Business merchant services allow you to easily accept credit card payments and checks whether at a retail location, on your website, or even via your mobile phone. If you sell services or products, you’ll need merchant account solutions to help you run your business.
Category: AVP merchant solutions info
2014: The Year of the Breach?
We certainly hope not. But the FBI isn’t so sure. A recent Washington Post article states that “nearly two dozen companies have been hacked in cases similar to the Target breach and more almost certainly will fall victim in the months ahead, the FBI recently warned retailers,” this “according to an official who was not authorized to speak publicly.”
More Businesses Continue to Turn to Mobile Phone Credit Card Processing
With cell phone credit card readers, your business can enjoy increased profits and flexibility. Mobile use continues to increase across the board; from internet surfing to shopping and selling. Yes, selling. With mobile phone credit card processing, you can complete business transactions on the go, from anywhere. You can carry the power of a retail location right in your pocket. You can even use them at your retail location, as many businesses now are.
Benefits of a Merchant Account for Website
If you have a website that you sell goods or services from, a merchant account for website lets you securely accept credit cards 24 hours a day, 7 day a week. This allows your customers to easily make a transaction anytime. Once set up, it’s completely hands-free for you so customers can make purchases even if you are sleeping or away on vacation. You will both receive an email notification of the transaction immediately.
The Yin and Yang of It: Retailers Push for Secure Cards, Target Already Tried Them
The news of course, in the wake of the most infamous consumer data breach yet, just gets newsier. Some reports indicate that information going back as far as ten years, on Target customers, could have been pilfered in the breach. One couple near the U.S. / Mexican border was arrested after having a cache of false credit cards in their possession, made from what appears to be a fraction of the stolen data.
Claws and Roars: Target, Neiman-Marcus, and Beyond
Yes, there’s more to report on the Target Breach and its fallout. We know, as Pymnts.com columinist Karen Webster wrote, that “The Target data breach is old news to most people by now, but the ’terrible roars’ unleashed by those responsible for this breach will be heard throughout the payments industry for years to come. And, the marks left by the ‘terrible claws’ on the future of retail payments and consumer payment habits may in fact become indelible.”
What Is a Virtual Merchant Account?
A virtual merchant account allows you to enter sales online from wherever you have an internet connection. Whether you are a virtual merchant or a brick and mortar business, this type of account can benefit you. While a virtual merchant usually processes many or all of their orders via their website, therefore requiring a way to process payments, a brick and mortar business who may not offer the option to place orders online benefits from a virtual merchant account in ways that include:
The Science of Credit Card Fraud
We take a brief break from the general cheeriness of our holiday reportage. If you haven’t seen it, PBS’ “Nova” — the science reporting show — had an article on their website from one of their contributors about how his identity was hacked, and used in an attempt to run up credit card charges.
First Data’s Data Points to Stronger Holiday Season
An analysis from the First Data Corporation shows a discernible uptick in consumer spending in the period heading right into the holiday season — namely, the month of October. For that four-week period, their “SpendTrend” analysis tracked “same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.”
