[thelist] storing user information and allowing them to"finishlater" and payment issues

[Brian Cummiskey]

The absolute best (read: cheapest and easiest) way to take money is to 
have a merchant/processor that handles everything for you real time.

The second you store a credit card number in your own database, you 
enter a whole new world.

If you can get away with doing an XML post to a 3rd party, such as 
paymentech (which i use and would recommend), and let them handle the 
auth, the charge, and the settling on their systems, you're life will be 
far easier.