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Bridge Pay Docs

Accepting Credit Cards

Accept credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) directly on your website, allowing customers to pay in seconds without ever leaving your store.

How It Works

Section titled “How It Works”

With direct card payments enabled:

  • No PayPal account required for buyers: Customers simply enter their card number, expiry date, and CVV directly inside the checkout window on your website.
  • Funds go directly to you: Bridge Pay never holds or intercepts your money. All customer payments go straight into your own PayPal account.
  • PayPal processing fees: PayPal deducts its standard card processing fee (typically around 2.9% + small fixed fee per sale, depending on your country) automatically from each transaction, and the net payout is added immediately to your PayPal balance.

What You Need

Section titled “What You Need”

Before enabling credit card checkout, make sure you have:

  1. A Verified PayPal Business Account:
    • Card processing requires a PayPal Business Account with completed identity verification. Personal PayPal accounts cannot process direct credit cards.
  2. A Business Registered in a Supported Country:
    • In order to accept and process credit cards on the Pro Plan, your business must be registered in one of the officially supported countries.
    • You can review the complete list of supported countries in the PayPal Card Processing Eligibility Directory.
  3. Bridge Pay Pro Plan:
    • Direct credit card checkout is an exclusive feature for store domains subscribed to the Pro Plan.

Step-by-Step Setup

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Setting up credit card processing takes less than 5 minutes:

Step 1: Open the PayPal Developer Dashboard

Section titled “Step 1: Open the PayPal Developer Dashboard”
  1. Go to the PayPal Developer Dashboard and sign in with your PayPal business account.
  2. From the left sidebar, click Apps & Credentials.

Step 2: Select Live Mode

Section titled “Step 2: Select Live Mode”

At the top of the page, switch the toggle from Sandbox to Live. This ensures you generate credentials for real payments.

Step 3: Create Your Store App

Section titled “Step 3: Create Your Store App”
  1. Click the Create App button.
  2. Enter an App Name of your choice (for example, My Store Checkout).
  3. Choose Merchant as the App Type.
  4. Click Create App.

Step 4: Copy Your Keys

Section titled “Step 4: Copy Your Keys”

On your app’s details page:

  1. Copy the Client ID.
  2. Click Show under Secret and copy your secret key.

Keep your secret key safe and private.

Step 5: Connect Keys in Bridge Pay

Section titled “Step 5: Connect Keys in Bridge Pay”
  1. Log in to your Bridge Pay seller dashboard at https://app.bridgepay.store.
  2. Click Settings from the sidebar menu.
  3. Under PayPal Settings, ensure your primary PayPal Email is saved.
  4. In the Live Environment tab, paste your Client ID and Client Secret.
  5. Click Test Live Credentials:
    • This test verifies your keys and automatically sets up real-time payment webhooks on your PayPal app. You do not need to manually create webhook URLs or manage technical settings inside PayPal.
  6. Turn on the switch: Accept credit cards on pro domains.
  7. Click Save Payments Settings.

Your checkout widget will now display credit card payment options alongside standard PayPal!

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do my customers need a PayPal account?

Section titled “Do my customers need a PayPal account?”

No. When customers choose to pay with a card, they stay on your website and only enter their card information. They do not need to sign in or have an existing PayPal account.

What happens if a customer’s bank asks for an SMS verification code?

Section titled “What happens if a customer’s bank asks for an SMS verification code?”

If a customer’s bank requires extra verification (common with European cards or bank security rules), a secure bank verification window will appear for them to confirm their SMS code. Once confirmed, the payment completes automatically and their login details are displayed.

What happens if a card is declined?

Section titled “What happens if a card is declined?”

If a card has expired, has insufficient funds, or is declined by the bank, the checkout window clearly displays the exact reason to the customer so they can enter a different card.

Can I test credit cards before accepting real payments?

Section titled “Can I test credit cards before accepting real payments?”

Yes. If you enable PayPal Sandbox on your domain settings in Bridge Pay, you can test card payments safely using sandbox test cards without using real money.