betalingsoperatør

A betalingsoperatør, often translated as payment operator or payment processor, is a company that facilitates online or in-person transactions between a customer and a merchant. They act as an intermediary, securely handling the transfer of funds from the customer's bank or card issuer to the merchant's account.

The primary role of a betalingsoperatør is to process card payments. When a customer makes a purchase using a credit or debit card, the betalingsoperatør receives the transaction details, verifies the card's validity and available funds with the issuing bank, and then communicates the authorization or decline back to the merchant. This process typically occurs within seconds.

Betalingsoperatører are crucial for e-commerce and retail businesses as they enable them to accept a wide range of payment methods. They often provide the technology and infrastructure for payment terminals (POS systems) or online payment gateways. Beyond simple processing, many betalingsoperatører also offer additional services such as fraud detection, recurring billing, and integration with accounting software. They typically charge merchants a fee for their services, which can be a percentage of the transaction value, a fixed fee per transaction, or a combination of both. Ensuring compliance with security standards like PCI DSS is a fundamental responsibility for any betalingsoperatør.