CCBill VISA Processing for Canadians

[BrianDN]

Hey Patti... Yes, you're right. And, that was no problem (getting a corporation as an ID). But CCBill (or, VISA I should say) wanted two pieces of ID. So, while one could originate from a US corporation, the other ID still had to come from an authentic US resident (somebody who could prove they actually lived in the US; say with a Driver's License), hence the need for a principle or resident agent like companies inc. Do you see what I mean?

There was no getting around this for them.

VISA USA has basically imposed these demands in order to prevent anyone except US residents to have the accounts setup with companies like CCBillUS. The same story applies with CCBillEU. I setup a corporation in the EU, I even had a a friend of mine who agreed to act as principle (he had a passport form a European Country), but because he lives in Canada he is technically not a resident of his country of citzenship, so they wouldn't let me use him as a principle. So, I was back to square one at that point (having to use the anonymous resident agent as my principle). Finally I just gave up and went with Verotel...


Brian

[BrianDN]

Patti, I pulled this up from http://manual.ccbill.com/ (under the Webmaster Signup Page).

I've highlighted their requirement.

Basically, what i was told (where they say the principle must have an address in the same region) is that the principle must have a US address (it can by anywhere in the US) or an EU address (it can be in any country belonging to the EU). Otherwise, I need to appoint somebody (like a resident agent at companiesinc.com for instance) to act on my behalf. And, as I found out, that person gets listed as the primary on the accout, while I'm listed as something secondary (like the technical) and so that person would full control and authority over what happens to that account, including changing passwords, where checks, go, etc.

[basschick]

well, doesn't that suck balls!

it does make sense that a u.s. business entity should have a u.s. address, but as far as making someone else the owner of your account - AND legally responsible if you fuck up :wtf:

[BrianDN]

Tell me about it (yikes!)

But, I think that the existing Canadians that do have a CCBill setup do so because they were able to get in on it before VISA USA decided to unroll their irritating regulations!!!

So, I'm wondering when basement signed up with Epoch because who the actual ISPS is a mute point according to what I've gathered over the last little while when I asked around. Each and every ISPS still has to comply with VISA USA's regs... Whether it is CCBill or Epoch or any other that in the US region.

[Dzinerbear]

GPallan,

As far as I know things haven't changed as the information you're getting in this thread is correct. If they had changed, I might be running a paysite right now.

I think you're smarter to try and align yourself with Europe. Regardless of what happens with 2257, it'll be difficult for the U.S. to enforce their legislation one way or another in foreign countries. So as long as you do the stuff on your website that you're supposed to do, that'll probably be the end of it. The DOJ won't be coming to visit you in Vancouver or Toronto or Montreal and asking for ID. Billing companies may require you to have the links and custodian of the records information on your site.

I did get an e-mail within the last 4-6 months from someone at ibill about using their GKard. When I questioned the residency issue, I was told they didn't care where I lived. Nice to hear, but it sounded sketchy to me since every one else does.

gaystoryman was telling me about another outfit Virtual Card or VirtuaCard or something along those lines that would process for Canadians. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to short out the name. But I think it's a set up where the surfer has to fill an Virtual Card account and then money for your membership is deducted from the VC account. So it's not ideal.

cheers,
Michael

[Chilihost]

I agree with Michael, avoid the USA and setup in EU, its totally easy to setup and will take maybe 2 or 3 weeks and then once you have a company registration you can setup with ccbilleu or epocheu without any problems. You will not only avoid the stupidity that is going on with USA politics but also the $750 visa rego fee

cheers,
Luke

[rhys]

I agree with Michael, avoid the USA and setup in EU, its totally easy to setup and will take maybe 2 or 3 weeks and then once you have a company registration you can setup with ccbilleu or epocheu without any problems. You will not only avoid the stupidity that is going on with USA politics but also the $750 visa rego fee

cheers,
Luke

but where to incorporate in europe?

i know that gibraltar used to be good for tax reasons but i understand that's changing in the near future.

so where to incorporate in europe? what about the tax situation there? and does ccbilleu/VISAEU have the same requirements for a 'physical person' to be on site so to speak?

