Accept cards using i-Phone

Connected Pay offers flexibility to accept credit cards how you want.  If you own a business that is on the go, such as a contractor, artist, photographer, caterer, pet groomer, or home party sales, Payware Mobile might be your ideal method of acceptance.  It is easy to accept credit cards with your cell phone.  Connected Pay supports most Veriphone products.  If you don't have an i-Phone, take a look to see if your phone is supported.  Alternate handheld card readers.

The Simplicity And Flexibility Merchants Want

•       Simply slide on the card encryption sleeve to iPhone and start accepting credit card and signature-based debit card transactions

•       Works in conjunction with VeriFone’s hosted gateway service, PAYware Connect

•       Includes integrated capacitive stylus to allow for signature capture

•       Emails receipts to customers with customized layouts and fields to highlight special promotions

•       Geo-tagging with latitude and longitude points identifies transaction location to help with dispute resolution

•       View transaction history via iPhone or via the gateway portal

The Secure Way To Accept Payments On An iPhone

•       Secures customer data and significantly reduces liability risks for merchants

•       Provides end-to-end security with VeriShield Protect from the moment a card is swiped so sensitive, unencrypted cardholder data never enters iPhone

•       Lets account administrators activate, manage and even deactivate gateway access of iPhones that are lost or stolen

•       PA-DSS approved payment application

The Savings Merchants Demand

•       Saves time and reduces transaction fees with swiped, card present transactions

•       Eliminates manual entry errors and reduces deposit slips and manual receipts

•       Enables merchants to efficiently manage their business with extensive reporting via the gateway portal – such as transaction detail, post-settlement and transaction search 

What is PCI

Q: What is PCI?

When most people hear PCI they think of the PCI-DSS Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standards.

Below is a video produced by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Council.  Entertaining and informative.

Top security practices (web browsing)

When our customer service team trains our client's staff they notice vulnerabilities in the organization's IT environment.  Many of these organizations are smaller and don't think they are at risk, however, they are more at risk by failing to implement simple and often free practices into their daily work routine.  

Below is a listing of general recommendations our customer service team has provided:

• Set your anti-virus and anti-spyware software to auto-update. 
• Use an Internet firewall (hardware or software). 
• Don't click pop-ups and never download files from websites you don't trust. 
• When making online transactions, be sure web addresses begin with https (not http) and look for a key or padlock icon in your browser window. 
• Upgrade your Internet browser. Newer browser versions support advanced security features, such as phishing site detection and extended security certificates. 
• Don't surf to other sites while you're visiting a secure site; finish your work within the secure site, sign out and close your browser before you move on.

Connected Pay's team of CPA's can help prevent security issues you may encounter.  For more information on PCI Security Standards, or best practices for web browsing, click Operations Consulting.    

Since Jan 2010, we have shown merchants +$294,000 in savings on their processing fees compared to their previous vendor.  We provide merchant accounts, terminals, gateways, virtual terminals, and merchant account pricing negotiations.  Check out our testimonials from our happy clients!

 

Connected Pay and the BBB

Connected Pay recently became accredited with the Better Business Bureau.  This is exciting as we have reached our 1.5 yr mark!


Check out our report:
http://www.bbb.org/kansas-city/business-reviews/payment-processing-service/connected-pay-in-kansas-city-mo-99154712#complaint


If you have any comments please contact:
BBB of Greater Kansas City
8080 Ward Parkway, Suite 401
Kansas City, MO 64114

Phone 816-421-7800
Fax 816-472-5442

Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30AM to 4:30PM
(Inquiry Lines Open Monday-Friday 9AM to 4PM)

Small Business Security - Best Practices

So you are a small business.  You are busy doing numerous tasks and don't have time for everything, but fail to recognize the importance of the security measures below and you could lose everything. Here are some things to think about in regards to that valuable laptop and technology you use everyday and take for granted.  

BEST PRACTICES

No single set of rules will protect every business, but thoughtful owners and managers take steps like these:

Close security gaps: Laptops travel, and contractors and visitors connect to your network. Protect network endpoints, not just perimeter.

Integrate defenses: Combine antivirus, firewall, intrusion detection, and vulnerability management at endpoints – with encryption if they travel.

Patch software: Threats evolve – close vulnerabilities by quickly applying updates you recover from Microsoft and other software providers.

