Types of Telecom Products
By John Hampton
Welcome to the Internet Revolution, the Age of Technology, and the Era of Telecommunications. Telecommunications (tele-translated from the Greek to mean “distant” and Latin communicare- to participate) is defined as the transmission of information over a line of communication, like that of a telephone, which is carried over a long distance. It may or may not use a modem. The information may be communicated through voice, text, images, or even video via any product that will work, like a fax machine. Any product that enables telecommunication is classified as a Telecom Product.
Since Alexander Graham Bell invented his “electrical speech machine” (now known as the telephone) back in 1876, the telecommunications industry has evolved to include a wide array of products for both business and personal use. Below you will find several different types of telecom products and brief explanations of their different usage.
We’ll begin our mission with the originator- the telephone. Since it’s invention, the device has gotten smaller, portable, and even wireless. Accessories such as answering machines can attach to your phone or phone line for friends, family and/or clients and customers to leave you an important message when you’re unavailable to take a call. All-in-one answering machine/telephone contraptions have gained substantial popularity in recent years as the price dropped with the advancement of technology. Multi-line telephones for busy offices are also becoming more affordable for those who didn’t have the extra funding for such a telecommunications device.
Facsimile machines, also known as “fax” machines for short, take text or images from a piece of paper and transfer the data to another fax machine anywhere in the world via telephone lines. Much like the recent popularity of answering machine/telephone combinations and other telecommunication devices, technology has advanced to bring the price and size down and the convenience of all-in-one equipment for the average consumer. Phone/fax/copy/printer combinations are in a growing number of households across the country and around the globe.
If you have your own business that requires a combination of telecom products, it might be in your best interest to invest in a Voice/Data Line Sharing Device. This port-switching mechanism will allow you to run telephones, fax machines, modems, answering machines, climate control, security monitoring, credit card terminals and poll cash registers without needing a separate line for each.
Finally two-way radios, commonly referred to as “Walkie-Talkies”, are yet another device that falls into the category of telecom products. And yes, just like all of the other products we’ve covered, the price and size have dropped while the technology expanded. In fact, there are two-way radios that can communicate with each other from as far away as 6 miles depending on the area and terrain. Multiple units that run on the same frequency work quite well for large fleets after they are cloned for synchronization. LCD screens make for some easy programming by all.
John Hampton recommends that you visit http://www.sjtelecommunications.com/ for more information on Telecom Products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hampton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Types-of-Telecom-Products&id=398755
Welcome to the Internet Revolution, the Age of Technology, and the Era of Telecommunications. Telecommunications (tele - translated from the Greek to mean "distant" and Latin communicare - to participate).
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
Get Credit Card Processing for Your Internet Business
By Jeremy Zongker
One of the best features of owning an online-based business is the amount of money you save on start up costs, and ongoing overhead in comparison to businesses with physical locations. Not only do you not have to pay high rental or mortgage payments for the space, but you save on utilities, business insurance, and even credit card processing accounts!
As an Internet business, you almost have a requirement to accept credit card payments for your products or services. Have you ever been to a website that doesn’t accept credit cards as payment? Consider how you would feel if you wanted to purchase something online but you couldn’t enter your payment details in the site- would you take the time to write a check, put it in an envelope and mail to the company or would you just find the next website offering the same products that DOES accept credit cards? Web sites that accept credit card payments have sales that are 50-400% higher than web sites that do not accept credit payments. It is so easy to get set up to accept credit card payments that there really is no excuse for an Internet business not to accept them!
As a web business, you have a choice. You can apply for a traditional merchant account at any of the local banks and hope to get accepted (and likely pay a set up fee and sometimes an ongoing monthly fee for having the service), or you can use one of the numerous card processing companies that operate online and are geared toward online businesses just like yours. Many of the card processing providers you can use online allow you to set up your website for accepting credit cards with no set up fees!
Merchants Providing Credit Card Processing
When you are just starting out as an online business, or you are a small business- you are probably not going to want any credit card processing provider that requires you process a minimum number of transactions each month. It is hard to predict what your minimum will be for a new business, and it might be better to pay a slightly higher per-transaction fee than to pay a higher monthly fee in exchange for a lower per-transaction fee based on a minimum number of cards processed each month.
Paynet Systems: Offers a variety of merchant accounts, with a few focused on Internet based businesses. You can get your account set up to accept credit card payments (ATM, and Debit also) for no set up fee. You pay a small monthly fee for the account ($8-10) and fees per transaction processed.
Merchant Express: Offers a merchant account for Internet businesses that can accept credit card payments in real-time. Your account with Merchant Express will also give you access to a free “virtual terminal”, which will allow you to accept credit card payments by phone or mail as well as online.
Charge.com: Similar to Merchant Express in that it provides both a real time processor for web site orders, and a virtual terminal in case your customers provide their payment information via telephone, fax or mail. The software will automatically send you an email to help you fill the customer’s order once the card has been successfully processed.
There are many other providers that allow internet merchant account providers that can set your internet business up with the ability to accept credit card payments at no set up fee. Researching each company before signing up will help you compare the features and make sure you sign with a company that can provide you with the necessary options for your business and at the lowest fees.
