merchant and not the event owner. If the event is cancelled and you have aleady paid the organisers for tickets sold then the money is lost but you still have to pay back the event people who purchased the tickets through you. If you cannot pay then your company goes bust and the bank is on the hook.

How many event organisers are you going to be working with?