Doesn''t Paypal make your customers approved the billing on each cycle
before
they get billed? At least that''s how they used to do it. Authorizenet
does
have recurring billing, but it''s not automated, you have to go into
their
web interface and create a billing profile manually. Verisign has recurring
billing, as does Trust Commerce. I''m a developer for Payment Online
and we
have one of the better recurring billing systems IMO, just not the cheapest.
If you need features like being able to lookup or update subscription
parameters via an api (for customer self management interfaces, multi level
subscriptions, etc..), we are one of the only companies so far that has that
ability. Well unless you go with someone like Sandlot, but that''s a
whole
different price range.
Also, IMO you should stay away from paypal or any other third party billing
service for subscriptions. If you ever need to move to a different
provider, you won''t be able to take your customers with you and import
them
into the new system. That''s because with a third party billing
service, the
customer is legally theirs not yours and they are prohibited from giving you
the card numbers.
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek Haynes" <derek.haynes@highgroove.com>
To: <rails@lists.rubyonrails.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Rails] Which Payment Gateway?
> Matthew,
>
> We''ve used the Paypal Payment API with great success for
automating
> subscription payments. While it''s a bit of a downer that users
have to
> leave your server (they can stil use a credit card though) integrating
> with PayPal is very easy with the PayPal gem.
>
> It''s also, by far, the fastest to setup in terms of approval
process
> (there isn''t really one - just need a business account)...no
gateway
> providers and merchant accounts needed.
>
> Correct me if I''m wrong, but I don''t believe
authorize.net has
> subscription functionality (it''s in the api, but I don''t
think it is
> functional).
>
> You can see it in action here:
> http://www.slingshothosting.com/
>
> https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-standard-overview-outside
> http://dist.leetsoft.com/api/paypal/
>
> On 6/14/06, Matthew Margolis <mrmargolis@wisc.edu> wrote:
>> I am working on an application where users sign up for one of several
>> plans. Each plan has a different monthly fee. There is no long term
>> contract but I would like to bill the users automatically each month
>> unless service is canceled.
>>
>> What credit card gateways would you recommend for use with a rails
>> application?
>>
>> My criteria in order of importance are
>> 1. API that will let me work in ruby and rails with the gateway. I
>> don''t mind using a third party library like Active Merchant if
the
>> gateway does not directly support ruby.
>> 2. I need the ability to bill monthly and automatically without
keeping
>> credit card information on my servers.
>> 3. Cost. Low setup and monthly fees are very important as I will be
>> self funding this project until it gets off the ground. The cut the
>> gateway takes per transaction is also important but I am willing to
give
>> a little there in exchange for kick-butt service.
>>
>>
>> Discussion of the perks and negatives of various gateways as well as
>> details about rails payment libraries would also be most helpful.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Matthew Margolis
>> blog.mattmargolis.net
>> _______________________________________________
>> Rails mailing list
>> Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org
>> http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails
>>
>
>
> --
> Derek Haynes
> HighGroove Studios - http://www.highgroove.com
> San Mateo, CA | Atlanta, GA
> Keeping it Simple.
> 650.276.0908
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