Aside from this being a personal issue to all, here are some key findings that affect you, the merchant. A key finding in this study showed that smart phone users were affected 33% more than non-users. This is primarily due to the fact that most users do not password protect their phones, do not update to new software versions when available, and store user ID’s and logins on the device. So be sure to do all of this especially if you are a merchant using a smart phone credit card processing application and device; theft of yours could affect more than just you.

Another dramatic increase was the fact that Identity theft, as a result of data breach, was up 67% from 2010. So be careful what you store on your personal computer but be extra careful if you are a merchant because you are responsible for all of your customers personal and financial data such as account numbers and credit card information; make sure it is encrypted and ensure your network is secure. Hire a PCI DSS professional. A breach of a merchants system is a catastrophic occurrence.

Here is some important advice to online merchants. Fifteen percent of people affected by identity theft claim they would avoid shopping on websites of smaller online merchants. This is due to the fact that they feel the size of the business is directly related to the level of security a merchant can afford. You need to be sure your online store is built with the consumer in mind with the primary focus being on their confidence in the security of their credit card data and their personal information. First and foremost, your secure payment gateway needs to be a reliable and reputable one. Do your homework and don’t cut corners here; security and reliability comes with a cost. Further there are many companies out there that do in depth analysis’s of merchants websites and background checks on the business to confirm security and legitimacy. Companies like TRUST e, Norton, and Site Lock are a few, and although expensive the ROI is well worth it.

Identity theft is a serious issue and will be a constant struggle as more and more information becomes readily available. Protect yourself and your family and, as a merchant, protect your clients.

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As a mobile merchant, with a limited budget, choosing the right shows is critical to your success. The sites listed above have been around for the long haul and contain a lot of useful information to assist you in making a decision. To top that off all of the staff at all of these companies are extremely friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help you, the merchant be a success. Check them out today!!

We hope you find this information useful. Let us know if we can help.

The post Artisans Merchants… want to expand your reach? appeared first on 1st National Payment Solutions.

We even offer advanced smartphone solutions that can scan bar codes, track inventory, and print receipts!

If you are considering a mobile credit card processing solution for your smartphone or tablet, here is some useful information for merchants.

Smartphone & Tablet Credit Card Processing

Credit Card Processing for smartphones and tablets is facilitated through downloading an application into the device and then connecting the device to a mag stripe credit card reader or placing it into a cradle which has the mag stripe credit card reader and a built in thermal receipt printer. The credit card is swiped through the reader, the cardholders signs the screen, and the information is communicated through the merchant’s wireless network of the smartphone  or tablet to a secure payment gateway for processing.  If both cases a receipt is emailed to the credit card or debit card holder, and printed on the thermal print device if applicable.  In many cases the same secure payment gateway can be attached to the merchants website for E-Commerce Internet Payment Processing.

The Advantages of Smartphone & Tablet Credit Card Processing

• Convenience – No longer is there the need to carry a phone and a credit card terminal.  This is an all in one solution.
• Inexpensive Start Up – Mag Stripe Credit Card Processing devices for smartphones & tablets are free.
• Payment Gateway – Secure Payment Gateway connects to merchants website for on line credit card processing
• Low Monthly Fees – No monthly gateway fee for wireless credit card processing.  Processes through your wireless carrier.

The Disadvantages of a Smartphone & Tablet Credit Card Processing

• Speed – Slow in comparison to wireless credit card terminal approvals via wireless data processing networks.
• Security – Newer technology.  Target for hackers and thieves.  Merchants must be aware of PCI DSS to be safe.
• Professionalism – Cardholders may be apprehensive make purchase especially if they do not get a printed receipt.
• Store & Forward – Not available.  If there is no coverage merchant cannot process the transaction.
• Limited Applications – Can only run standard retail credit card processing applications. Specialized Retail, Restaurant, Bar, Tip, Moto, E-Commerce, Check Guarantee, Gift & Loyalty, & EBT are not available.
• No Pin Debit – No Internal Pin Pad so merchant cannot take advantage of the processing of low cost Pin Based Debit Card Transactions.
• Not Future Proof – Device can on read mag stripe cards.  Cannot process EMV Smart Cards, Near Field Communication, Contactless, or Mobile Wallet
• DCC & MCP Capable – Multi Currency Processing & Dynamic Currency Conversion is not available.

Recommended Smartphone & Tablet Solutions

Click here to view all our Smartphone & Tablet Solutions!

The post Looking for a Smartphone or Tablet Credit Card Processing Solution? appeared first on 1st National Payment Solutions.

