Best Credit Card Rate for Nonprofits

Stripe Payments is my Go-To payment processor for my online business.

My love for Stripe has grown over the years. I probably had a Stripe account for 6 to 10 months before I even used it. I looked at it and not having a degree from MIT I was pretty lost and didn't bother trying to figure it out. I had a payment process already and it was working. After I began reading more and more bad news about this other payment processor I was using, I decided it was time to carve out some time and figure out how to use Stripe. It did not take as long as I originally thought it would but I eventually began using Stripe alongside the other payment processor. I figured out how to set up subscriptions and invoices with Stripe and over time, became more and more comfortable using Stripe. I can now go into the dashboard and put together an invoice within a minute or two or connect Stripe to a new site I built. More importantly, I think Stripe support has gotten better over the years which makes everything else with Stripe just that much easier.

Pros

It is easy to integrate with my website's payment tools. Branding my invoices with my website logo is also super easy. I have used the word 'easy' a couple of times already and that is the main thing I like about Stripe - the Stripe features I use are easy. While trying to figure out some of the features I now use on a regular basis, I had to use the Stripe Support staff quite a bit and in doing so, I quickly realized that they are a top benefit of using Stripe.

Cons

In the Pro category, I said that my main Pro feature was that Stripe is easy but only with the features I use. I might use more of the many features Stripe offers if they were easy to use or at least figure out without the back & forth with Stripe Support. Stripe does have a YouTube channel but the one that is most helpful is StripeDevelopers - NOT just Stripe.

Stripe 101

It's been really good so far! Excited to learn more about it as we increase sales and numbers.

Pros

I love how easily I was able to integrate Stripe to my main website. I needed to start accepting online payment and the platform allowed me to do that fairly quickly!

Cons

The initial process was a little bit complicated but I was able to make it work. Making sure all the documentation was straight and completed was an added load as well!

Customer Service That Drove Us Away

Stripe was the perfect payment processing for us until we were targeted by a scam that was running credit card tests on stolen cards. We were hit with over 1000 stolen credit cards in the span of a few hours. No names on the payments, giberish entered for email addresses, and Stripe detected nothing. We caught it ourselves, shut the website down and contacted Stripe. We were told we had to refund each transaction (which we already knew) but hoped Stripe had a means of assisting with it. We were first told no they didn't, we were then told they could but we needed to send a file from our account listing the transactions. We did this twice and both time were told they didn't received it. When we started getting charges from banks for rejected payments. I took a day, all day, and issued manual refunds for over a 1000 transactions myself. Problem solved right? Nope. Stripe lumped the fraud charges in with every payment we had processed back to opening the account, putting us $29,765.00 in the hole. Entirely new problem, same incompetent call takers. We finally disconnected our bank from the account and walked away. If you go with Stripe just pray you never have an issue because if you do you are going to learn first hand how completely in the dark their call takers are.

Pros

It is easy to install, has good records and easy to navigate, easy payment processing and very reasonable fees.

Cons

The Customer service is grossly incompetent, at times unaware of their own policies and procedures. The method used for problem resolution is flawed and outsourced to call takers that speak better English than they understand it which, in our case, increased the problem.

Stripe Simplifies Transactions and Maintains Security

My business needed an improved, cost effective payment system, that was easy to use and seamless for customers, and Stripe provides that. What's more, the odd time I've needed to reach out to support, they've been very helpful. I can't think of the last time there was a challenge, it's been several years now, and things are running smoothly.

Pros

I like that Stripe can grow with my business as they have robust services I can add later. I find it's easy to use, and was easy to set up (there were a lot of guides when I needed them). The odd time I've had to reach out to support, the experience was stellar. Above all... The best aspects for by business were the reliability, payment experience (for customers) and that Stripe provides better value for money.

Cons

While the setup was easy, it does require some technical understanding (and there are a lot of guides available - As well their support is great). Some people might not like that Stripe avoids high risk industries.