This article has been provided by Creditor Web. Creditor Web has the articles and other credit card processing resources to help you choose the right provider.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Zongker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Credit-Card-Processing-for-Your-Internet-Business&id=450368
By Jeremy Zongker
One of the best features of owning an online-based business is the amount of money you save on start up costs, and ongoing overhead in comparison to businesses with physical locations. Not only do you not have to pay high rental or mortgage payments for the space, but you save on utilities, business insurance, and even credit card processing accounts!
As an Internet business, you almost have a requirement to accept credit card payments for your products or services. Have you ever been to a website that doesn’t accept credit cards as payment? Consider how you would feel if you wanted to purchase something online but you couldn’t enter your payment details in the site- would you take the time to write a check, put it in an envelope and mail to the company or would you just find the next website offering the same products that DOES accept credit cards? Web sites that accept credit card payments have sales that are 50-400% higher than web sites that do not accept credit payments. It is so easy to get set up to accept credit card payments that there really is no excuse for an Internet business not to accept them!
As a web business, you have a choice. You can apply for a traditional merchant account at any of the local banks and hope to get accepted (and likely pay a set up fee and sometimes an ongoing monthly fee for having the service), or you can use one of the numerous card processing companies that operate online and are geared toward online businesses just like yours. Many of the card processing providers you can use online allow you to set up your website for accepting credit cards with no set up fees!
Merchants Providing Credit Card Processing
When you are just starting out as an online business, or you are a small business- you are probably not going to want any credit card processing provider that requires you process a minimum number of transactions each month. It is hard to predict what your minimum will be for a new business, and it might be better to pay a slightly higher per-transaction fee than to pay a higher monthly fee in exchange for a lower per-transaction fee based on a minimum number of cards processed each month.
Paynet Systems: Offers a variety of merchant accounts, with a few focused on Internet based businesses. You can get your account set up to accept credit card payments (ATM, and Debit also) for no set up fee. You pay a small monthly fee for the account ($8-10) and fees per transaction processed.
Merchant Express: Offers a merchant account for Internet businesses that can accept credit card payments in real-time. Your account with Merchant Express will also give you access to a free “virtual terminal”, which will allow you to accept credit card payments by phone or mail as well as online.
Charge.com: Similar to Merchant Express in that it provides both a real time processor for web site orders, and a virtual terminal in case your customers provide their payment information via telephone, fax or mail. The software will automatically send you an email to help you fill the customer’s order once the card has been successfully processed.
There are many other providers that allow internet merchant account providers that can set your internet business up with the ability to accept credit card payments at no set up fee. Researching each company before signing up will help you compare the features and make sure you sign with a company that can provide you with the necessary options for your business and at the lowest fees.
This article has been provided by Creditor Web. Creditor Web has the articles and other credit card processing resources to help you choose the right provider.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Zongker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Credit-Card-Processing-for-Your-Internet-Business&id=450368
Friday, May 11, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
How to Maintain Credit Card Terminals
By Jeremy Maddock
Buying credit card processing terminals for a retail business can be a substantial investment, costing several thousand dollars or more in many cases. When you invest this much money in this rather essential equipment, it is quite natural to want to properly maintain the equipment and extend its useful life for as long as possible.
One of the best ways to prevent your credit card terminals from breaking down prematurely is to clean them periodically.
The presence of dust, crumbs, and paper lint can cause built-in printers and stripe readers to become clogged making card reading devices difficult or impossible to use properly. A simple $2 investment in a can of compressed air, however, can help you quickly and easily clean your terminals, helping them last for up to five years without missing a beat.
When you buy new equipment of any kind for your business it is essential that you stay in the habit of maintaining it, and remind your employees to do the same.
Another, perhaps less obvious way to ensure the longevity of your card reading equipment is to buy a terminals that use integrated flash memory to store the software that runs them. Flash memory makes it easy to download and install system updates, preventing software advances and security vulnerabilities from rendering your devices obsolete.
About the Author:
Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelancer, who writes articles about business financial products and other corporate products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Maintain-Credit-Card-Terminals&id=297856
By Jeremy Maddock
Buying credit card processing terminals for a retail business can be a substantial investment, costing several thousand dollars or more in many cases. When you invest this much money in this rather essential equipment, it is quite natural to want to properly maintain the equipment and extend its useful life for as long as possible.
One of the best ways to prevent your credit card terminals from breaking down prematurely is to clean them periodically.
The presence of dust, crumbs, and paper lint can cause built-in printers and stripe readers to become clogged making card reading devices difficult or impossible to use properly. A simple $2 investment in a can of compressed air, however, can help you quickly and easily clean your terminals, helping them last for up to five years without missing a beat.
When you buy new equipment of any kind for your business it is essential that you stay in the habit of maintaining it, and remind your employees to do the same.
Another, perhaps less obvious way to ensure the longevity of your card reading equipment is to buy a terminals that use integrated flash memory to store the software that runs them. Flash memory makes it easy to download and install system updates, preventing software advances and security vulnerabilities from rendering your devices obsolete.
