Merchant Account Blog & Credit Card Processing Blog

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Merchant Account Rates - Credit Card Processing Rates

Merchant account rates and fees can vary from processor to processor. Unerstanding rates are key to finding the best overall merchant account rate for your business. We will look at each variable when searching for the best credit card processing rates.

Swiped Credit Card Rates: Credit card transactions which are “Swiped” through a credit card machine are usually fall around 1.69% - 1.79% depending on the processor. These levels usually bundel both Signatute Debt Transactions and Credit Card Transactions branded with either Visa or Mastercard Logos.

Keyed Credit Card Rates: Transactions where the customers card is not present and the card number is “Keyed” into credit card processing software or ecommerce merchant account where the customer manually inputs credit card information, the rate usually falls around 2.39% - 2.49% keyed.

Mid Qualified Rates: These rates are assessments by Visa & Mastercard and will vary by processors. Usually this tier is for Rewards Cards, branded either Visa or Mastercard.

Non-Quailified Rates: Again, these are assessments by Visa & Mastercard and do vary bt processor. This tier is for International Cards, Business Cards, Corporate Cards, Government Cards, and any keyed transaction that is un-qualified or lacks AVS Fraud Controls. Discount rate tier regulations.

Pin-Based Debt Transactions: These retail transactions require a Pin Number Authorization and usually price at $0.35 + 0.75% of the dollar amount. A PCI-Compliant pin-pad is required and is not
available for phone-order or ecommerce transactions.

Split Signature Debt / Credit Card Rates:  These rates are split into two catagories, seperating Signature Debit and Credit Card transactions. Usually priced at 1.39% Signature Debit and 1.89% Credit Card. Be careful here, as if your business accepts mostly credit cards, you will pay more.

Transaction Fee: Transaction fee’s cover the transmission cost and usually price between $0.20 and $0.30 depending on your processor and transaction processing methood. May include end-of-day batching of the day’s transactions for payment to your account.

Statement Fee: Each month you receive a monthly merchant account statement of transactions forr the previous month and usually prices between $10-$12 per month.

Minimum Fee: This fee is charged to Low-Volume Business doing less than $25 Month in discount rates fees. Often used to off-set free equipment placements to low-volume businesses.

Annual Fee: Merchant’s are usually charged a annual fee on the aniversry of their account. Fee will vary and can usually be waived.

Chargeback Fee: Customer disputes that result in a Chargeback are charged between $25-$35 per instance. Chargeback Prevention is needed as your merchant account can be “Closed” for excessive chargebacks.

Application Fee: This fee has pretty much disappeared, industry-wide.

If you are looking to SAVE MONEY on your credit card processing, please give me a call imediately.

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

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The Up Comming Recession - Get Prepared !!!!!!!!!

Although it looks like the credit markets may be stablizing, the Federal Reserve lowered the rates on Wednesday, and have pumped billions into the banks to lend, the bottom line in the consumer is not spending. The official “Recession” has not been called yet, but the GDP is down to levels not seen since 2001 and short of any more bank failures, the next big scare will be the Official Recession.

Christmas spending is projected to be light and the news should be filled with lay-offs and job cuts. The seasonal economic slow down in January/February 2009 will also make things rather hard to swallow.

Saving money on credit card processing rates and fee’s has never been more important. Business owners are currently rushing to cut-cost and prepare for the slow months ahead. Your merchant account statements are a great place to look for savings. Many times these statements are simply filed away and never looked at. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars, if not thousands on your credit card processing costs. Why pay more ????

We can beat any rate on credit card processing. We currently have a special program for merchants processing over $30,000 per month. This program will allow special pricing that in the past was only offered to large corporations, like Wal-Mart. Regardless of the size of your business, we can help.

Please grab your statements immediately and give me a call.

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

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Business Survival In A Slowing Economy

The key to survival in this slowing economy is to cut your cost’s. Reduction’s in your overhead will stabilize your bottom line profit’s and allow you to ride out this storm. Slowing top-line sales are sure to be felt by most small business, as consumer spending slow’s.

Credit Card Processing Rates

The first place merchants can cut-cost’s is in their credit card transaction costs. Merchant account fee’s can vary from merchant to merchant and saving’s can usually be found for any merchant. Our model has always been to save the merchant money, while providing superior service. Currently we are prepared to beat any rate you are currently paying on an existing merchant account, guaranteed. We also offer an incentive program for high volume merchant accounts to save thousands.

Grab your current processing statements and give me a call to discuss your needs.

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

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Getting the best rate on credit card processing is most important for any business with a mercant account. Many merchants were never really trained properly and small mistakes could be costing them unnecessary costs. First of all, transactions must be batched or setteled out each evening or you run the risk of all those transactions being surcharged as Non-Qualified transactions by Visa or Mastercard. Be sure that you are closing all batches within 24 Hours to avoid the penalty.

Next, if you are “Keying” a card number rather than “Swiping” it, Visa & Mastercard require that AVS Information be attempted and passed-through with the transaction data. This includes the “Street Number” and “Zip Code” of the customer, along with the “CVV2″ code on the back of the credit card. If this information is Not Attemped, the transaction will be surcharged as a Non-Quailified transcation by Visa or Mastercard. Aside from avoiding a surcharge, this information will assist merchants in reducing the risk of an expensive chargeback and the fees associated with them.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COSTS:

If you are looking to reduce your overall cost on credit card processing, please grab you current processing statements and give me a call. We can do a line-by-line comparsion and save you hundreds if not thousands, on your current credit card processing costs.

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

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