Update virus definitions: Threats evolve – make sure your antivirus software recognizes them, by keeping your virus definitions up to date.

Alert employees: Warn them about the risks of attachments and links in unexpected email, and downloaded software before it is scanned for viruses.

Don’t invite trouble: File-sharing programs and free downloads may install malicious code automatically. Stop them with training, policies, and software.

Strengthen passwords: Require passwords that mix letters and numbers – never names or dictionary words – and change them often.

Schedule backups: Implement and enforce backup schedules – and automate the process as much as possible.

Back up systems, too: Backups are only as good as your ability to use the information you recover, so back up systems and applications as well as files.

Keep backups offsite: Fire, flood, vandalism, and sabotage are facts. Be sure files and systems can survive loss of your facility, or even a regional disaster.

Test backups: Don’t wait until data recovery to discover a resource, process, or technical shortcoming – test the entire backup and recovery cycle.

Get help: Find a local IT partner who understands and can help with both your business and technical requirements, and whom you trust.

Many of these security features take some time to set up, but can be automated once established.  Set a calendar appointment or designate a partner or employee to take care of those items that need some human judgement.    

Thanks to Symantec for these great security measures.  

Update on CC processing rules

I. Executive Summary:

This posting examines the rules that govern merchant payment acceptance in regards to discounts and Surcharges.  Discounts for paying cash are allowed.  Surcharges are prohibited in 10 US States.  Visa and MasterCard discourage merchants from charging a surcharge.

II. Discounts:

1.    Visa Rules

a.    6.2 Visa merchants may not refuse to accept a Visa product that is properly presented for payment, for example, on the basis that the card is foreign-issued2, or co-branded with the merchant’s competitor's mark. Merchants may steer customers to an alternative method of payment, such as providing discounts for cash, but may not do so in a confusing manner that denies consumer choice. Merchants may also consider whether present circumstances create undue risk, for example if the sale involves high-value electronics, but the card signature panel is not signed, and the cardholder does not have any other identification.

b.    6.3 Visa merchants agree to accept Visa cards for payment of goods or services without charging any amount over the advertised price as a condition of Visa card acceptance, unless local law requires that merchants be permitted to engage in such practice.

Source: http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/visa-international-operating-regulations-core.pdf

2.     MasterCard Rules:

a.     A merchant must not directly or indirectly require any Cardholder to pay a surcharge or any part of any Merchant discount or an contemporaneous finance charge in connection with a Transaction.  A merchant may provide a discount its customers for cash payments.  A merchant is permitted to charge a fee (such as a bona fide commission, postage, expedited service or convenience fees, and the like) if the fee is imposed on all like transactions regardless of the form of payment used, or as the Corporation has expressly permitted in writing.  For purposes of this Rule

                                          i.    A surcharge is any fee charged in connection with a transaction that is not charged is another payment method is used.

                                         ii.    The Merchant discount is any fee a Merchant pays to an Acquirer so that the Acquirer will acquire the Transactions of the Merchant.

Source:  http://www.mastercard.com/us/merchant/support/rules.html

III. Surcharge Laws:

1.    10 States with No Surcharge Laws: In 10 states it is prohibited by law for retailers to charge consumers a fee for using a credit card (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas). Consumers who are subjected to checkout fees in states where they are protected by law may report the retailer to their state attorney general's office.

·         California

·         Colorado

·         Connecticut

·         Florida

·         Kansas

·         Maine

·         Massachusetts

·         New York

·         Oklahoma

·         Texas

Source:  http://usa.visa.com/merchants/operations/checkoutfees.html#10states

Financial Reform Passes...Now what

Updates on the financial reform bill:

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed the vigorously debated and much scrutinized Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 into law. For the payments industry, the law's key component is the Durbin Amendment, which, among other provisions, gives the Federal Reserve the power to cap interchange rates on debit card purchases at a level commensurate with the costs of processing those transactions.

Yet a number of questions loom about how, precisely, the amendment's different provisions will be defined and what the ramifications of its enforcement will be.

In her opening address at the Midwest Acquirers Association meeting held in Schaumburg, Ill., from July 21 to 23, Electronic Transactions Association President Holli Targan said the Fed isn't happy that this regulatory task has been foisted upon it because it doesn't know how the industry works.

