payment systems - website -> hsbc

SooTyLaD · 21 Aug 2008 at 10:11

hi guys,

could anyone give me any information about what is involved in setting up card payments through a website?

i have two projects which require linking to the clients hsbc merchant account and i can't seem to find much information on the net on how to do it...

any ideas/links that could be of help to me?

GravyMonster · 21 Aug 2008 at 10:17

The basic idea is that you host the checkout on your own website, when someone goes to pay you submit a an encrypted form to the providers' site. They then take the credit card details from the user and will redirect back to a page on your site. They will give you the details of the transaction as well as letting you know if it was accepted or declined.

I've not used HSBC so I can't give any specifics on their system, but there should be an integration guide on their site somewhere. Give them a ring if you can't find it.

voodooflux · 21 Aug 2008 at 10:18

You'll need a payment gateway like Protx. Take a look at their integration guides.

EDIT: beaten to it.

SooTyLaD · 21 Aug 2008 at 11:07

so you cant just integrate say an HSBC api directly into a site you have to use a third party such as protx?

(or does protx just make it all a lot easier?)

elkdanger · 21 Aug 2008 at 12:06

SooTyLaD said:
so you cant just integrate say an HSBC api directly into a site you have to use a third party such as protx?

(or does protx just make it all a lot easier?)

Protx works with whatever bank you have designated when you create your Protx account. HSBC provide their own online payment API for processing transactions if you're an HSBC account holder. (I think this is the case - correct me if I'm wrong).

In both cases though, you can't just throw up a page to connect to their service and process a transaction through it; you have to create an account with them specifically for this purpose, and it costs you per month. However, again in both cases, they will send you everything you need to know to be able to connect to and use their payment gateways.

For 'fire-and-forget' online transactions you're better off using something like Paypal, which I'd imagine is a bit cheaper.

For the record, in my experience Protx has been a MUCH nicer system to work with when compared to HSBC. Barclays provide a similar service which is also pretty nice to work with.

SooTyLaD · 21 Aug 2008 at 12:21

elkdanger said:
For the record, in my experience Protx has been a MUCH nicer system to work with when compared to HSBC. Barclays provide a similar service which is also pretty nice to work with.

right ok... that is the kinda thing i want to know...

so protx is nicer to work with, but as a result, you are adding a third party into the transaction and adding on an extra cost over and above the starndard hsbc merchant costs is that right?

GravyMonster · 21 Aug 2008 at 12:28

I'd just like to add another vote for PROTX, their system is by far the best - not just for integration but for sales admin such as refunding etc. as well.

As elkdanger says, Barclays provide the service too and it's quite easy to integrate, however the style of their payment pages (where your customer gets directed to to input their credit card details) is very very limited. You can change the font colour, background colour and add your logo - that's it. If your client wants to maintain their own branding on the payment site avoid Barclays.

With reguard to the costs, I can't help as I just get given the details and code the crap out of it

elkdanger · 21 Aug 2008 at 12:29

SooTyLaD said:
right ok... that is the kinda thing i want to know...

so protx is nicer to work with, but as a result, you are adding a third party into the transaction and adding on an extra cost over and above the starndard hsbc merchant costs is that right?

No, they are two completely separate services - you use one or the other.

Protx has the ability for you to sign up and specify which bank you are with for your transactions.

HSBC is their own implementation of an online payment service which (I assume) only accepts transactions to an HSBC account.

If you're an HSBC account holder, I suppose it comes down to cost between the two. I'd still choose Protx though, simply for its ease of use. Having said that, I've never set up an online service with these guys personally, I just program against them.