We use a couple different merchant account systems, and they have all been affected by the problem detailed in the letter below. What this is going to mean is many OPs (and especially IOPs) will stop processing credit cards while they look for alternatives (see: Pharm88, ImportedDrugs, Pharmatico).

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Attention Merchants :

As of March 24th 2004 Visa / Mastercard abruptly changed the rules of the game and shut down all merchant accounts that have not satisfied their compliance check list for on-line pharmacies. This is not permanent, but we will need to make sure that we conform to there check list.

Here is what we need to be compliant:

1. All foreign pharmacies that are selling to U.S customers must have a fulfillment center in the U.S not imported in from outside the country.
2. All orders must contain the prescription in order.
3. U.S patients must have face to face consultations with the doctors.

As you can see this makes it very hard to do business over the internet, but we may be able to salvage some business and get the account turned back on.

I was trying very hard for this not to happen but it was out of my control and we may have to wait for our legislators before we are back in business.

Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or concerns.

Regards,

[name removed]