Turtle, Really not my place to explain this but this info in general business info these days so I hope this puts your concerns at ease. Merchant Account companies are seperate financial institutions that provide credit card transaction to businesses. They are the middle man between a company and the credit card companies. Merchant account companies in the online industry have changed some of general policies and attitudes within the past year. All merchant account companies regard online companies regardless of size, stability or age as high risk. Yearly membership in lump sums are not beeing embraced by merchant account companies as they once were. As a result security deposits that can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars are commonly being reqested these days or else the merchant account companies reserve right to cancel their business relationships and revoke credit card transaction services. A company like Daz with thousands of customers all possesing yearly lump memberships could get hit with a security deposit requirement of almost 1M. See there are companies that have used meberships to scam money longterm and then quickly go out of business. Credit card perchases are governed by unique federal guarentees that can make the merchant account company liable for refund if the company doesn't. In the 1980's fitness gyms were notorious for charging yearly memberships and them abruptly closing leaving the merchant account companies holding the bag. In the online age, porn sites that offer yearly, bi-yearly, or lifetime memberships are running the same scam making it hard for everyone. The move to monthly payments in the PC was widely ask for by the public and considering this new tred in online financial services there is little choice if companies like Daz want to keep costs and prices low. Just don't want you to think there is a conspiracy to inconvenience people. I have many old friends in the finance industry whome I have taked to about this many times. Currently there is a choice of two paynment methods which still would put demands on Daz but Daz is trying to maintain options for the members. The lump method is easier but the monthy method is also unavoidable to lower the rating of risk as seem by the merchant account companies. I have a friend that owns a chain of successfull salons and a product line in London he sells online and TV. He is considered hi risk too. I think they consider everyone highrisk. lol Hope that clears things up, Anton

-Anton, creator of ApolloMaximus: 32,000+ downloads since 3-13-07
"Conviction without truth is denial; Denial in the face of truth is concealment."

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