Merchant Account Blog & Credit Card Processing Blog

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Free Credit Card Processing Software DownloadWe have partnered with the eProcessing Network to make an amazing offer to all new applicant’s looking to process credit cards, using pc software for their credit card processing. Merchant’s signing up for a merchant account with us can choose to download free credit card processing software. This amazing offer is for a limited time, so please act fast !!!!!

EPN’s JPOS SOFTWARE:

This Java-Based software, JPOS SOFTWARE,  will download quickly on any Mac or PC. Set-up is a snap, usually within ten minutes. With the new “Credit Card Terminal” interface, learning the software is quick and easy. Merchant can swipe or key-in credit card information and the transaction is processed via the eProcessing Networks Secure Network. Internet based transactions are processed faster than dial-up and merchants can rest assured that customer data is safe & secure.

Compared With PC CHARGE:

JPOS Credit Card Processing Software has all of the same benefits as PC Charge, accept the $179 Price Tag.

Other major benefits would be:

• FREE DOWNLOAD
• FREE TECH SUPPORT ( Lifetime )
• FREE UPGRADES  ( Never Charged For Upgrades

Anyone familaiar with PC Chargeknows that Tech Support is free for only 30 days. Then you must sign-up for paid support, with no acceptions. Secondly, anytime security changes are made, PC Charge forces you to pay for the software upgrades. These are key factors that set this credit card software apart from the rest. Set-up your merchant account today and dowload JPOS today !!!!

Retail Merchants - Credit Card Software

Retail merchants can add a magnetic stripe reader, to process credit cards at the point-of-sale. Simply connect the USB Cable in the computer where the program resides and you are ready to process retail transactions. Printers can be added to print customer receipts. Value added programs, such as food stamps, gift cards, ect, can also be added.

Phone Order Merchants - Credit Card SoftwarePhone order merchants can also utilize the software, by simply entering in the card data and processing from their computer desktop. Software offers all key fraud solutions, such as AVS Address Verification and CVV2 fraud solutions. Merchants can also set-up “Instant Email Receipts” to their customers.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to call.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Understanding Your Merchant Account Responsibities !!!!

If you are shopping for a new merchant account, you need to understand what you are getting into. Many times business owners are in a rush to set-up credit card processing for their business, they overlook the fact that they are entering into a contract that has many responsibilities and rules to abide by.

Many times merchants will find out the hard way, by being fined or getting their merchant account shut down. In some instances, merchants are “TMF’d” which means they lose their privilege to accept credit cards in the future. It surely make more sense to understand your responsibilities and model your business to conform with the rules set-forth by Visa and Mastercard.

Accepting Credit Cards - A Privilege:

Understand that being accepted to accept credit cards is a privilege, not your right !!!! Should you take this lightly, you could find yourself losing this privilege, permanently. That’s right, permanently !!!! You could personally be banned from ever accepting credit cards, for any business endeavor in the future. 

Unhappy Customers Can Destroy You:

An unhappy customer can create havoc on your business. Credit card holder’s have the right to call their credit card company and dispute a transaction on their credit card. These disputes have the potential of becoming a “Chargeback” to your business. A chargeback is simply a reversal of the charge, from your bank account, back to the customers card. These reversals come with very stiff fines to the business owner and could get your account terminated. Here some key points to avoiding chargebacks.

• Offer A Superior Product Or Service
• Quickly Resolve Customer Service Issues
• 100% Unconditional Return Policy
• Toll Free Customer Support
• Maintain Signatures + Shipping Records

Exceeding Volume Limit’s:

Every merchant account agreement has an “Average Monthly Volume” amount for Visa & Matercard. During your approval process, this amount is underwritten by the processor and is usually based on the credit scores of the merchant. If you are approved for that amount, you must process within the limit.

Should the limit become an issue, you must call in to ask that it be re-evaluated by the underwriting department. If your credit scores are too low, you may not get an increase.

If you simply ignore this limit, at some point your account will be shut-off.

Exceeding Ticket Limit’s:

Every merchant account agreement has an “Average Ticket” amount for Visa & Mastercard. Again, during the approval process, this amount is underwritten based on your credit scores. From an underwriting stand point, the higher the ticket, the higher the risk. If your account is approved for a certain ticket amount, you must process within that limit. Occasional “High Tickets” should be disclosed on the application, prior to underwriting. Contacting your “Risk Department”, prior to running high tickets is advised.

If you simply ignore this limit, your account could be terminated.

Honor All Cards:

Every merchant account agreement has a “Honor All Cards” Claus. This means as a Visa / Mastercard Merchant, you are bound to honor every credit card transaction presented to your business. That tiny sign at your local diner that states, “$10 Credit Card Minimum” is in direct violation of the terms of the merchant account agreement.

