Category: Travel Agency Agents
January 14th, 2016 by Elma Jane
We would like to let our customers know of additional benefits that are coming, in addition of the protection that chip card technology provides.
On January 24, Verifone will release a software update for your card terminal that will include two important new features:
- PIN Debit: With this feature, when your customer pays with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover chip debit card, your terminal will allow you to process it as a debit transaction. The update will change the prompts you’re used to seeing based on how the card is configured.
- Tip Adjust: If your business accepts tips, you will now have the option to add the tip at the time of sale or adjust it later, just like with non-chip card transactions. To use the tip adjust feature, simply skip the tip prompt during the sale.
Once the download is available, your card terminal will automatically receive the new application during its monthly update. For best results, leave your terminal on overnight to ensure it receives the update.
We appreciate your business and we are committed to providing you with solutions to ensure your ongoing transition to chip card acceptance is smooth.
For more information on terminal upgrade, please visit www.chipcardsuccess.com.
Start accepting credit card payments at your business with the following features on your new POS terminal: NFC + EMV PIN & Signature capable. Give us a call now at 888-996-2273 or visit our website www.nationaltransaction.com Payments Expert for Travel Merchants and more!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, EMV EuroPay MasterCard Visa, Near Field Communication, Point of Sale, Travel Agency Agents, Visa MasterCard American Express Tagged with: card, customers, EMV, MasterCard, merchants, nfc, payments, POS, transaction, travel, visa
January 12th, 2016 by Elma Jane
Can we securely store card data for recurring billing?
PCI DSS discourages businesses from storing credit card data, Merchants feel the practice is necessary in order to facilitate recurring payments.
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a proprietary information security standard for organizations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB.
In order for the electronic storage of cardholder data to be PCI Compliant, appropriate encryption must be applied to the primary account number (PAN). In this situation, the numbers in the electronic file should be encrypted.
All PCI controls would apply to the environment in which the cardholder data is transmitted and stored. Tokenization can be implemented for recurring and/or delayed transactions. Travel Merchants and or Storage Facility could use this feature to help reduce the need for electronically stored cardholder data while still maintaining current business processes.
The best thing you can do for your business is to not store any cardholder data or personally identifiable information.
Tomorrow let’s tackle Encryption and Tokenization a strong combination to protect card data while reducing the cost of compliance!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Credit card Processing, Credit Card Security, Payment Card Industry PCI Security, Travel Agency Agents, Visa MasterCard American Express Tagged with: cardholder data, credit card, data, merchants, payments, Security, tokenization, transactions, travel
December 17th, 2015 by Elma Jane
Mobile Payments – It is bound to see more actions with tech giants Apple, Google and Samsung in mobile payment trends. We will also see new technologies like smartwatches, bracelets and rings that will give us the ability to provide payment options.
NFC – Near Field Communication, another familiar face among the payment trends. NFC, however, goes way beyond making payments using smartphones. These speed up POS payment processing quickly and easily without requiring a PIN or signature. While there are other POS payment methods, such as QR codes, NFC will come out on top. Merchants should ensure they have an overview of the current Point-of-Sale options and should, if needed, upgrade to the latest technology.
Security: Tokenization and biometric authentication will have a strong influence on the payment industry.
Tokenization – when applied to data security, is an extremely interesting method of securing credit card data. As the credit card numbers are substituted by tokens that has no value, then no harm can be done if tokens are stolen, which makes tokenization a secure process.
There are several new inventions when it comes to payment processing authentication such as password, PIN, and fingerprint methods. But they are weak so two-factor authentication is increasingly used to improve security.
Biometrics Authentication – like finger print scan, facial recognition, voice recognition, and pulse recognition are set to become increasingly significant. This will increase both security and convenience.
International E-Commerce – It’s important that merchants offer shoppers their preferred local payment method. Merchants who are looking for e-commerce success will need to create an international strategy. Merchants should also consider checking with their payment service providers. Providers know their way around to alternative payment methods.