Among the amendment's components is the stipulation that the Fed cap debit interchange at a level that's "reasonable and proportional" to the processing costs incurred by issuing banks, including costs that go toward fraud management. The cap will apply only to debit cards issued by banks with more than $10 billion in assets.

The law also requires that merchants be connected to at least two networks for debit processing, allowing them to route each debit purchase to the one with the lower interchange rate. Additionally, the law allows merchants to set minimum purchase amounts of up to $10 for the use of payment cards and to offer discounts to customers who use certain payment types over others, for example, cash instead of credit or debit, and debit instead of credit.

The new rules are scheduled to take effect 12 months after the bill's passage, which puts them on track for implementation in July 2011.    From http://www.greensheet.com

Where did credit cards come from?

Did you ever wonder, "When did credit cards start and who was the first?"

Well sit back and ConnectedPay will tell you a little story.

The Origin of Payment Cards 
The first payment card can be traced back to the local “Charg-It” card introduced by John Biggins in his Brooklyn neighborhood in 1946, the Franklin National Bank in New York formalized the practice by introducing the first bank-issued credit card in 1951. Over the next decade, several banks emerged in major cities to work with customer merchants to accept payment cards. However, this system limited consumers’ use of payment cards to an area restricted by the regional banks’ merchant customers.

The concept of a wider payment network was born in the mid-1960s when the InterBank Card Association (now MasterCard Worldwide) brought consistency to credit cards. InterBank developed payment network systems to process the exchange of funds between merchants and cardholders, standardized the billing process, and established rules and procedures to reduce fraud and other abuses.

The first debit transaction, using an automatic teller machine (ATM) card and personal identification number (PIN) to make a purchase at the point of sale (POS), occurred in the 1980s, and the first debit transaction authorized by a signature rather than a PIN was processed in 1988.

This history lesson compliments of MasterCard Worldwide

FAQ: What is cloud computing?

FAQ: What is cloud computing?

According to Carolyn Duffy Marsan, NetworkWorld

"Cloud computing refers to IT services that are purchased and delivered on demand over a network, either the public Internet or a private IP-based network. Cloud computing services are powered by highly virtualized processing and storage systems in data centers that are made available via a Web interface to remote users."

Cloud computing offers a business several advantages – including faster set-up, easier scalability and no capital expenditures for hardware and software.  This is an attractive option for companies wishing minimize cash outflows.  Some examples of cloud computing are Google Apps, Salesforce.com, and ConnectedPay.com.  These services allow businesses to have the benefits of large network without the required capital investment, IT staff, and development time required to maintain the desired services.  Google Apps allows users to share and edit basic office software tools over the internet.  Salesforce.com offers a Customer Relationship Management suite that can be accessed by sales staff from home.  ConnectedPay.com helps businesses accept online credit card payments for services rendered 24/7 even if the business isn't on the web.

Each of these services is dedicated to making business more efficient by providing their subscribers with powerful IT tools at a low cost.  Cloud computing goes back to the term "re-inventing the wheel".  Why should a business spend loads of money to create a static, in-house version of a service that is accessible anywhere there is an internet connection.  Since hundreds/thousands of independent businesses are using the services, each service provider continues to develop more and more features which makes the product even more desirable.

More governmental regulation slated

Per the Electronic Transactions Association: Senate Adopts Interchange Amendment

Despite success in getting the U.S. Senate to require 60 votes for passage, the Durbin  interchange amendment to the financial reform bill was adopted by a 64-33 margin Thursday night. Sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), the measure gives the Federal Reserve authority to regulate interchange fees on debit transactions, using a "reasonable and proportional" standard that gives the Fed plenty of room for interpretation. The amendment also allows retailers to use discounts to steer consumers to networks charging lower fees, to establish minimums and maximums for credit card purchases, and to offer cash discounts. If the Senate, as appears likely, passes the financial reform measure, it will have to be reconciled with a House version that does not include the Durbin provision. ETA Chief Executive Officer Carla Balakgie said, in a statement , that the association and its members were "disappointed" by the vote and "very concerned about the impact it will have on many types of businesses in the electronic payments chain." Connected Pay Q and A: Q: How will my business be affected by the Fed changing/influencing rates? A: Connected Pay clients do not need to worry about renegotiating rates as our rates move with interchange.  You can feel comfortable knowing that as soon as the card networks adjust debit interchange lower, your rates will automatically move based on the Interchange + cost structure. Those merchants who are using the Connected Pay system with their old processor should consider discussing their rates with Connected Pay to ensure they receive the benefit of the decreased interchange rates. Q: What is the real life impact on my business of the financial reform? A: Connected Pay, in general, believes businesses will not be affected by the passage of this bill.  Consumers may feel an impact of not being able to purchase certain goods due to a merchant requiring a specific dollar threshold to be met before a transaction can be processed.  However, the majority of merchants know that if the consumer receives a positive experience through payment convenience, the merchant will benefit from the consumer's repeat business and most important, become a referral source for the merchant.

