Trust Payments

Trust Payments is a global payment processing platform that provides comprehensive payment acceptance and processing services for businesses across multiple industries including travel, hospitality, retail, and e-commerce sectors. The platform enables tour operators to accept credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods through online channels, mobile applications, and physical point-of-sale terminals, providing flexibility for accepting payments wherever customers prefer to transact. Trust Payments differentiates itself through strong capabilities in multi-currency processing, international payment acceptance, and fraud prevention tools that are particularly valuable for tour operators serving international markets or dealing with cross-border transactions. The platform offers a unified system for managing payment processing across different channels and geographies, allowing tour operators with multiple locations, sales channels, or international operations to consolidate payment processing under a single provider rather than juggling multiple regional processors. Trust Payments includes features specifically relevant to travel businesses such as card-not-present transaction optimization for advance bookings, recurring billing capabilities for deposits and payment plans, tokenization for storing customer payment information securely, and comprehensive reporting that helps track revenue across different tour types, booking channels, and time periods. The platform also provides payment orchestration capabilities that intelligently route transactions through optimal payment networks based on factors like cost, approval rates, and currency, helping tour operators maximize approval rates while minimizing processing costs across their international operations.

Trust Payments uses a customized pricing model where costs are tailored to each business based on factors including processing volume, average transaction size, business risk profile, required features, and geographic processing needs rather than offering standardized published rates. Tour operators typically pay a combination of percentage-based fees (commonly ranging from 2.5% to 3.5% for card-not-present transactions) plus fixed per-transaction fees (typically $0.20 to $0.50 per transaction), though actual rates vary significantly based on your specific business characteristics and negotiated terms. The percentage-based fees can be particularly impactful for tour operators processing high-value bookings for luxury tours, multi-day adventures, or group travel packages, as even small percentage differences result in substantial cost variations on large transactions. International and cross-border transactions typically carry additional fees (often 1-2% extra) to cover currency conversion and international card processing costs, which tour operators with significant international customer bases must factor into pricing and margin calculations. Additional costs may include monthly account fees, PCI compliance fees, chargeback fees (typically $15-25 per chargeback), gateway fees if using hosted payment pages, fees for advanced features like payment orchestration or fraud prevention tools, and equipment costs if you need physical terminals for in-person payments. Trust Payments' enterprise-focused positioning means the platform is typically more cost-effective for tour operators with substantial processing volumes (generally $500,000+ annually) where the percentage-based fees on volume justify the platform's advanced capabilities, while smaller operators might find more cost-effective options with simpler payment processors or aggregators like Stripe or Square.

Trust Payments is designed primarily for mid-sized to large tour operators with annual revenues exceeding $2 million, substantial payment processing volumes, and operational complexity that benefits from enterprise-grade payment infrastructure and international capabilities. The platform is particularly well-suited for tour operators processing $1 million or more annually in payment volume who operate across multiple countries, accept payments in multiple currencies, need sophisticated fraud prevention tools, or require advanced features like payment orchestration to optimize approval rates and processing costs. Tour businesses with multiple locations, diverse tour offerings across different price points, or complex operational models involving both online bookings and physical point-of-sale transactions will find Trust Payments' unified platform valuable for consolidating payment processing rather than managing multiple disconnected systems. The platform also serves operators who are experiencing rapid growth, expanding internationally, or preparing for potential acquisition where demonstrating enterprise-grade payment infrastructure and financial controls becomes important. However, small tour operators with limited processing volumes (under $500,000 annually), simple payment needs, or primarily domestic operations will likely find Trust Payments' enterprise positioning, complex feature set, and custom pricing structure more than they require—these businesses are typically better served by more straightforward payment processors with transparent pricing and simpler implementations. Mid-sized operators should carefully evaluate whether their payment complexity, international requirements, and processing volumes justify Trust Payments' enterprise-focused approach versus more accessible alternatives that might better match their current scale and sophistication.