It’s important that you know because smaller merchants are a prime target for cyber criminals. Visa claims that although many merchants to attempt to keep their credit card processing data secure, most to not take the time nor spend the money to make their business network secure, leaving them susceptible to breach.

Having an unsecure business network along with credit card processing data that is not encrypted is a recipe for disaster. The most common places that merchants may be storing unencrypted credit card data include: outdated POS Software, backend payment application servers, attached & external storage devices, employee workstations, and web servers among others. Problems with improper credit card data occurs when merchants incorrectly install POS Software or are running older merchant account POS applications that are not PCI DSS compliant.

Another important fact is that many merchants are under the false impression that if they simply delete a file containing this sensitive credit card processing data that it is completely removed from their account and their computer. Unfortunately this is not the case. The only thing that the file delete does is remove it from the users account, but the sensitive merchant information is still stored on the system just waiting for a hacker to breach the firewall and gain access to this data.

Also be aware of this; once these criminals do breach the merchants firewall and discover this credit card data, their mission is far from complete. They will install malware that continues to search and feed them new information until it is discovered. This is a serious problem that merchants need to address . Talk to your network administrator and have her do an extensive search for unencrypted credit card data and complete an entire security scan of your network. If you want additional piece of mind, hire a Qualified Security Assessor to validate your adherence to PCI DSS.

As a merchant you are responsible for protecting your customers cardholder data and it is our responsibility to keep you informed and help you in any way we can.

The post Are you storing sensitive credit card data… without knowing? appeared first on 1st National Payment Solutions.

The VX 680 is a terrific example of a powerful Wireless Credit Card Terminal

If you are considering a mobile credit card processing solution here is some useful information for merchants regarding wireless credit card terminals.

Wireless Credit Card Machine

This is a credit card machine with built in thermal printer and a rechargeable battery. The terminal is connected to one of 2 wireless data networks either CDMA or GPRS. These units typically have all of the same feature of countertop credit card machines with the added advantage of being portable.

The Advantages of a Wireless Credit Card Machine

• Speed – Secure transaction approvals are instantaneous via communication to the extensive wireless data networks.
• Security- Proven, time tested, PCI DSS, and EMV Compliant card processing technologies.
• Professionalism- Process lightning fast transactions. Print professional receipts with coupons. Instill consumer confidence.
• Store & Forward- In the rare event of coverage issues, terminal stores credit card data to be uploaded later.
• Multiple Applications- Retail, Restaurant, Bar, Tip, Moto, E-Commerce, Check Guarantee, Gift & Loyalty, & EBT.
• Accept Pin Debit- Secure internal Pin Pad enables the processing of low cost Pin Based Debit Card Transactions.
• Ready for the Future- Reads Mag Stripe Cards, EMV Smart Cards, Near Field Communication, Contactless, Mobile Wallet
• DCC & MCP Capable- Multi Currency Processing & Dynamic Currency Conversion allows merchants to accept payments from cardholders in over 60 countries and to have the credit card transaction cost converted to that foreign currency for the merchant.

The Disadvantages of a Wireless Credit Card Machine

• Up Front Investment- Terminals Range from 3-7 Hundred dollars although free terminal placements and low cost lease financing is available for qualified merchants.
• Wireless Gateway Fee- There is a monthly fee to connect to the wireless data credit card processing networks. Approximately $15/month

Recommend Wireless Credit Card Terminals

Click here to view all our Wireless Terminals!

The post Need a Wireless Credit Card Machine? Here’s some useful information. appeared first on 1st National Payment Solutions.

As a business owner, its obvious the economy has had a detrimental effect on your revenues but there is a way you can actually increase your sales and take advantage of all of these government sponsored programs.  EBT, also known as Electronic Benefits Transfer, enables merchants to accept government benefits from potential customers. Food Stamp and Cash Benefits programs now issue funding to participants onto cards, much like a debit or a credit cards. While Food Stamp benefits used to apply only to the staples of sustenance, there are now hundreds of products that qualify for these programs and as a result it has opened the door to many different merchant types to participate in EBT acceptance.

Furthermore, Cash Benefits, can be used to purchase most any product and can also be used by the cardholder to get cash at an ATM or cash back from a merchant.  Government assistance programs are no longer applicable to certain demographics as the government has launched an extensive marketing campaign making it readily available for all through a seamless application process. For these reasons, a merchant not offering EBT services to their customers could be throwing thousands of dollars down the drain. Setting your credit card terminal or POS up for EBT cards is a simple process and can be easily added to your merchant account at no cost to you. For complete details on how you can take advantage of this program please visit our EBT Merchant Services page.