Cash on the Retreat – Cashless Society? Some countries in Europe are certainly cutting down on the usage of cash. In Sweden, it is now almost impossible to use cash to pay for bus tickets. Acceptable payment methods include customer cards, credit cards, and payments via smartphone apps. Traditional cash-based bakeries no longer exist and instead, now display signs requesting that customers use cashless payment methods for even the smallest amounts. The situation in Denmark is similar; the government is currently debating whether or not to release smaller retailers from the obligation of having to accept cash as a payment method. Cash is on the retreat, and alternative payment methods are advancing. However, cash is still on the list.
Real-Time Payments (Instant Payments) – The European Central Bank (ECB) will bring instant payments strongly in the near future. Instant or real-time payments are a trend which will be with us for a long time to come.
Regulatory Changes – The first Payment Services Directive (PSD) from 2007 is still currently implemented domestically. After a tough two-year negotiation period, the EU has now, finally, agreed on a second payment services directive (PSD2). The European Banking Authority (EBA) is set to develop more detailed guidelines and regulatory standards for various industries. Payment industries should begin preparing themselves now for implementation, doing this will allow them to be ready for the appropriate steps necessary in 2016/2017.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, e-commerce & m-commerce, Near Field Communication, Point of Sale, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: Apple, biometric, credit card, data security, e-commerce, google, merchants, Mobile Payments, Near Field Communication, nfc, payment industry, payment methods, payment options, payment processing, payment service providers, payment services, payment trends, payments, PIN, point of sale, POS, qr codes, real-time payments, Samsung, tokenization
December 10th, 2015 by Elma Jane
American Airlines is upgrading its international travel, with Premium Economy on its international flights, featuring larger seats and more legroom of about six inches more, improved entertainment systems and meal service. The seats will be located behind business class, separated from the main cabin section.
AA’s premium economy international flights will become available in late 2016. No available information about the pricing.
The new class of service will also come with priority check-in and boarding as well as a checked baggage allowance.
International travelers who loves to travel have more choices when they fly!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: travel
December 8th, 2015 by Elma Jane
The President blamed (Visa Waiver Program) a special visa travel program for allowing one of the San Bernardino terrorists into the country.
The Visa Waiver Program eases entry into the United States for 20 million visitors from nations that meet certain conditions. Mainly tourists and overseas relatives of American citizens and residents, are able to enter the U.S. easily. Passport holders from 38 countries currently qualify for a 90-day visa-free stay in the US.
Visa waiver program is considered crucial to the multibillion dollar travel and tourism business. New York City’s Manhattan, Florida’s theme parks, the Grand Canyon, Hollywood and Las Vegas get a high amount of tourist traffic because of the Visa Waiver Program.
The House will vote on changes to the program today, a worrying news for Travel Industry.
The U.S. travel industry has seen these kinds of changes coming for some time now. The U.S. Travel Association has spent $2 million on lobbying this year alone. The group is not fighting against all changes to the visa program, but instead wants to make certain that any new facets do not go overboard and are not redundant.
Credits
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: tourism business, travel, Travel Association, travel industry, travel program
December 8th, 2015 by Elma Jane
In Travel Industry, it’s beneficial if travel agents could write and share some of the things that really work for them in running their business and the things that didn’t, whether you’re an online travel agents, homebased travel agents to tour operators. It’s not about being an expert, but the ideas that you can present and task that you face on a daily basis with Travel that may work for some or none will be a great tool to 70,000 agents. This is also a great way to market your Travel Agency. If you’re a travel agent who’s willing to discuss your successes and challenges in a monthly column check this out.
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/blog/index.php/2015/12/and-with-that-the-2015-travel-agent-diaries-are-a-wrap-but-what-about-2016/
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: homebased travel, online travel, tour operators, travel, travel agency, travel agents, travel industry
November 30th, 2015 by Elma Jane
ASTA American Society of Travel Agents presents The Looming Passport Crunch Tue, Dec 1, 2015 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Click Here for more info https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8699341866862946817
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: travel, travel agents
November 17th, 2015 by Elma Jane
Within the payment processing industry, Merchant accounts are categorized according to how they process their transactions.