Trust Payments offers extensive integration capabilities with e-commerce platforms, booking systems, accounting software, and custom applications through multiple integration approaches including hosted payment pages, API access, and pre-built connectors for popular platforms. The platform provides APIs and SDKs (software development kits) that allow tour operators with technical resources to build custom integrations directly into their websites, booking systems, or proprietary software, providing complete control over the payment experience and workflow. For tour operators without extensive development resources, Trust Payments offers hosted payment page solutions where customers are redirected to secure Trust Payments pages to complete transactions, reducing your PCI compliance burden while still providing a branded payment experience. The platform integrates with popular e-commerce platforms, content management systems, and booking software commonly used in the travel industry, though the specific pre-built integrations available may be more limited compared to mainstream payment processors given Trust Payments' enterprise focus on custom implementations. Trust Payments can also integrate with accounting systems like QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite to synchronize payment data, transaction records, and reconciliation information, helping tour operators maintain accurate financial records without manual data entry. The platform's payment orchestration capabilities can integrate with multiple payment processors, payment methods, and acquiring banks, allowing sophisticated operators to optimize payment routing based on various factors. Implementation complexity varies significantly based on integration approach—hosted payment pages can be implemented relatively quickly with minimal technical resources, while custom API integrations or payment orchestration setups typically require dedicated development expertise and more substantial implementation timelines. Tour operators should evaluate Trust Payments' integration capabilities against their specific technology stack and implementation resources before committing.

Trust Payments provides enterprise-grade customer support appropriate for businesses with significant payment processing needs and complex operational requirements, including dedicated account management, technical support, and extensive implementation assistance. Enterprise customers typically receive dedicated account managers who serve as primary points of contact, help coordinate issue resolution, provide strategic guidance on payment optimization, and ensure you're maximizing value from the platform's capabilities. Technical support is available through multiple channels including phone and email, with support availability and response time commitments varying based on your service level agreement—enterprise customers often receive 24/7 support access given the critical nature of payment processing for business operations. During implementation, Trust Payments provides technical integration support to help configure the platform, integrate with existing systems, test payment flows, and ensure everything functions correctly before going live with real transactions. The company offers training resources for tour operator staff including documentation, best practice guides, and operational training to help teams effectively manage payment processing, handle refunds, investigate transaction issues, and use reporting tools. Trust Payments also provides fraud prevention and chargeback management support, helping tour operators optimize fraud rules, investigate suspicious transactions, and respond effectively to chargeback disputes with appropriate documentation and evidence. However, as an enterprise-focused platform, some support services or advanced features may require additional fees or higher service tiers, and the level of hands-on support may vary based on your contract size and processing volumes. Tour operators should clarify specific support commitments, response time guarantees, and any limitations or additional costs associated with support services during the sales and contracting process.

Trust Payments typically operates on a multi-year contract basis, commonly with initial terms ranging from one to three years, reflecting the platform's positioning as an enterprise payment solution where both the provider and customer benefit from longer-term relationship stability and commitments. The contract outlines the fee structure, processing rates, service commitments, support levels, compliance responsibilities, and operational terms that govern your payment processing relationship with Trust Payments. Contract-based arrangements are standard in enterprise payment processing because they allow processors to offer more competitive rates in exchange for volume commitments and relationship duration, while businesses benefit from rate stability and avoid sudden pricing changes that could impact margins and financial planning. For tour operators, the contract typically includes provisions regarding processing volume expectations, with potential rate adjustments or renegotiation triggers if your actual volumes significantly differ from projections, though specific terms vary by agreement. Early termination clauses are generally included with associated fees if you decide to switch payment processors before the contract term ends—these early termination fees can be substantial and might include costs to recover lost anticipated revenue or implementation investments, so understanding these terms before signing is critical. The contract will also address important operational matters including chargeback management, dispute resolution processes, fund hold policies, reserve requirements if applicable, and circumstances under which Trust Payments might suspend or terminate services. Some tour operators may be able to negotiate shorter initial terms or more favorable termination provisions particularly if they have strong bargaining positions due to high processing volumes or competitive alternatives, but flexibility varies significantly based on specific circumstances. Before committing to a Trust Payments contract, carefully review all terms including the full cost structure, contract duration, termination provisions, and any volume commitments to ensure the agreement aligns with business planning horizons and financial projections.

