Merchant Guide: Your Essential Website Compliance Checklist

To ensure a smooth and fast onboarding process and to build immediate trust with your customers, your e-commerce website needs to include some essential information. These requirements are aligned with card scheme rules (Visa & Mastercard) and South African regulations like the POPI Act.

Here is a clear checklist of what our risk and compliance teams look for.

1. Legal & Trust Policies

These policies must be clearly written, easy for a customer to find (usually linked in the website footer), and specific to your business.

• Terms and Conditions: Outlines the rules for using your site and services. Click here for more information about Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy: Explains how you collect, use, and protect customer data, in compliance with the POPI Act. Click here for more information about Privacy Policy
• Refund & Return Policy: Clearly details your process for returns, exchanges, and refunds, including any timelines or costs. Click here for more information about Refund & Returns Policy
• Delivery & Shipping Policy: Provides clear information on shipping timelines, methods, and costs so customers know when and how to expect their order. Click here for more information about Delivery & Shipping Policy

2. Business Information & Transparency

Your customers need to know who they are buying from. This information must be clearly visible on your site, typically on a "Contact Us" page or in the footer.

• Clear Contact Information: Must include at least a valid support email address and a contact telephone number.
• Physical Address & Domicile: Your business's physical address and country of domicile (South Africa) must be stated.
• Company Legal Details: Your registered company name and registration number must be displayed.

3. Product & Pricing Clarity

Transparency at the point of purchase is crucial for preventing customer disputes.

• Accurate Product Descriptions: Provide detailed and accurate descriptions of all products and services.
• Clear Pricing in ZAR: All prices must be clearly displayed in Rands (ZAR). The total final price, including all applicable taxes and shipping fees, must be shown to the customer before they proceed to the payment page.

4. Security & Payment Trust Marks

These technical and visual cues reassure customers that your site is secure and trustworthy.

• Secure Website (HTTPS): Your entire website must be secured with a valid SSL certificate. The URL should start with https:// and display a padlock icon in the browser's address bar. This is a non-negotiable security requirement.
• Payment Method Logos: You must display the logos of the payment methods you accept (e.g., Visa, Mastercard) on your checkout page.
• Payment Gateway Logo: We encourage you to display a "Secured by Peach Payments" logo on your payment page. This lets customers know their payment is being handled by a trusted, PCI-DSS compliant provider, which can significantly increase their confidence to complete the purchase.

Ensuring these elements are present on your website will not only expedite your account approval but will also significantly increase your customers' trust, leading to better conversion rates and a healthier business.