YNOT – Toronto-based UseMyServices, an alternative payment service for the online world, has expanded its network to France and Italy. To celebrate, the company is offering a rebate program for all new merchants that sign up before May 1.

The new additions bring to 18 the number of countries in which the real-time online banking payment services are available through the company’s flagship product, UseMyFunds.

“Our goal since we launched in 2002 has been to provide a practical alternative to credit cards for both online merchants and consumers,” said Chief Executive Officer Joseph Luso. “We will continue to expand our reach so that our merchants will be able to safely grow their online businesses in new markets without increasing their risk. UseMyServices payments are almost as safe as cash but just as convenient for the consumer as a credit card.”

Available to more than 80 percent of the online banking customers in its market, UseMyServices soon will expand to Eastern Europe and the Philippines, as well, according to Melody Wigdahl, vice president for merchant services.

“2012 has gotten off to a great start for us,” she said. “The new countries are just the beginning of the expansions coming up, so we thought it would be a great time to offer an additional incentive to try us out.

“Considering that we already have no set-up fees, no reserves and no monthly minimums, [the rebate] should make adding UseMyServices as a payment option an easy decision for anyone sitting on the fence at the moment,” she added.

In order to receive the rebate — equal to a percentage of the total transaction fees generated within the first 90 days — new merchants must activate the program on their sites by June 15.

For more information, visit UseMyServices.com.