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 

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.  

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.

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?

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?

Service providers...don't be left in the dust

As a CPA, I don't like change, but for CPAs, Lawyers, and Doctors the only constant is that nothing in our lives is constant!  We deal with constant changes.  

For medical practitioners: New technology means new ways to solve patient problems

For Attorneys: Court rulings mean case law is constantly evolving

For CPAs: Congress continues to create tax laws

With all this change, why add credit card acceptance to a business and why begin accepting credit card payments online?  You may be thinking "I haven't accept credit cards before, or I can accepting credit cards over the phone".  Maybe you begin to think that the only thing not favorably changing in your business are your outstanding receivables.  

Accepting credit cards is becoming the standard, yet those same individuals (including myself at one time) that expect to pay with their credit card at a restaurant or retail store do not accept credit cards in their service business.

It is critical that a business open up to all forms of payment.  The reasons are simple.

• Increased Sales: Clients/Patients can take advantage of services they need most, and in the case of health care services, obtain treatment when it's needed.
• Faster Payment : With credit card transactions, you receive funds within 48-72 hours, improving your cash flow.  Clients/Patients often make payments during nontraditional hours (9pm after the kids have gone to sleep) and appreciate the convenience your business provides.
• Reduced Costs : You can save time on the management of billing, sending statements and tracking receivables, reducing your overhead and related expenses.  TIME IS MONEY!  We know that as we bill out our hours.
• Fewer Processing Problems : Reducing the number of checks you take in diminishes the likelihood of problems resulting from processing checks. So you'll avoid NSF fees, redeposit fees, and minimize misappropriation of funds.
• Improved Customer Service : Clients/Patients enjoy the speed, convenience and payment flexibility that cards provide. Card acceptance lets you accommodate these consumers and offer increased payment options with monthly, quarterly or semiannual billings.  Additionally, Clients/Patients appreciate the fact that they can pay their bill 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Recession proof your business:  When Clients/Patients look at their outstanding bills for service providers, don't be the one that get passed up for payment because payment  flexibility isn't there.

Work with a company that knows professional services.  Connected Pay LLC is a one stop shop for credit card processing. We are professionals helping professionals.  We offer a customized virtual terminal interface, merchant accounts and gateway services. We have done the research so you don't have to.  Our merchant account is the same we offer to our clients.  If you would like some info on how Connected Pay can help your business, drop me a line.  E-mail me

High resolution credit card logos

Some of our merchants have asked for high resolution credit card logos.  I have not been able to access the logos from Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, however I did find this useful link from http://www.kpao.org/ which provides downloadable logos.  Thanks to the fellow blogger. See link below. Enjoy.

Hi-res credit card logos (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover)

http://www.kpao.org/blog/2008/09/hi-res-credit-card-logos-visa-amex.html