About the Author:
Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelancer, who writes articles about business financial products and other corporate products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Maintain-Credit-Card-Terminals&id=297856
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
Credit Card Processing Accessories
By Kent Pinkerton
Credit card processing accessories include a magnetic stripe reader, a keypad to enter prices and other information, and a small display. The printer can be either built-in or a separate unit. Traditional credit card terminals have different types of displays. Larger displays allow you see more information at once. Displays are usually measured in lines and columns. An 8 x 20 display has 8 lines of text in 20 columns. Backlit display is a standard feature in most new terminals. It lets you to see the terminal even in low light.
Keypads vary in size and number of keys. Larger keypads are very easy to use. There are many types of printers including dot matrix receipt printers, thermal receipt printers, and inkjet receipt printers. Credit card processing terminals are available with integrated fast thermal printer with automatic feeding system. Some of them have four users programmable function soft keys which help better interaction and built-in fast printer.
Credit card processing terminals are compact machines. Accessories such as integrated smart card readers, plug-in battery charger, and power cords are essential components. For virtual credit card terminals, phone or fax, software, computer, and internet connections are necessary. A credit card processing terminal that has a PIN pad can accept debit cards. Card reader cleaners and surge protectors are other credit card processing accessories. Printer paper, ribbons and ink cartridges, mounts and stackers, manual imprinters and imprinter slips, power packs, and cables are also indispensable credit card processing accessories.
There are a number of manufacturers who provide credit card processing accessories. They supply customers various quality solutions to suit their growing needs. Most of them are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of years from the date of shipment.
Credit Card Terminals provides detailed information on Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Terminal Systems, Wireless Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Processing Terminals and more. Credit Card Terminals is affiliated with Credit Card Processing Software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Processing-Accessories&id=353176
By Kent Pinkerton
Credit card processing accessories include a magnetic stripe reader, a keypad to enter prices and other information, and a small display. The printer can be either built-in or a separate unit. Traditional credit card terminals have different types of displays. Larger displays allow you see more information at once. Displays are usually measured in lines and columns. An 8 x 20 display has 8 lines of text in 20 columns. Backlit display is a standard feature in most new terminals. It lets you to see the terminal even in low light.
Keypads vary in size and number of keys. Larger keypads are very easy to use. There are many types of printers including dot matrix receipt printers, thermal receipt printers, and inkjet receipt printers. Credit card processing terminals are available with integrated fast thermal printer with automatic feeding system. Some of them have four users programmable function soft keys which help better interaction and built-in fast printer.
Credit card processing terminals are compact machines. Accessories such as integrated smart card readers, plug-in battery charger, and power cords are essential components. For virtual credit card terminals, phone or fax, software, computer, and internet connections are necessary. A credit card processing terminal that has a PIN pad can accept debit cards. Card reader cleaners and surge protectors are other credit card processing accessories. Printer paper, ribbons and ink cartridges, mounts and stackers, manual imprinters and imprinter slips, power packs, and cables are also indispensable credit card processing accessories.
There are a number of manufacturers who provide credit card processing accessories. They supply customers various quality solutions to suit their growing needs. Most of them are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of years from the date of shipment.
Credit Card Terminals provides detailed information on Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Terminal Systems, Wireless Credit Card Terminals, Credit Card Processing Terminals and more. Credit Card Terminals is affiliated with Credit Card Processing Software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Processing-Accessories&id=353176
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
Credit Card Machine Information
05th December 2006
Author: Jack Chevalier
Standard Credit Card Terminals
There are two types of credit card terminals commonly used by merchants in today's marketplace. Terminal with and without printers. Terminals without printers are the cheaper of the two terminals, and they allow the ability to add a printer in a seperate location from the processing machine, which is desirable in many environments. The all in one terminal with built in printer is the solution for many of today’s merchants. It offers a single compact unit that can be easily set up just about anywhere. There are two different printer options available with Terminals. The standard Impact Printer, with the ink ribbon system, and the newer more efficient thermal printer. The thermal printer uses no ink, and is usually easier to load paper due to drop in loading. It is slightly more expensive for a terminal with a thermal printer, but the cost is justifiable due to less upkeep and easier loading.
There are several brands of Terminals being used in the US today. Some of the more popular brands and models that they make are listed below.
1. Lipman / Nurit Credit Card Machines
2. Verifone Credit Card Machines
3. Hypercom Credit Card Machines
Credit Card Equipment
The Credit Card Equipment that you will use will depend on the type of Merchant Account that you are setting up. There are many different types of Credit Card Machines and Credit Card Equipment available. Prices vary from printer less terminals pricing from $150 - $450, standard terminals with built in printers pricing from $250 - $900+, and wireless terminal pricing from $850 and up. The type of terminal that you purchase should be completely dependant on the type of Business that you run.
If you are interested in POS equipment (Point of Sell) then you should know its continuous development makes it is the best option for a big business. POS equipment means POS software, POS scales, bar code scanners, card encoders and readers, cash registers, check readers, terminals, PIN pads and keyboards, printers, pole displays and even complete PC-based systems. In an ever changing world we should welcome new opportunities to make our life better and POS equipment is meant to do exactly this.
So, if you own a business and you intend to have more success in the future, then you should optimize your employees' work and make your customers' lives easier. You should seriously think of getting a credit card terminal or POS equipment because this is the future and their time is now. Offering your clients everything they need and allowing them the possibility of credit card payment is one of the today's marketing rules. Besides, pleasing everyone will make your business develop a lot faster and better.