You cannot charge a “Surcharge” on credit card transactions either, this would also be in violation of the merchant agreemnet, as well.

Reserve Account:At any time, at the sole discretion of the bank, the bank has the right to place funds on hold in a non-interest barring reserve account. Reserve account is to protect the bank from future losses due to fines, chargebacks, ect that may come through your merchant account. Hold time-frame will be determined by the bank and is usually for long enough time period to cover future customer chargebacks.

In Conclusion:

As you can see, “Your Privilege” to accept Visa & Mastercard comes with many duties and responsibilities. Failure to comply, could prove to be very costly and cause your account to get “Terminated” and potentially lose your credit card processing privilege in future business endeavours. Play it safe, understand the rules and play by them.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Saving Money On Your Merchant Account Fee’s !!!!!!!!!!

Saving money on your merchant account & credit card processing fee’s has never been more simple. We have put together a program to save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees, depending on your current monthly volume. Perfect solution for any business owner looking to cut cost’s.

INTERCHANGE PLUS PRICING - Start Saving Today !!!!!

In the past, this program has been reserved for High Volume Chains, such as Wal-Mart or McDonalds. We have opened the flood gates for any business size to profit from the savings. For those of you who are not familiar with the term “Interchange”, interchange is the cost passed on by Visa & Mastercard which accounts for the majority of your transaction cost’s. Interchange consists of several hundred catagorys which any transaction could fall under. Here and links to the most recent Interchange Schedule’s for Visa and Mastercard, as you will see this is quite complicated.

To simplify matters, most merchant account’s are on a “Tiered System”, consisting of Qualified, Non-Qualified, and maybe Mid-Qualified rate. These tier’s cover any downgrades by Visa or Mastercard in which certain transactions may fall. This simplifies “Interchange”, but alway’s cost’s more in credit card processing fee’s to a merchant on the Tiered System.

BOTTOM LINE - SAVING MONEY LIKE THE BIG BOY’S !!!!!!

We are now offering “Interchange Plus Pricing” to merchants of any size. Previously reserved for large corporations, this pricing schedule will saving you money on your credit card processing fee’s and is available to any merchant account, regardless of size.

Call us immediately for a cost analysis and began saving like the big boy’s.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Merchant accounts processing with 1st National Processing can put there fears aside with becomming PCI Compliant with the complicated standards recently set-forth by Visa & Mastercard. We have simplified the process, making it quite simple for our merchants who process with us.

First, we have painless online survey which will walk you through each step of completing your Self Assessment Questionaire, required for PCI Compliance. Once the “SAQ” is completed, you will receive an email if you need to perform a “Quarterly PCI Scan” of your website or network. You will then receive instructions by mail for performing any required PCI Scans.

Lastly, if you are required to perform PCI Scans the cost is included in our Annual PCI Compliance Fee of only $30.00. This minimal fee is cheap when compared to other processors, who charge $79-$99 and expect you to become PCI Compliant on your own.

If you are looking for more information on PCI Compliance, here’s a great 10 Minute Video that will educate you on the subject.

1st National Processing Customers can begin the PCI Compliance Process by clicking here.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Convenience Store Merchant Account

Accepting credit cards at a convenience store is a must in today’s marketplace. Getting the best rate is equally important to be competitive in your business. We offer special pricing for C-Stores with good monthly sales volumes. Now, convenience store owners can receive special pricing, once only reserved for corporations like WalMart. Saving money on your credit card processing rates & fees has never been more important for convenience store merchant account owners, as we move into a slowing economy.

OTHER C-STORE PRODUCTS:

Convenience store owners looking to reduce their expenses should grab their current statements and give me a call to immediately cut their current credit card processing costs. We look forward to working with you.

MARK SANDS
1st National Processing
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com
1-866 828-8683

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

EBT | Electronic Benefit Transfer

Accepting food stamps at your business can increase your sales, by openning the door to people that receive government benefits. Food stamps (EBT) can be accepted at any grocery store or convenience store that is approved by the US Department of Agriculture with a Food Stamp Permit. Vist the USDA’s website for qualifications and a application.

Once approved by the USDA, you will be issued a terminal identification number which will be used to identify your business in the transaction process. You will also need a Pin-Pad, for the customer to enter their EBT Number. The transaction is processed just like a debit-card transaction with the sale amount being debted from their balance.

Best of all these transactions are much cheaper that accepting credit cards, with a low transaction fee and no discount rate percentage being charged to the merchant. Most any terminal could be programmed to accept food stamps (EBT), including the Nurit 2085 which seems to be the most popular equipment for EBT Transactions.

Increase customer loyalty and repeat business by welcoming EBT Food Stamps !!! Perfect choice with your new merchant account.

Feel free to give me a call to discuss your Electronic Benefit Transfer needs.

MARK SANDS
http://www.usa-merchantaccount.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!