Hmm, actually Michael I'll disagree slightly with the 'banks up here don't want to do adult'. I have talked with my TD bank manager as well as with a VISA rep from TD in Vancouver and they claim that many banks here are under the gun from US banking interests, specifically VISA USA who want to handle Canadaian VISA under the VISA USA rather than VISA INTERNATIONAL designation.

Most Cdn banks don't want that change and so the battle. In addition due to our more stringent 'reserve' regulations on banks, they are more cautious on who they authorize for merchant accounts due to chargebacks and such. ANother reason US banks are trying to put the squeeze on our system, as they find it too hard to get into our business due to those regulations.

Basically as the TD folks explained, Canada is caught in no man's land. European centres think or assume we are shortly to be swallowed up the USA banking system so avoid us, USA banks want us to unite with them and not be separate so this results in our businesses getting the squeeze.

From what I have been told, the real root of all this is the pressure being exerted by VISA USA.

Anyhow, it makes for a tough chore to do online business but more and more European firms are looking to set up a presence here. I mean our economy is one of the more vibrant ones, and growth is expected to continue, so who knows what the future holds in this area. I sure hope it improves though.

In the meantime I find the 'paypal' type of adult solution the best for my needs, such as myvirtualcard and moneybookers.

Ian