For more information , visit Credit Card Processing and Merchant Services Provider.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_109976_15.html
05th December 2006
Author: Jack Chevalier
Standard Credit Card Terminals
There are two types of credit card terminals commonly used by merchants in today's marketplace. Terminal with and without printers. Terminals without printers are the cheaper of the two terminals, and they allow the ability to add a printer in a seperate location from the processing machine, which is desirable in many environments. The all in one terminal with built in printer is the solution for many of today’s merchants. It offers a single compact unit that can be easily set up just about anywhere. There are two different printer options available with Terminals. The standard Impact Printer, with the ink ribbon system, and the newer more efficient thermal printer. The thermal printer uses no ink, and is usually easier to load paper due to drop in loading. It is slightly more expensive for a terminal with a thermal printer, but the cost is justifiable due to less upkeep and easier loading.
There are several brands of Terminals being used in the US today. Some of the more popular brands and models that they make are listed below.
1. Lipman / Nurit Credit Card Machines
2. Verifone Credit Card Machines
3. Hypercom Credit Card Machines
Credit Card Equipment
The Credit Card Equipment that you will use will depend on the type of Merchant Account that you are setting up. There are many different types of Credit Card Machines and Credit Card Equipment available. Prices vary from printer less terminals pricing from $150 - $450, standard terminals with built in printers pricing from $250 - $900+, and wireless terminal pricing from $850 and up. The type of terminal that you purchase should be completely dependant on the type of Business that you run.
If you are interested in POS equipment (Point of Sell) then you should know its continuous development makes it is the best option for a big business. POS equipment means POS software, POS scales, bar code scanners, card encoders and readers, cash registers, check readers, terminals, PIN pads and keyboards, printers, pole displays and even complete PC-based systems. In an ever changing world we should welcome new opportunities to make our life better and POS equipment is meant to do exactly this.
So, if you own a business and you intend to have more success in the future, then you should optimize your employees' work and make your customers' lives easier. You should seriously think of getting a credit card terminal or POS equipment because this is the future and their time is now. Offering your clients everything they need and allowing them the possibility of credit card payment is one of the today's marketing rules. Besides, pleasing everyone will make your business develop a lot faster and better.
For more information , visit Credit Card Processing and Merchant Services Provider.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_109976_15.html
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
Why Does A Credit Card Expire And How Do You Renew It? by Keith Baxter
Besides the long string of numbers that identify your account, there is a short little series of numbers that makes up your card's expiration date. Most of us don't even pay any attention to that date, but you can bet that the credit card approval network knows exactly when your card expires, and for good reason. Actually, there are several reasons, so let's take a look.
Top Reasons Why a Credit Card Has an Expiration Date
One of the most simple and uncomplicated reasons the credit card will expire is that the magnetic strip will not last forever. Although the plastic card itself is virtually indestructible, the magnetic strip is a little touchier and will eventually wear out. When that happens your card will no longer be readable by credit card terminals and ATMs.
Some institutions use an expiration date as a way of reconnecting with the cardholder. It gives the company and the user the opportunity to get together and discuss any issues or complaints that the customer may have. It also allows the card company to appear to care about you as a customer. They will send you a friendly reminder, kindly offering you the chance to renew with your same comfortable company. With all the competition out there, comfort and history can go a long way in keeping customers.
Cardholder security is another reason. This allows the company to check up on you and make sure you are who you say you are and nothing has changed. With identity theft being what it is today, this is a good thing. Some people have had credit cards opened in their names without their knowledge and charges have been made. If the card expires, the company will contact you and possibly warn you about current fraud trends.
The company may use the expiration date as a way to remind you they are there. For people who don't use their cards very often, this can be a gentle reminder of just what's in their wallet and, hopefully, remind you to use it.
Nearing The Expiration Date
It is actually quite easy to renew your card. About a month before your current card actually expires, a new one will suddenly appear in the mail to replace your expired one. This is great if you're in town. If you are going to be traveling, check your card before you go. If it will expire before you get back, call ahead and get your new one before you leave.
Once you have your new card, read the material that came with it. This may very well include a list of new and improved terms. If you find these terms to be new, but not improved, contact the card company. Do not use the card until you have received verification that the terms have been changed to your approval. If they refuse, you can always cancel the card. Trust me, it won't take long to find a replacement.
About the Author
Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he's up to at http://www.credit-card-debt-consolidation.net.
Besides the long string of numbers that identify your account, there is a short little series of numbers that makes up your card's expiration date. Most of us don't even pay any attention to that date, but you can bet that the credit card approval network knows exactly when your card expires, and for good reason. Actually, there are several reasons, so let's take a look.
Top Reasons Why a Credit Card Has an Expiration Date
One of the most simple and uncomplicated reasons the credit card will expire is that the magnetic strip will not last forever. Although the plastic card itself is virtually indestructible, the magnetic strip is a little touchier and will eventually wear out. When that happens your card will no longer be readable by credit card terminals and ATMs.
Some institutions use an expiration date as a way of reconnecting with the cardholder. It gives the company and the user the opportunity to get together and discuss any issues or complaints that the customer may have. It also allows the card company to appear to care about you as a customer. They will send you a friendly reminder, kindly offering you the chance to renew with your same comfortable company. With all the competition out there, comfort and history can go a long way in keeping customers.