There are two primary merchant account categories:
Swiped (Card Present) and Keyed (Card-Not-Present).
Swiped or Card-Present Transactions: Are those in which both the card and the cardholder are present at the time the payment is processed, they physically swipe their customers credit card through a terminal or point-of-sale system.
The sub-categories within this group include:
Retail Merchants – Normally conduct their business in an actual storefront or office space. They primarily use counter-top terminals or Point-of-Sale systems. Restaurant Merchants – Requires a special set-up that allows for tips to be added to the final sale amount by settling the transaction with an adjusted price that will include the tip amount.
Wireless / Mobile Merchants – They use wireless terminals or mobile phones to run these transactions in Real-Time. Have the ability to accept credit cards transactions wherever they are located out on the road.
Hotel / Lodging Merchant – Will authorize a customer’s credit card for a certain sale amount.
Card-Present Transactions also include grocery stores, department stores, movie theaters, etc. Card acceptance settings where cardholders use unattended point-of-sale (POS) terminals, such as gas stations, are also defined as card-present transactions.
Keyed-In or Card-Not-Present Transactions: Whenever the transaction is completed and the cardholder (or his or her credit card) is not physically present to hand to the seller.
The sub-categories within this group include:
Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) – The customers card information is gathered via over the phone, fax, email or internet and then manually key-entered into a terminal or payment gateway software. Once the transaction is approved and completed, the product is then shipped to the customer for delivery.
eCommerce / Internet – Conduct ALL of their business over the internet through a web site. So all credit card transactions are processed online via a payment gateway in real-time. The payment gateway is integrated into the web sites shopping cart. The cardholders card is charged instantly.
Travel Merchants is one example of Keyed or Card-Not-Present Transactions.
Start processing credit card payments today whether Swiped or Keyed.
Give us a call now at 888-996-2273 so more details!
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, e-commerce & m-commerce, Mail Order Telephone Order, Mobile Payments, Mobile Point of Sale, Point of Sale, Smartphone, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: Card Not Present transactions, card present, card-not-present, card-present transactions, cardholder, credit card, credit card payments, credit card transaction, ecommerce, keyed, Lodging Merchant, mail order, merchant accounts, merchants, mobile merchants, moto, payment gateway, payment processing, point of sale, POS terminals, Restaurant Merchants, Retail Merchants, shopping cart, swiped, telephone order, terminal, transactions, travel merchants
November 16th, 2015 by Elma Jane
Travel Ban, Alert and Warning what’s the Difference?
Deciphering the difference between Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings can be confusing.
Travel Alerts – U.S. Department of State’s international travel alerts are issued around short-term events. Alerts are generally short-lived, and the government doesn’t hesitate to pull the alert once the potential concern has passed.
Travel Warnings – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA’s) travel bans on the other hand are the government’s gentle way of suggesting that you reconsider your trip entirely. Unstable government, civil war, ongoing intense crime or violence, and frequent terrorist attacks are all listed as potential reasons for a warning. Unlike alerts, warnings may stay in place for many years at a time if the climate of potential danger persists.
No matter where you are headed, remember that your safety must be your own priority. Americans traveling abroad should educate themselves on areas of the world to be avoided.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents Tagged with: travel, travel agency, travel agent, travel industry, travel merchants
November 6th, 2015 by Elma Jane
Why You Need To Have A FaceBook Business Page?
If your business isn’t on Facebook, you are missing out on a big opportunity to reach potential customers and grow your business. The first step you need to take is creating the actual business page on Facebook. Once you’ve created your page, be sure to update it on a regular basis.
Facebook has tools that can help you view page insights, track page activity and respond to personal messages from customers.
To grow your Facebook fans as quickly as you can, be sure to add a Like us on Facebook button to your business’s website and post signs at your business, you can even encourage friends and family to like the page.
Facebook is your place to show the world what your business is about, so take advantage of this free marketing platform and make the most of it.
Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Travel Agency Agents