[GPallan]

I agree with Michael, avoid the USA and setup in EU, its totally easy to setup and will take maybe 2 or 3 weeks and then once you have a company registration you can setup with ccbilleu or epocheu without any problems. You will not only avoid the stupidity that is going on with USA politics but also the $750 visa rego fee

cheers,
Luke

i think that the requirements are the same for VisaEU and VisaUSA, they both need a physical person living in either the EU or the US to act as your principal. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any way of getting around that.

I think this is what "rhys" below was wondering too

[BrianDN]

once you have a company registration you can setup with ccbilleu or epocheu without any problems.

Luke... Just wanted to say further to this (and, Rhys was touching on this), yes, you're right. The corporation provides ONE form of ID. CCBillEU still needs a SECOND, which must come from a real person who physically lives an EU country (this person can be living in any country that's a part of the EU and that person does not have to be living in the same EU Country where they are incorporated; it's just that both the person and the company both must be in the EU Region).

So, this presents a few problems for somebody like me who lives in Canada:

- Which person can I appoint in the EU to act as my principle, whom I can trust, if I don't know a single person who actually lives in the EU (I do have a friend with an EU passport, but he's a Canadian resident)?

- If there's no person I can appoint (which is most likely the case for many Canadians/Non-EU/Non-US residents), I'm left with one more option: convicing an organization that incorporates companies to utilize their resident agent service to satisfy CCBill's/VISAEU's resident principle requirements.

Having said all of this, Verotel was able to process for me because of their method of setting up webmasters:

When I setup with Verotel, they actually went through a lengthy process (the Pro Account Setup) which requried me to technically have a 'branch office' of my existing EU corporation in the Netherlands (where they're located). They handled all the necessary paperwork. I still needed the EU corporation, but then they went to make a Netherlands branch location as I understand it.

I believe this is what enables them to get around this issue, which works great in the end. I don't understand why CCBillEU is not doing the same thing?

BrianDN

[GPallan]

gaystoryman was telling me about another outfit Virtual Card or VirtuaCard or something along those lines that would process for Canadians. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to short out the name. But I think it's a set up where the surfer has to fill an Virtual Card account and then money for your membership is deducted from the VC account. So it's not ideal.

cheers,
Michael

i think you're talking about http://www.myvirtualcard.com. They are out of Montreal and settle in USD or Euro your choice. Accepting Visa and Mastercard. Affiliate management, member management, and all that. And there are no setup fees. Just a percentage, like all the others take. And apparently the surfer doesn't ahve to buy a card (that's only one of their programs), they can actually use their MC or Visa.

Here's a thread on My Virtual Card at GFY http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showth...=myvirtualcard

[Huskyhunks]

I like Verotel. I've used them for years and I'm sticking with them. I've had opportunities to jump ship for free and change processors, but I don't need to do that. I get paid on time, every week. I'm an affiliate that gets paid through ccbill and epoch and I don't see a big difference between the companies.

I don't really know who verotel processes for. I expect them to be more lenient towards certain content because the Netherlands is just like that. I would like to move over to ccbill one day because it does have a better structure for affiliate programs, the stats are more comprehensive and the support is always around. I'd give them the edge because they are active on the boards and very attentive.

[GPallan]

well, doesn't that suck balls!

it does make sense that a u.s. business entity should have a u.s. address, but as far as making someone else the owner of your account - AND legally responsible if you fuck up :wtf:

yeah, that's my dilemma exactly. my immediate family members live in the US, but i don't know if i'd want them as my principal mainly for their own safety. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something went wrong with my site legally (ie 2257) and have it screw them over, as I’m sure that the principal would be held accountable

-allan