Cardholder security is another reason. This allows the company to check up on you and make sure you are who you say you are and nothing has changed. With identity theft being what it is today, this is a good thing. Some people have had credit cards opened in their names without their knowledge and charges have been made. If the card expires, the company will contact you and possibly warn you about current fraud trends.
The company may use the expiration date as a way to remind you they are there. For people who don't use their cards very often, this can be a gentle reminder of just what's in their wallet and, hopefully, remind you to use it.
Nearing The Expiration Date
It is actually quite easy to renew your card. About a month before your current card actually expires, a new one will suddenly appear in the mail to replace your expired one. This is great if you're in town. If you are going to be traveling, check your card before you go. If it will expire before you get back, call ahead and get your new one before you leave.
Once you have your new card, read the material that came with it. This may very well include a list of new and improved terms. If you find these terms to be new, but not improved, contact the card company. Do not use the card until you have received verification that the terms have been changed to your approval. If they refuse, you can always cancel the card. Trust me, it won't take long to find a replacement.
About the Author
Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he's up to at http://www.credit-card-debt-consolidation.net.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
27 Ways to Reduce Your Merchant Account Chargebacks
By Colin Albert
When your merchant account provider reverses a customer's transaction as a result of his disputing the charge, then, unless you successfully challenge the reversal, you lose the sales proceeds, incur any shipping & handling costs and are levied a chargeback fee of $25 to $50.
And, an excessive history of chargebacks may result in the disastrous consequence of losing your merchant account and your ability to accept credit cards.
So, it's obviously important to take prudent steps to minimize the occurrences of chargebacks - especially if your transaction volume is high.
The disputes are usually based on a customer's claim that he did not receive the product or service that he ordered from you; that what he did receive was somehow defective or not what he ordered; or that he did not in fact order anything at all from you.
The causes for such claims generally result from:
* Fraud . Someone other than the authorized cardholder used his card or the information associated with card. Claims for fraudulent use of a cardholder's card are especially common with internet and other 'card not present' transactions. Many billions of dollars of online transactions are the result of fraud annually.
* Customer Error . Again, this type of error is increasingly common for internet transactions, where the customer may not recall whether or not he purchased your product or service - especially if your website's name and the name he sees on his credit card statement don't match.
* Your Error . Your system for managing and tracking transactions - or your bookkeeping may be at fault.
* Bank Error . Banks do make mistakes - an unusually high number of them in fact - and you should keep a close watch on your merchant statements to minimize bank error.
With that in mind, here are 27 specific things you can do to reduce chargebacks against your merchant account .
1. The Address Verification System (AVS, for short) compares the customer's stated billing address with the address the credit card company has on file. If your 'customer' has stolen the credit card, he probably won't know the right billing address, so AVS is very useful in detecting fraudulent orders. Failure to use AVS will also result in higher discount rates on your transactions.
2. Be careful with orders from developing countries (e.g. former Eastern block countries), which have a higher than average rate of chargeback claims.
3. When processing in person, make sure that, if for some reason the swipe terminal isn't working or the credit card cannot be read, the card information is keyed in and that you make an imprint onto the sales receipt. In order to avoid a possible chargeback later, both the card's account number and its expiry date must show up on the receipt.
4. A common cause of customers' disputes for online sales is that they don't recognize the description of your company that appears on their monthly credit card statement. So make sure that description reflects your website's name - and include a toll-free number in their statement's description, so they can phone you if they have a problem.
5. For websites, make sure you provide a toll free phone number for customers to call, so they can hopefully resolve problems prior to instituting a dispute via the card company. And have a 'frequently asked questions' section on your site to further clarify issues that might otherwise lead to a complaint.
6. Be careful when accepting online orders if the customer uses a free email service - for if the card was stolen, his identity may be next to impossible to identify later. To be safe, you could ask him to confirm the sale by phone or fax.
7. Set up your shipping process so that the customer's signature is always collected when the product is delivered - and have the shipper forward you a copy of the signed acknowledgement or upon request.
8. A recent development in fraud control is the IVR terminal (www.voicestamps.com) which can record a customer's voice. If he later claims he didn't order your product or service, the voice verification is e-mailed to you so you can prove he did in fact make the order.
9. If you manually process transactions, but don't do so promptly, you may be hit with a chargeback for late presentment.
10. If you are selling via a website, offering a liberal returns and guarantee policy ensures fewer customer complaints and therefore fewer chargebacks.
11. If an order's billing address and shipping address are different, consider contacting the customer for an explanation for the discrepancy.
12. Be proactive, by sending your customers e-mail notices regarding orders, shipping, etc. An informed customer is a happy customer.
13. If you process via a high volume merchant account you should consider purchasing fraud prevention software (do a search on that term, if you wish to locate and compare software offerings). Depending on the product, these can be very sophisticated, monitoring the risk of each transaction prior to processing to see whether it should be declined (examining things such as the IP address, email server & domain; validating the zip code; and comparing or "scrubbing" the data against lists of previously identified fraudsters).
