Comments:"Prashant.es on scriptogr.am"
URL:http://notes.prashant.es/post/paymill.-is-it-really-a-clone-of-stripe
As a developer and consultant, I work with various organisations and individuals who are in different stages of their business life cycle. As a result, some of these organisations have a trading history, therefore getting a merchant account isn't really an issue. However, on the other hand, if you're a startup and don't have a trading history, it's another story.
If you're a European, the traditional process of setting up a payment processing system requires a merchant account and a payment gateway. In addition, there are various other costs that need to be considered such as PCI Compliance.
When Stripe was released it seemed to solve this problem. The merchant account itself was bundled with the payment gateway and there's no need to be PCI Compliant as Stripe handles this whole process for you.
A few months later came along PayMill, which is supposed to be a clone of Stripe. Europeans could now implement payment processing functionality to their software and start charging their consumers.
A few months ago, a client approached me with an idea to develop a dating website with payment processing functionalities. I consulted my client with all possible options including a merchant account, PayPal and GoCardless. Due to the fact that my client was a startup and had no trading history his options were limited. That being the case, I advised my client to work with PayMill.
After a few months of development it was time to implement payment processing functionality to his website. It took me a few hours to get PayMill working and all we had to do now was activate his account so he could start accepting payments.
However, we didn't get too far. Once my client submitted his application it got rejected. I wasn't satisfied with this outcome because according to PayMill, this is what their service is all about -
Paymill enables you to offer credit card payments on your website within a short time. There is no waiting time. You can begin immediately with the integration process, and if you like what you see, then simply activate your account.Let's analyse this in further detail.
Firstly, "Paymill enables you to offer credit card payments on your website within a short time". That's not true, because all applications are reviewed such as traditional merchant banking.
Secondly, "You can begin immediately with the integration process". I don't want to integrate a payment gateway and submit an application considering there is a possibility it might get rejected. I rather spend my time developing a payment system once I know my application has been approved, or will be approved.
This whole process is completely wrong and very frustrating. Why would you force a prospective consumer to try a service and then prevent them from using it? Are you trying to waste my time or tease me into something I cannot utilise?
My experience with PayMill has made me come to a conclusion that PayMill is not Stripe. Essentially, PayMill is is a fancy merchant account and payment gateway bundled together (Similar to Braintree). It does not solve the problem it makes out to solve and is very misleading.
If you are thinking of using PayMill, I would think about it again. At least, to be on the safe side, submit your application and see if it gets approved before spending your time on implementing code that has to be scrapped.