Get PCI Compliant by July 1, 2010

According to Visa, merchants, service providers and their agents are required to use payment applications that support the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), by July 1, 2010 in an effort to mitigate emerging security risks.


Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.org noted more than 234 million records with sensitive information have been
breached since January 2005.


DON'T WAIT UNTIL JULY 1, 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Becoming PCI compliant shouldn't be a burden.  Click here for the self assessment questionnaire.


If you want Connected Pay to do the work, we offer a product called CertifyPCI™.  This product was designed specifically to streamline the PCI Certification process in an effort to help merchants easily achieve a higher level of security. CertifyPCI™ is an automated web based process to PCI certify qualified merchants in minutes. Innovative Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) selection procedure to make sure the appropriate document is chosen for merchants.


After all of the questions have been correctly answered, the merchant will be able to generate a pdf that attests to their certification.

They can also place a seal on their web page that attests to their PCI Certification. 

When consumers click on the seal, the following image is presented:

Additionally, the Customer Vault on the gateway offered by Connected Pay can help make your organization PCI compliant if you are storing card data on internet facing IP addresses.


Contact Connected Pay today to take advantage of our quick and easy PCI Certification tools.


Contact Us.  Services.

Client Spotlight - Faulkner's Ranch

Connected Pay picked up an interesting client yesterday. Faulkner's Ranch. They host Corporate events, such as company picnics and team building; Weddings; Birthdays; Pony Programs; and a they have a huge pumpkin patch. Look forward to this fall when Benjamin Ranch becomes HAUNTED!

Faulkner's Ranch is located at:
10600 Raytown Rd. Kansas City, MO 64134
816-761-5055

Faulkner's Ranch

www.faulknersranch.com

For the past 25 years, Kansas City’s legendary Benjamin Ranch has been a labor of love for the entire Faulkner Family. Keeping Kansas City’s old western “Cowtown” tradition alive is a life-long mission in the Faulkner Family beginning in 1955 with “Faulkner’s Western 

Why Have a Practice Web Page?

From by LARRY EMMOTT - Emmott on Technology

"Web pages are not just about attracting new patients.

Even more important is a major trend toward using web pages for a lot more than basic contact information. For example; recently I was having trouble setting up a new feature on my cell phone. I could have tried to find the owners manual. I could have taken it into the store where I bought it. I could have asked a friend how to do it. I could have phoned an 800 number and waited on hold. I could have done many things to solve my problem. However what I did do was go to the Internet.

I googled the companies web page, I located my phone model and opened up complete instructions on how to take care of my problem. In just a few minutes it was done. While I was on the web page, I could have chosen several new ring tones, ordered some accessories or checked my account balance.

A practice web page is not just an electronic yellow pages ad. A web page should provide service for existing customers as well as attracting new patients."

Examples of services for existing patients are allowing for patients to make payments online, appointment reminders, and refer a friend links.

Examples of services for new patients are electronic forms, service offering, financing methods, and doctor/staff profiles.

Interchange updated for Visa and Mastercard

Merchants may have noticed on their statements a notification stating that the card associations were adjusting their rates. 


For merchants processing with Connected Pay's interchange plus pricing, in general their rates will not be affected.  Connected Pay's merchant base interchange fees were unchanged from the October 2009 rates.  


Interchange Rates:
Visa - http://usa.visa.com/merchants/operations/interchange_rates.html
MasterCard - http://www.mastercard.com/us/merchant/support/interchange_rates.html




Many card providers offering a tiered structure (Qualified, Mid Qualified, Non Qualified) use the card association adjustment to increase possessing fees.  Merchants with a tiered pricing structure should consider negotiating with their current processor to get to an interchange plus structure, such as the one Connected Pay offers.