Trust Payments' transaction fees are customized for each merchant based on business profile and negotiated terms rather than published standard rates, but tour operators can typically expect percentage-based fees ranging from 2.5% to 3.5% for card-not-present transactions plus per-transaction fees of approximately $0.20 to $0.50 per payment, with actual rates varying significantly based on your processing volume, average transaction size, business risk profile, and negotiated terms. The percentage-based component of fees creates significant cost implications for tour operators processing high-value bookings—a 3% fee on a $5,000 luxury tour booking results in $150 in processing costs, while the same percentage on a $500 day tour costs just $15, illustrating how transaction values directly impact processing expenses. International and cross-border transactions typically carry premium fees with an additional 1-2% markup to cover currency conversion and international card processing costs, which can substantially increase total processing expenses for tour operators serving international customer bases or operating in multiple countries. Card-present transactions (using physical terminals) generally receive more favorable rates compared to card-not-present transactions because of lower fraud risk, though most tour operator bookings occur online or by phone resulting in the higher card-not-present rates. Additional fee considerations include assessment fees charged by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) which are typically passed through to merchants, interchange fees that vary based on card type with premium rewards cards carrying higher costs, and various incidental fees including chargeback fees, monthly minimums, PCI compliance fees, statement fees, and gateway fees depending on integration approach. Tour operators should request detailed fee schedules covering all scenarios relevant to their business, model total processing costs across projected booking volumes and values, and compare all-in costs including both obvious and hidden fees when evaluating Trust Payments against alternative processors.

Trust Payments typically deposits processed funds to tour operators' bank accounts within 1-3 business days after transaction processing, though exact timing depends on factors including your processing history, business risk profile, bank processing times, and specific terms negotiated in your merchant agreement. For established merchants with strong processing history and low chargeback rates, next-business-day deposits are often achievable, meaning transactions processed on Monday would typically arrive in your bank account by Tuesday or Wednesday depending on banking schedules. However, new merchants or those considered higher risk (which can include tour operators due to advance bookings and potential cancellations) may initially experience longer settlement periods of 3-5 business days or even longer as Trust Payments evaluates your transaction patterns and business performance. Tour operators should also understand that settlement timing refers to business days excluding weekends and banking holidays, so transactions processed late in the week might not settle until the following week, creating gaps in cash flow that require working capital to bridge. Some tour operators may be subject to rolling reserves where Trust Payments holds back a percentage of processed funds (commonly 5-10%) for a specified period (often 90-180 days) as protection against chargebacks or refunds, which effectively extends the timeline for accessing a portion of your revenue and requires additional working capital for operations. The reserve percentage and duration typically decrease or eliminate as you establish positive processing history with low chargebacks and reliable business performance. Tour operators with high-value bookings, long lead times between booking and tour dates, or seasonal business patterns should carefully model cash flow implications of settlement timing and any reserve requirements to ensure they have adequate working capital to operate effectively while waiting for payment processing settlement.

Trust Payments offers comprehensive multi-currency capabilities supporting over 120 currencies worldwide, making it one of the more globally-capable payment processors and particularly valuable for tour operators serving international customer bases or operating tours in multiple countries. This extensive currency support allows tour operators to present pricing in customers' local currencies, accept payments in those currencies, and settle to your business bank accounts in your preferred operating currency, significantly improving the customer experience and reducing currency-related friction in the booking process. The platform handles all aspects of multi-currency processing including real-time currency conversion, exchange rate calculation, compliance with local payment regulations, and proper handling of international card transactions across different payment networks and banking systems. When accepting payments in currencies different from your settlement currency, Trust Payments applies foreign exchange rates that include a markup (typically 1-3% depending on currency pairs and volume) over mid-market rates, which represents a cost for currency conversion but provides the convenience of automated multi-currency operations without managing multiple banking relationships. Tour operators can configure different currency options based on customer location, allowing European customers to pay in Euros, British customers in Pounds, American customers in US Dollars, and so forth, with the platform automatically handling conversion to your base currency for settlement. The platform also supports dynamic currency conversion (DCC) where international customers can choose to pay in either the local transaction currency or their home card currency at the point of sale, though DCC typically carries additional fees and markup that should be disclosed transparently to customers. For tour operators with significant international operations or expansion plans, Trust Payments' robust multi-currency capabilities eliminate much of the complexity associated with global payment acceptance compared to processors with limited currency support or regional focus.