14. For manual processing and voice authorizations, always note the authorization number on the sales receipt.
15. If you takes orders with a credit card machine, you should always check the expiry date of the credit card, confirm that the card is signed and that the signature thereon matches that on your sales receipt. If there is not a match, require photo ID.
16. Implement a management system to flag suspicious transactions. Have a "to be checked" file and have your staff contact customers whose orders are flagged by the system. Reasons for flagging can include many of the items mentioned above, such as free email addresses; high dollar orders; international shipping addresses, etc.
17. For internet and phone/mail orders, if the purchaser is a new customer and the sales price is high, require a faxed copy of his credit card and his driver's license.
18. If you are selling over the Internet, place a warning on your transaction webpage stating that your site employs safeguards against fraud.
19. Be on the lookout for unusual ordering activity - including multiple orders of the same product, 'rush' orders, and the same cardholder making multiple orders within a very short time span.
20. Ensure that all the magnetic stripe or chip information required by the card processing company is actually being recorded. Also, compare the card's account number with the number printed out on the receipt. And check that the signature on the receipt matches that on the reverse side of the card.
21. Always get an authorization from the processing company. If your request for an authorization is denied, do not complete the transaction.
22. When you are concerned about the veracity of a cardholder's information, ask him for the phone number he supplied to his card company - and then call the company to verify it and call him as well, to ensure he is actually the cardholder and that he placed the order in question. You can also ask him to fax you a copy of his signature as well as the front and back of his credit card.
23. Shipping addresses containing only a P.O. Box are much higher risk than actual physical addresses.
24. For internet sales, always require the card's verification number (CVC2 and CVV2), which is the 3 digit number on the credit card's back side. According to Visa itself, this measure alone reduces chargebacks by over 25%.
25. Whenever a claim for a refund is made, and it has any merit - give the customer the refund. Doing so can significantly reduce chargebacks.
26. Disputes will happen, and when they do you will require all the appropriate documentation to support you - so make sure you store the documentation in a safe place and in an orderly fashion.
27. When a customer disputes a transaction you will receive an enquiry letter. Always respond to it within the stipulated time period. Your copies of face-to-face transactions must legibly display the card's account number, the date of the transaction and its amount, the card expiration date, your company's name and address, and the signature of your customer.
We also suggest you review the rules and suggestions for limiting chargebacks supplied by each of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc . These not only give you guidelines for preventing chargebacks, but will also detail the documentation and steps involved when disputes do arise - as they invariably will.
Colin Albert is the founder of The Merchant Account Explorer, a website devoted to providing businesses with advice on credit card processing. The site also offers recommendations regarding leading Internet and retail merchant account providers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Albert
http://EzineArticles.com/?27-Ways-to-Reduce-Your-Merchant-Account-Chargebacks&id=290239
By Colin Albert
When your merchant account provider reverses a customer's transaction as a result of his disputing the charge, then, unless you successfully challenge the reversal, you lose the sales proceeds, incur any shipping & handling costs and are levied a chargeback fee of $25 to $50.
And, an excessive history of chargebacks may result in the disastrous consequence of losing your merchant account and your ability to accept credit cards.
So, it's obviously important to take prudent steps to minimize the occurrences of chargebacks - especially if your transaction volume is high.
The disputes are usually based on a customer's claim that he did not receive the product or service that he ordered from you; that what he did receive was somehow defective or not what he ordered; or that he did not in fact order anything at all from you.
The causes for such claims generally result from:
* Fraud . Someone other than the authorized cardholder used his card or the information associated with card. Claims for fraudulent use of a cardholder's card are especially common with internet and other 'card not present' transactions. Many billions of dollars of online transactions are the result of fraud annually.
* Customer Error . Again, this type of error is increasingly common for internet transactions, where the customer may not recall whether or not he purchased your product or service - especially if your website's name and the name he sees on his credit card statement don't match.
* Your Error . Your system for managing and tracking transactions - or your bookkeeping may be at fault.
* Bank Error . Banks do make mistakes - an unusually high number of them in fact - and you should keep a close watch on your merchant statements to minimize bank error.
With that in mind, here are 27 specific things you can do to reduce chargebacks against your merchant account .
1. The Address Verification System (AVS, for short) compares the customer's stated billing address with the address the credit card company has on file. If your 'customer' has stolen the credit card, he probably won't know the right billing address, so AVS is very useful in detecting fraudulent orders. Failure to use AVS will also result in higher discount rates on your transactions.
2. Be careful with orders from developing countries (e.g. former Eastern block countries), which have a higher than average rate of chargeback claims.
3. When processing in person, make sure that, if for some reason the swipe terminal isn't working or the credit card cannot be read, the card information is keyed in and that you make an imprint onto the sales receipt. In order to avoid a possible chargeback later, both the card's account number and its expiry date must show up on the receipt.
4. A common cause of customers' disputes for online sales is that they don't recognize the description of your company that appears on their monthly credit card statement. So make sure that description reflects your website's name - and include a toll-free number in their statement's description, so they can phone you if they have a problem.
5. For websites, make sure you provide a toll free phone number for customers to call, so they can hopefully resolve problems prior to instituting a dispute via the card company. And have a 'frequently asked questions' section on your site to further clarify issues that might otherwise lead to a complaint.
