Archive for the ‘Tips & Advise’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

iPhone Scam Alert

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Dear Friends and Merchants:
Just a quick reminder to those of you who use iPhones and Smartphones–and we know there are many of you out there judging from the number of you who use your Smartphone devices for mobile credit card processing.
Be aware that there is an on-going ‘phishing’ campaign impersonating Apple.com. The scamsters attempt to trick users into submitting sensitive device information, with the intent to use the data in a countless number of fraudulent variations.

Our thanks to our merchant customer, friend, and service provider, Steve Shelby of Farvision Networks. for passing this tip onto us.  Steve does an excellent job of servicing and maintaining our computer equipment and helping us maintain your
privacy and the integrity of our database with timely information such as this.  If your computer system could benefit from professional expertise such as this, contact Steve at Farvisoin Networks at 954.272.8267 or email
www.farvision-networks.com

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Credit Card Processing, Data security, Debit Card Processing, Healthcare, Merchant Accounts, Processing Equipment, Tips & Advise, Useful Business Services, eCommerce | No Comments »

New Credit Card Laws Take Effect Feb. 22, 2010

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act (aka Credit CARD Act) of 2009 passed by Congress take effect on February 22.   These new laws are sure to affect consumers and credit card companies alike, for better or worse.  Here are the highlights:

GRACE PERIODS–Card issuers must provide minimum 21 days after statement issue date for cardholders to pay their bill, up from the current legal requirement of 14 days.  Hopefully this will eliminate many of the exhorbitant $39 or more “late fees” issuers have been raking in.

INTEREST RATES–Issuers must notify cardholders of increases in interest rates minimum 45 days before the new rate goes into effect.  The new law also limits the powers of creditors to increase rates and impose fees.

MINIMUM PAYMENTS–Cardholders will be required to make higher minimum payments.  However, the new law prevents credit card companies from raising minimum payments at any given time by more han 100 percent–no more having rates go from 3% to 12% with or without cause overnight.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Credit Card Processing, Merchant Accounts, Tips & Advise | No Comments »

New Paypal App for Blackberry Smartphone

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Paypal’s Send Money app is now available for Blackberry Smart Phones.  With the new application,  Blackberry users are able to send money to virtually anyone listed in their address book anywhere in the world , as well as access recent activity and account balances.

The new application is available for free at Blackberry App World http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/appworld.

For learn more about Paypal and apply for a free discounted payment processing accounts, go to http://www.merchantservices-help.com/paypal.html

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Tips & Advise, Useful Business Services | No Comments »

New Secure Payment Application for Google®’s Android™

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Announcing the first secure mobile payment application for Google®‘s Android™ smartphones.  This application, available through select distributors including Automated Merchant Solutions, Inc.(amsapcs@juno.com) enables Android™-powered mobile phones to become card payment acceptance devices.  With T-Mobile® offering G1™ and myTouch™ and Sprint® offering HTC Hero™ Android™ smart phones, and Verizon Wireless® entering the market, Android is reshaping the mobile phone industry.GoogleAndroid

This state-of-the-art payment software and gateway solution is supported by all major credit card processors.  It allows merchants seamless integration with their existing merchant account provider, enabling back-office systems integration to accounting applications such as QuickBooks.  With it’s touch screen interface, this application enables merchants to quickly and easily securely accept credit and debit card transactions at the point-of-sale anytime, anywhere.  The software supports optional hardware such as a Bluetooth printer with integrated card reader, which results in merchants paying the lowest possible ‘swiped’ crdit card processing rates.  Receipts can also be printed on the spot, while electronic signature capture available on many processing networks eliminates the requirement for merchants to retain paper copies of signed receipts.

For details and pricing, email amspcs@juno.com or call 1-877-689-1691.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Accepting Checks Safely, Credit Card Processing, Data security, Debit Card Processing, Healthcare, Merchant Accounts, Processing Equipment, Tips & Advise, Useful Business Services | No Comments »

Gift Card Rule Changes

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Lost in the hoopla of the Credit Card Reform Bill are  new reform rules targeting Gift Cards as well.  While the new rules for Credit Cards are scheduled to take effect February 1, 2010, the new Gift Card Rules are scheduled to take effect in August 2010.

New gift card regulations take direct aim at perceived abuses by gift card issuers, such as:

Fee Restrictions, which control the conditions under which monthly fee inactivity charges may be levied.

Longer Expiration Dates, providing consumers with much longer windows in which to use their gift cards before the card expires and the value is lost.

Transrparency.   Terms and conditions will have to be more clearly spelled out, easier to understand, and easier to find.

Refunds. Certain rules make it easier for some states to force companies to return money for unused expired cards.

Stiff penalties await those gift card issuers who, in the future, fail to abide by the new rules.

It is important to note that these new gift card rules do NOT apply to phone cards, “Rewards” cards, and gift cards used at specific events and functions such as concerts, among other possible exceptions.

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in Credit Card Processing, Merchant Accounts, Tips & Advise, Useful Business Services | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Tell a friend!

Know someone who would like to know about this page?

Email this link!