Trust Payments provides comprehensive tools for processing refunds and managing chargebacks, which are critical capabilities for tour operators who regularly deal with booking cancellations, weather-related refunds, and occasional customer disputes. The platform allows tour operators to process both full and partial refunds directly through the payment management interface, with refunds typically appearing in customers' accounts within 5-10 business days depending on their bank's processing times. When processing refunds, tour operators should understand that the original transaction fees paid to Trust Payments are generally not refunded even though you're returning money to the customer, meaning refunds carry costs beyond just the refunded amount. Chargeback management is a more complex process where customers dispute charges directly with their credit card companies rather than requesting refunds from you—Trust Payments provides dispute management tools that notify you of chargebacks, present deadlines for responding, and facilitate submission of evidence to contest illegitimate disputes. When chargebacks occur, tour operators face chargeback fees (typically $15-25 per chargeback) regardless of whether you win or lose the dispute, and excessive chargeback rates can result in higher processing fees, mandatory reserves, or even account termination if chargeback percentages exceed network thresholds (typically 1% of transactions). Trust Payments' fraud prevention tools help tour operators minimize chargeback risk by identifying potentially fraudulent transactions before processing, using machine learning algorithms, velocity checks, address verification, and other fraud indicators to flag suspicious bookings. For tour operators, minimizing chargebacks requires clear communication of cancellation policies, thorough documentation of services provided including booking confirmations and delivery proof, prompt customer service to address issues before they escalate to disputes, and careful attention to fraud prevention during the booking process to avoid accepting fraudulent transactions that inevitably result in chargebacks.

Trust Payments maintains full PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Level 1 compliance, which is the highest and most stringent compliance level requiring annual third-party security audits and comprehensive security controls protecting cardholder data. This Level 1 compliance provides tour operators with assurance that Trust Payments has implemented rigorous security measures including end-to-end encryption of card data during transmission, secure storage systems with strict access controls, regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures, and extensive documentation of security policies and procedures. For tour operators, using a PCI-compliant processor like Trust Payments significantly reduces your own PCI compliance burden because sensitive payment card data is handled by Trust Payments' secure systems rather than touching your servers or infrastructure, particularly when using hosted payment pages or tokenization approaches. However, tour operators are not entirely relieved of PCI compliance responsibilities—you still need to maintain compliance with applicable requirements based on how you handle payments and your annual transaction volume, which typically includes using secure payment pages provided by Trust Payments, never storing complete card numbers in your own systems, maintaining secure networks and websites, and completing annual PCI compliance validation questionnaires. Trust Payments provides tools and guidance to help tour operators maintain compliance including hosted payment pages that minimize your PCI scope, tokenization services that replace sensitive card data with secure tokens you can store for future use, and compliance documentation to help you understand and meet your specific obligations. The platform may charge PCI compliance fees (commonly $5-15 monthly) which are standard in the payment processing industry and help fund the extensive security infrastructure and compliance programs required to protect cardholder data across the payment ecosystem.

Trust Payments includes comprehensive recurring payment and subscription billing capabilities that allow tour operators to automatically charge customers on regular schedules for membership programs, payment plans, seasonal passes, or subscription-based tour services. The platform's recurring billing features enable tour operators to securely store customer payment information using tokenization (which replaces card numbers with secure tokens), define billing schedules with flexible intervals including daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, or custom timeframes, and automatically process charges without requiring customers to manually enter payment information for each transaction. For tour operators, recurring payments are particularly valuable for breaking high-value tours into manageable payment plans—customers pay a deposit at booking followed by one or more scheduled installments before the tour date, making expensive experiences more accessible while ensuring tour operators receive full payment before departure. The system can handle various recurring payment scenarios including fixed amounts that remain consistent across billing cycles, variable amounts that change based on specific services or usage, trial periods with different initial pricing, and complex subscription models with multiple tier options. Trust Payments' recurring billing includes intelligent retry logic that automatically reattempts failed payments (such as expired cards or insufficient funds) on optimized schedules to maximize recovery, notification systems that alert customers before charges process and when payment issues occur, and comprehensive reporting to track recurring revenue, identify failed payments requiring follow-up, and forecast future revenue from subscription commitments. Tour operators implementing recurring payments should ensure clear communication with customers about payment schedules and amounts, obtain proper authorization for recurring charges, comply with card network rules regarding recurring billing, and configure cancellation workflows that appropriately handle subscription terminations and pro-rated refunds if applicable to your business model.