6. Be careful when accepting online orders if the customer uses a free email service - for if the card was stolen, his identity may be next to impossible to identify later. To be safe, you could ask him to confirm the sale by phone or fax.
7. Set up your shipping process so that the customer's signature is always collected when the product is delivered - and have the shipper forward you a copy of the signed acknowledgement or upon request.
8. A recent development in fraud control is the IVR terminal (www.voicestamps.com) which can record a customer's voice. If he later claims he didn't order your product or service, the voice verification is e-mailed to you so you can prove he did in fact make the order.
9. If you manually process transactions, but don't do so promptly, you may be hit with a chargeback for late presentment.
10. If you are selling via a website, offering a liberal returns and guarantee policy ensures fewer customer complaints and therefore fewer chargebacks.
11. If an order's billing address and shipping address are different, consider contacting the customer for an explanation for the discrepancy.
12. Be proactive, by sending your customers e-mail notices regarding orders, shipping, etc. An informed customer is a happy customer.
13. If you process via a high volume merchant account you should consider purchasing fraud prevention software (do a search on that term, if you wish to locate and compare software offerings). Depending on the product, these can be very sophisticated, monitoring the risk of each transaction prior to processing to see whether it should be declined (examining things such as the IP address, email server & domain; validating the zip code; and comparing or "scrubbing" the data against lists of previously identified fraudsters).
14. For manual processing and voice authorizations, always note the authorization number on the sales receipt.
15. If you takes orders with a credit card machine, you should always check the expiry date of the credit card, confirm that the card is signed and that the signature thereon matches that on your sales receipt. If there is not a match, require photo ID.
16. Implement a management system to flag suspicious transactions. Have a "to be checked" file and have your staff contact customers whose orders are flagged by the system. Reasons for flagging can include many of the items mentioned above, such as free email addresses; high dollar orders; international shipping addresses, etc.
17. For internet and phone/mail orders, if the purchaser is a new customer and the sales price is high, require a faxed copy of his credit card and his driver's license.
18. If you are selling over the Internet, place a warning on your transaction webpage stating that your site employs safeguards against fraud.
19. Be on the lookout for unusual ordering activity - including multiple orders of the same product, 'rush' orders, and the same cardholder making multiple orders within a very short time span.
20. Ensure that all the magnetic stripe or chip information required by the card processing company is actually being recorded. Also, compare the card's account number with the number printed out on the receipt. And check that the signature on the receipt matches that on the reverse side of the card.
21. Always get an authorization from the processing company. If your request for an authorization is denied, do not complete the transaction.
22. When you are concerned about the veracity of a cardholder's information, ask him for the phone number he supplied to his card company - and then call the company to verify it and call him as well, to ensure he is actually the cardholder and that he placed the order in question. You can also ask him to fax you a copy of his signature as well as the front and back of his credit card.
23. Shipping addresses containing only a P.O. Box are much higher risk than actual physical addresses.
24. For internet sales, always require the card's verification number (CVC2 and CVV2), which is the 3 digit number on the credit card's back side. According to Visa itself, this measure alone reduces chargebacks by over 25%.
25. Whenever a claim for a refund is made, and it has any merit - give the customer the refund. Doing so can significantly reduce chargebacks.
26. Disputes will happen, and when they do you will require all the appropriate documentation to support you - so make sure you store the documentation in a safe place and in an orderly fashion.
27. When a customer disputes a transaction you will receive an enquiry letter. Always respond to it within the stipulated time period. Your copies of face-to-face transactions must legibly display the card's account number, the date of the transaction and its amount, the card expiration date, your company's name and address, and the signature of your customer.
We also suggest you review the rules and suggestions for limiting chargebacks supplied by each of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc . These not only give you guidelines for preventing chargebacks, but will also detail the documentation and steps involved when disputes do arise - as they invariably will.
Colin Albert is the founder of The Merchant Account Explorer, a website devoted to providing businesses with advice on credit card processing. The site also offers recommendations regarding leading Internet and retail merchant account providers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Albert
http://EzineArticles.com/?27-Ways-to-Reduce-Your-Merchant-Account-Chargebacks&id=290239
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Credit Card Machines 802 Blog
Steps to Getting an Online Merchant Account
By Chris Rempel
For all those who have recently begun a business, the words merchant account, merchant account provider, credit card machine, online payment processing, etc will pop up sooner or later. The Internet is brimming with advice on this subject and you are certain to see the comparison between merchant accounts and other payment methods.
This article will explain the basics of what's truly involved in taking credit cards and the required steps to getting a merchant account - online, offline or otherwise...
What is an Online Merchant Account?
A merchant account is an account obtained from a reputable financial institution like a bank through which you are allowed to accept credit card payments.
The merchant account can also be acquired from specialized financial institutions called "merchant account providers". These financial institutions work with banks to supply unique features that would not be available otherwise.
As soon as you are able to accept payments via credit card, you will see an instant increase in sales, simply because there is now a more expedient payment option for your clients. Since many customer these days prefer to pay with plastic, sales transactions are quicker, and there's decreased risk and less "work" in terms of parting customers and their money.
There are various advantages that can greatly increase your profits once you open your own merchant account: (i) customers will impulse buy more readily, (ii) real time transaction processing, (iii) the resulting flexibility attracts additional customers to finish sales without holdup, and so on. Shortly, you will discover that your business profits (and word of mouth marketing) will will begin improving - simply by being able to accept credit cards - and service more clients...
