E-commerce service provider First Atlantic Commerce (FAC), which supplies secure card-based payment solutions for e-businesses, has launched a new Merchant Referral Programme (MRP). The MRP has been developed to help a broad range of corporate and technology service providers offer international multi-currency payment processing solutions offshore and in Europe to their own clients or merchants.

FAC is targeting the programme to independent sales organisations, agents, offshore service providers (including business consulting and legal firms and corporate services companies), technology businesses, third party processors and aggregators. The company says the MRP will enable these entities to take their companies to ?the next level? without adding overhead.

?Our MRP enables referral companies to offer international credit card payment solutions and risk management services to their clients, while earning extra income for their organisations,? said Andrea Wilson, CEO of FAC. ?Residuals and commissions can be paid in the merchant?s settlement currency, including Euro, GBP (pounds sterling), CDN (Canadian) and Hong Kong dollar, which is currently not available for US-based referral companies.?

She added that there is no cost associated with joining FAC?s programme and referral companies can start referring customers quickly and easily.

?The emphasis is on automation,? says Mrs. Wilson. ?All MRP members will have their own membership number so they can track merchants they refer. They will also receive access to transaction history via the FAC website where they will be able to review commissions due and merchant transaction history.?

Mrs. Wilson said that referral companies who become MRP members would be able to provide their merchants with Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode? and 3-D Secure? Payer Authentication solutions in Latin America and Europe. She added that merchants will be able to leverage the benefits of an offshore environment, and enjoy multi-currency, multi-jurisdictional settlement, 24 x 7 technical support, fast and easy integration and a truly personalised service.

?FAC has more than seven years experience with international Internet payment processing and is able to leverage banking partnerships around the world,? said Mrs. Wilson. ?We are also aligned to a number of offshore management service companies and often work in tandem with these organisations who can advise on incorporations and the tax benefits associated with the various jurisdictions.?

To appeal to varying business requirements, MRP membership is available for companies falling into one of two categories: ?referral agent? whereby referral organisations can earn a one-time fee, or ?reseller?, which is commission based.