Taking Payments Online
Need help finding the right acquiring bank for your website or online card payments?
With nearly a decade of experience supporting businesses across the UK and EU, we’ll help you choose the best provider for your industry. Our expert team tailors secure, scalable solutions for online credit card processing, built around your specific business needs.
Offering integration with all major shopping carts and additional payment methods
Online payments made simple
Looking to integrate online card payments into your website or app? We partner with top acquirers to provide full integration support for ecommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento2, WordPress, and Prestashop — as well as bespoke solutions for both low and high-risk businesses.
You can choose between API integrations for full control, or hosted pay pages that keep payments off your server for added security and PCI compliance. Our team will help you select the right acquiring bank and setup based on your industry and customer journey.
Need to take payments outside your website? We also support omnichannel setups, including virtual terminals and pay-by-link options for phone orders, invoicing, or messaging apps. Your staff can accept secure card payments from anywhere using a browser-based portal.
Online management software tailored to your industry
Whether you’re managing inventory, hotel bookings, restaurant tables, or travel schedules, our software partners provide tailored solutions for your sector.
We offer UK-wide access to leading hospitality, retail, and travel platforms, with features like stock control, online bookings, and real-time reporting. From property management to omnichannel travel systems, our team helps you choose software that fits your needs and integrates seamlessly with your preferred payment provider.
We simplify your decision-making with free demos and in-person consultations to ensure your system matches your business goals.
Anti-Fraud Tools for Secure Online Payments
Keeping your customers’ data secure is more important than ever. With UK GDPR legislation and strict data privacy standards, every business must ensure customer information is protected during every transaction.
We provide 3D Secure (3DS) transactions and advanced anti-fraud mitigation tools through partners like Verifi and Ethoca (offered by VISA and Mastercard). These solutions reduce risk exposure by flagging high-risk transactions in real time — helping you cancel orders, prevent chargebacks, and protect your bottom line.
Our team works closely with you to assess your risk level and recommend the right fraud prevention setup for your online payment journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Shopify for high-risk business?
Yes, but it’s a bit more complex. Shopify Payments doesn’t support most high-risk industries directly. To use Shopify for high-risk business, you’ll need a third-party acquirer that supports your industry and integrates with Shopify.
Keep in mind that Shopify may charge third-party transaction fees—up to 2%, unless you’re on their top-tier plan. We can connect you with industry-aligned acquirers that integrate smoothly with Shopify to avoid delays and fees.
Which shopping cart is the easiest to integrate and most popular?
WooCommerce (via WordPress) is the most popular shopping cart integration for UK SMEs. It’s open-source, highly flexible, and easy to customize with plugins.
WooCommerce supports both API and hosted payment page setups. Nearly all UK acquirers offer developer support for WordPress, making it the easiest and most reliable option for integration.
What is the difference between a gateway provider and an acquirer?
A gateway provider handles the technical side of processing transactions online, while an acquirer is the financial institution that settles the funds into your account.
Many acquirers outsource their gateway services to PSPs (Payment Service Providers) to simplify integration. While this setup expands your options, it can lead to confusion if you don’t know who to contact for support.
At Northern Payments, we clarify upfront who you’ll be dealing with—so you’re not left chasing 2–3 different companies for help.
How to take payments online?
To accept payments online, you’ll need to install a gateway plugin on your site. This varies based on your platform—Shopify, WordPress (WooCommerce), Magento2, WIX, BigCommerce, or a custom setup.
Most gateways offer documentation and phone support, but a developer is usually needed to complete the setup. We work directly with web developers and can recommend trusted agencies to ensure everything runs smoothly.