For more information on Connected Pay click on the links below:

Sign up today.     Contact Us.      Services.     Questions?

Good News for Small Ticket Merchants

There is big news for merchants that process large volumes of small dollar transactions. Interchange rates are set by the big names in the credit card industry (Visa, Mastercard, etc.). These rates are the largest component of fees paid by merchants who accept credit cards. Effective October 2010, most merchants will be eligible to qualify for CPS/Small Ticket program if the majority of their transactions are under $15. This will result in a decrease of interchange fees paid. The new rates will be 1.65% + $0.04 for credit transactions and 1.55% + $0.04 for debit transactions. There is an increase in the percentage and a decrease in the cents per transactions. If a merchant tends to have a high volume of small dollar transactions, Connected Pay recommends increasing the percentage per transaction and lowering the cents per transaction. This announcement by Visa is exciting news for Small Ticket merchants. 

Wireless Credit Card Acceptance

Connected Pay's goal is to keep our clients up-to-date and competitive with payment solutions, to help our clients' customers make hassle free, secure online payments and to provide top client service.


Our newest product offering, the Way5000, from Way Systems.  This wireless unit looks like the old Nokia phones that were popular back in 2003.  Its simple design and easy to use features make it a popular product for mobile merchants who sell their goods while out and about.  Wireless credit card processing is growing in popularity with service providers who perform services at a client site.  Examples include plumbers, landscape contractors, car detailers, HVAC contractors, and small contractors.  

For those individuals that desire to process cards on their smart phone, Connected Pay's gateway partnership works with Porcess Away.  These product offerings are Connected Pay's commitment to keep our client's up-to-date with technology and to provide payment flexibility for our clients' customers.

As a one stop shop for credit card processing, Connected Pay offers a customized virtual terminal interface, merchant accounts and gateway services. We have done the research so you don't have to.  

For more information click on the links below:

Sign up today.     Contact Us.      Services.     Questions?

Emmott on Technology - Connected Pay

Connected Pay had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Larry Emmott at the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference. 

Dr. Emmott is the leading dental high tech authority in the country.  His knowledge and expertise are so greatly valued, he will be speaking or attending an event near you.  Larry Emmott Speaking schedule 2010.

His discussion topics range from:

• Computers in the Dental Office
• The Paperless Office
• Digital Radiography
• High Tech Infrastructure
• Using the Internet
• Advanced Products

If you are not able to attend one of the events, and you will be sad, Dr. Emmott has several technology guides available.  Technology Guides Link.
Additionally, Dr. Emmott regularly updates his blog with valuable information.  
Emmott on Technology Blog.

Were you aware most patients want to make online payments?  In fact 40% of them really would prefer to make online payments. 


Dr. Emmott stopped by the booth only a few days after he had written his "Take Online Payments" blog post.  Suppliers, such as Connected Pay have also noted patients desire to pay online and have developed turnkey solutions to leverage the use of the internet.

Take Online Payments

Below is a great and informative article written by Dr. Larry Emmott.

Take Online Payments

UMKC Dental Convention

Staff from Connected Pay attended the UMKC Midwest Dental Conference over the weekend.  


Topics of interest to Dentists and Office Managers were credit card processing, merchant services, online payments, collections, virtual terminals, and payment solutions.  Additionally, dental practitioners like the idea of receiving payments when the office was closed.  Many dental practitioners work 4 days a week and the ability to leverage the internet to accept payments twenty four hours a day is attractive and beneficial to their cash flows.


In terms of credit card issuers, we found that the Dentists and Office Managers were interested in Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.  American Express was not a preferred issuer.  This was due to the additional costs associated with accepting American Express.  Many urban practitioners felt that they needed to accept American Express due to the higher demographic the issuer focuses on.  The smaller practitioners found that accepting Visa, MasterCard, and Discover adequately covered their customer base.  They reasoned that if they had an American Express card, it was likely they also carried a Visa or MasterCard since most checking account debit cards carry the Visa or MasterCard logo.

Connected Pay is your partner in payment processing.  Our virtual terminal is processor neutral, so it is easy to integrate an existing card processor account.  

As always, Connected Pay's mission to keep our clients up-to-date and competitive with payment solutions, to help our clients' customers make hassle free, secure online payments and to provide top client service.

For more information click on the links below.

Sign up today.  Contact Us.  Services. Questions?