Turned away across the board, then set up properly
A vape and e-liquid retailer came to eCom Pay after being turned away across the board and left with frozen funds. Experienced underwriters processed the application properly, placed the business on specialist acquiring that understands the sector, and got them taking card payments again, safely, with next working day settlement.
24 hrs
approval, once documents are in
150+
currencies processed
4.4
Trustpilot rating
2010
processing payments since
Where they were when they came to us
Every case study starts the same way, with a good business and a payment setup that no longer fits it. This is what the picture looked like on day one.
Turned away across the board
The retailer sold compliant, age-verified vape and e-liquid products, yet application after application came back with the same answer. Automated decision engines flag the whole category before a human ever reads the business, so a legitimate retailer could not get a fair review anywhere.
Funds frozen mid trade
When an account was finally opened, funds were frozen once the sector became clear, with stock paid for and money the business had already earned sitting out of reach. Cash flow, supplier relationships and restocking all took the strain at once.
No one to actually talk to
Every attempt to resolve it ran through ticket queues and template replies. Nobody on the other side knew the business, the products or the compliance work already in place, so nothing moved.
How the application was processed and placed
Experienced underwriters reviewed the business properly, shaped the account around how it actually trades and placed it on specialist acquiring. Step by step, this is what changed.
The business was reviewed properly
Experienced underwriters sat down with the actual business. Age verification, product compliance, trading history and how the store really operates, all reviewed by people who understand vape retail rather than a category code.
The application was handled by experienced underwriters
The application was shaped around the evidence and presented properly, with the compliance work the retailer had already done put front and centre instead of ignored.
Placed on specialist acquiring
The account was placed on specialist acquiring that understands the sector, underwritten up front so there are no surprise freezes later. What is agreed at approval is how the account behaves in month six.
Switched on with support behind it
Processing went live with next working day settlement, a personal account manager and a UK team on the phone around the clock. The retailer sells, the money lands, and someone answers when it matters.
Where they are now
- Processing again, safelycard payments running on an account built for vape retail, underwritten properly from day one
- No surprise freezesbecause the sector was understood and underwritten up front, not discovered later
- Money that lands next working daytakings settle the next working day, so stock and suppliers are paid on time
- A named person who knows the accounta personal account manager instead of a ticket queue
Sector reviewed by underwriters ✓
Age verification evidenced ✓
Surprise freezes none
Settlement next working day ✓
Status processing
More merchants, more results
Off slow payouts onto next day settlement
Delicious Desserts was stuck with delayed settlements that strained cash flow. Next working day settlement means the money now lands when they need it.
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From serial account freezes to £1m+ with no holds
Find A Part came to us after a difficult run with previous setups. With eCom Pay they trade at over £1m a year with no holds, plus full chargeback support.
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Rates cut by 50% with next day settlement
River Spice in Portsmouth was paying high fees with no card machine provided. We halved their rates, supplied the terminal and switched them to next day settlement.
Read the case studyWritten by the eCom Pay team. Reviewed August 2026. Last updated August 2026.
Trading in a specialist sector deserves a specialist setup
Experienced underwriters review your business properly and place it on specialist acquiring, approved in 24 hours once your documents are in.
Trading in a specialist category? Explore high risk payment solutions or read the guide on minimising chargebacks.