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  Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

  April 16, 2013

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First of all, there are currently ten states in the union that have legislation making it illegal for merchants to charge cardholders a surcharge for a debit or credit card payment. These states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. Additionally, there are 4 other states that have similar legislation pending including Illinois, Hawaii, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Others are also considering prohibition of the credit card processing surcharge. Due to this fact it is highly recommended that any merchant considering the surcharge on their credit card transaction contact their state government office to determine if it is in fact legal, otherwise you might be subject to some hefty fines.

Once you’ve done that you now have to abide by all of the criteria a merchant must follow in order to charge these additional credit card processing fees. To begin with, the surcharge cannot exceed 4% of your previous quarters processing fees as indicated on your merchant statements. Secondly, the merchant must have notifications of this surcharge at all points of entry to their establishment and at the point of sale. Finally, prior to implementing a credit card process surcharge, merchants must give Visa and Master Card 30 days advance notice.

One final point regarding this practice; Implementing a credit card processing surcharge might prompt a bad reaction from a valued client and result in lost business, especially if the merchant down the block is not charging one. Most large retailers are aware of this fact and simply incorporating the merchant fees into the pricing of their products as they have always done.

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Currently, what supporters of the bill call one the largest tax loopholes in our tax code, Internet E-Commerce merchants only have to collect sales tax from a customer if that customer resides in a state where the merchant has a physical presence. This puts an end to that as it is designed “To restore States’ sovereign rights to enforce state and local sales and use tax, and for other purposes.

This bill requires that states simplify their tax codes for these type of merchants, this would be a very arduous task as there are over 9,600 separate taxing jurisdictions nationally. Opponents to the bill claim, among other things, that it would be extremely complicated and inefficient to put in place, as out of state, on line or catalog merchants would basically have to interrogate their clients to determine the particular jurisdiction and subsequent rate that would apply. They also claim the bill would actually give an unfair advantage to brick and mortar, retail merchants.

Although this bill has not yet passed the House Of Representatives and is an amendment to the 2013 budget which we still do not have, there is Bi-Partisan support and the states are pushing hard for the right to tax out of state merchants.

A copy of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 can be found the website of bill sponsor Senator Mike Enzi at http://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/sponsored-legislation . You may also view a copy of a petition to congress by those merchants and citizens who oppose this bill at http://www.rstreet.org/policy-brief/an-open-letter-to-the-united-states-congress-oppose-the-marketplace-fairness-act/ .

The post The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 appeared first on 1st National Payment Solutions.

It has been a costly, cumbersome, time consuming and dynamic undertaking. Due to the vast amount of information available and new technologically advanced processing equipment and applications their task is a daunting one. The average merchant account provider and credit card processor receives about 10,000 hack attempts a day. Mobile payment technologies have opened up a whole new arena for criminals to breach security and steal valuable credit card information. Merchants have not been very excited about all of the new regulations and requirements as it has increased their cost but the alternative could be far worse as both, they and the processors, are collectively responsible for information theft and can be subject to severe fines if negligent. Furthermore ignorance to this problem would simply result in increased breaches and theft and cause card processing cost to rise exponentially as a result.

The PCI Security Standards Council recently published PCI Mobile Payment Acceptance Security Guidelines for merchants and end users. Any merchant currently processing with or considering any type of mobile payment system should read to be fully aware of all of the risks and precautions that can be taken and to ensure that a particular terminal, smart phone or tablet device or application is, in fact, secure and compliant. These guidelines can be found at www.pcisecuritystandards.org/security_standards/documents.php.

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The NAC asks MasterCard to delay the date required for EMV compliance

Even though EMV standards have been adopted across the globe, here in the United States it sometimes seems like we are just getting started. But with various deadlines approaching, we are starting to note an increase in chatter about various target dates. The following is an article about the National ATM Council (NAC) regarding the liability shift from Maestro (a debit card service owned by MasterCard). Specifically, there is concern and confusion regarding which of the deadline dates apply, .e.g April 2013 or October 2016. It is worth noting that Visa has set a target compliance date of October 2017 for ATM Manufacturers to embrace the EMV standard.

One of the issues is in regard to “AID” which is a byproduct of the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. AID is an application identifier used for financial transactions where the article notes there is no universal method of implementation. ATM Manufacturers argue that the shift in liability isn’t really possible until there is a universal standard for AID.

Here’s the link to the full story:

http://www.finextra.com/News/Announcement.aspx?pressreleaseid=48529

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