To set up a merchant account, some things need to take place: The bank or financial institution will conduct a basic investigation into your business' credentials. They will look into your credit history, your business plan, your organization's financial stability (whether you can pay the fees - fixed and per transaction - imposed by the merchant account, etc). After the bank and/or financial institution is confident that the business is able to sustain a merchant account, they will establish the ability of your company to take payments by credit card.
This is the reason any company who owns a merchant account is more trustworthy to a customer. It is well known by consumers that the company who has a merchant account has undergone the rudimentary inspections required by a bank or financial institution and were deemed acceptable. It's similar to having a "stamp of approval", other than the fact that it simplifies the sale on various levels.
You need to be conscious that the majority of merchant accounts require minimum monthly fees to be paid that will be charged regardless of whether you process sales or not that generated fees that month. It's advisable to analyze the fees and features of several merchant accounts providers prior to deciding which one you will choose. And no matter what you do, be certain to read all of the terms and conditions of each potential merchant provider prior to signing on the dotted line...
Another benefit that comes with a merchant account is a comprehensive monthly statement of transactions. This statement will provide you with the credit card number of your customers. This will make it simple for you to match charge-backs or returns, and it will give you precise monthly and yearly sales figures and reports. (Hopefully, you won't be getting any charge-backs...)
Other than the fact that - assisted by the right merchant account - you are able to obtain superior service at the lowest possible costs (the profits skyrocket after your sales volume increases), you can also simplify and automate your company when you're selling online.
And that's what's called working smarter, not "harder". Being able to accept credit cards - and knowing the steps to getting a merchant account - makes it so much easier to see a real level of success with your business...
Chris Rempel, marketing director of Accept by Phone, recently started a "Lens" on the Squidoo Network about merchant account credit card processing.
Check it out here: Merchant Account Credit Card Processing
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Rempel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Steps-to-Getting-an-Online-Merchant-Account&id=419127
By Chris Rempel
For all those who have recently begun a business, the words merchant account, merchant account provider, credit card machine, online payment processing, etc will pop up sooner or later. The Internet is brimming with advice on this subject and you are certain to see the comparison between merchant accounts and other payment methods.
This article will explain the basics of what's truly involved in taking credit cards and the required steps to getting a merchant account - online, offline or otherwise...
What is an Online Merchant Account?
A merchant account is an account obtained from a reputable financial institution like a bank through which you are allowed to accept credit card payments.
The merchant account can also be acquired from specialized financial institutions called "merchant account providers". These financial institutions work with banks to supply unique features that would not be available otherwise.
As soon as you are able to accept payments via credit card, you will see an instant increase in sales, simply because there is now a more expedient payment option for your clients. Since many customer these days prefer to pay with plastic, sales transactions are quicker, and there's decreased risk and less "work" in terms of parting customers and their money.
There are various advantages that can greatly increase your profits once you open your own merchant account: (i) customers will impulse buy more readily, (ii) real time transaction processing, (iii) the resulting flexibility attracts additional customers to finish sales without holdup, and so on. Shortly, you will discover that your business profits (and word of mouth marketing) will will begin improving - simply by being able to accept credit cards - and service more clients...
To set up a merchant account, some things need to take place: The bank or financial institution will conduct a basic investigation into your business' credentials. They will look into your credit history, your business plan, your organization's financial stability (whether you can pay the fees - fixed and per transaction - imposed by the merchant account, etc). After the bank and/or financial institution is confident that the business is able to sustain a merchant account, they will establish the ability of your company to take payments by credit card.
This is the reason any company who owns a merchant account is more trustworthy to a customer. It is well known by consumers that the company who has a merchant account has undergone the rudimentary inspections required by a bank or financial institution and were deemed acceptable. It's similar to having a "stamp of approval", other than the fact that it simplifies the sale on various levels.
You need to be conscious that the majority of merchant accounts require minimum monthly fees to be paid that will be charged regardless of whether you process sales or not that generated fees that month. It's advisable to analyze the fees and features of several merchant accounts providers prior to deciding which one you will choose. And no matter what you do, be certain to read all of the terms and conditions of each potential merchant provider prior to signing on the dotted line...
Another benefit that comes with a merchant account is a comprehensive monthly statement of transactions. This statement will provide you with the credit card number of your customers. This will make it simple for you to match charge-backs or returns, and it will give you precise monthly and yearly sales figures and reports. (Hopefully, you won't be getting any charge-backs...)
Other than the fact that - assisted by the right merchant account - you are able to obtain superior service at the lowest possible costs (the profits skyrocket after your sales volume increases), you can also simplify and automate your company when you're selling online.
And that's what's called working smarter, not "harder". Being able to accept credit cards - and knowing the steps to getting a merchant account - makes it so much easier to see a real level of success with your business...
Chris Rempel, marketing director of Accept by Phone, recently started a "Lens" on the Squidoo Network about merchant account credit card processing.
Check it out here: Merchant Account Credit Card Processing
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Rempel
http://EzineArticles.com/?Steps-to-Getting-an-Online-Merchant-Account&id=419127
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