October 18th, 2013 by Elma Jane
Ruby 2 Point of Sale by Verifone

Verifone Ruby 2 POS

VeriFone Systems, announced today the availability of Commander Site Controller, the company’s next generation site management solution, and Ruby2 a touch-screen point of sale (POS) solution, both designed to provide greater efficiency, faster payment acceptance and new management capabilities that maximize profit potential for convenience store retailers.

Commander Site Controller is purpose-built for rugged c-store environments and combines site, payment and forecourt control in one device, creating additional flexibility in store configuration. Its future-proof system architecture includes expansion slots and ports for additional capacity and functionality. Additionally, Commander Site Controller features 100 percent IP communication for increased speed of EMV transactions.

Ruby2 is the next evolution of VeriFone’s Ruby POS platform, a 20-year leader in the petroleum industry. It features a fully-touchscreen console that increases checkout speed by providing fast and efficient order and payment processing, and a smaller footprint for increased counter space.      Ruby2 is compatible with the latest VeriFone product offerings, including customer engagement media solutions, site management software to efficiently manage multiple locations seamlessly, and the latest in fuel control management.

VeriFone is taking petroleum retail and c-store operations to new heights of efficiency and manageability. These next-generation systems build on the success of  Sapphire site controller and original Ruby POS systems with the ability to expand in order to meet customers’ future needs.

Commander Site Controller’s cloud based management software platform – Commander Console—enables owners to remotely and simultaneously complete PLU price changes, tax rate adjustments, fuel price changes and promotional updates in real time for multiple site locations from any web enabled device or mobile app for iOS and Android tablets and smartphones.

Ruby2 will be available this fall on certain networks while Commander Site Controller is available today on certain networks.

 

Posted in Credit card Processing, Electronic Payments, Mobile Point of Sale, Point of Sale Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 17th, 2013 by Elma Jane

National Transaction Corporation’s services will work with any existing (Non Proprietary) Terminal. NTC can reprogram an existing terminal as well as service and provide supplies for any terminal.

Below are the following Terminals and Model Type:

1. Hypercom – They produce electronic payment processing hardware and software for a wide range of industries. In 2009 Hypercom co-founded founding the Secure POS (Point Of Sale) Vendor Alliance, a non profit organization created by Hypercom, Ingenico and VeriFone to increase awareness of and improve payment industry security. Hypercom entered into a merger agreement with VeriFone, which closed August 4th, 2011.

Hypercom Machines: T7P –  T7Plus –  T4100 – T4210 – T4220 IP Terminal. For Precise Detail of the machines please check our website. www.nationaltransaction.com

 2. Ingenico – is a leading provider of payment solutions, with over 20 million terminals deployed in more than 125 countries. Ingenico is a worldwide company, whose business is to provide the technology involved in secure electronic transactions.  Its traditional business is based around the manufacture of point of sale payment terminals, but it now also includes complete payment solutions and related services. In 2008, after the merging with SAGEM Sécurité, Ingenico decided to close its historical R&D centre in Barcelona. This centre has developed Ingenico’s most successful family of EFTPOS (Electronic funds transfer point of sale). More than three million units sold worldwide in 2007. Ingenico acquired German payment processor Easycash in 2009. In 2011, Ingenico integrated Pennies, The electronic charity box, into one of their market leading mobile Chip and PIN payment terminals, allowing retailers to ‘switch on’ the Pennies solution so their customers can add a micro-donation to their bill when paying by card. As of 2012, over 15 million Ingenico terminals are deployed across 125 countries, with the Ingenico Aqua 50 being their best selling POS (Point Of Sale) terminal.

Ingenico Terminals: iPP220 – iPP320USB – iCT220 PIN Pad – iCT250 CounterTop – Agua PCI – i5100 Dial – i7780 HandHeld i778oM – i7780 Versatile Base – 7770 Intel Base. For Precise Detail of the terminal please check our website. www.nationaltransaction.com

 3. VeriFone – is a global provider of technology for electronic payment transactions an international producer and designer of electronic payment solutions and value-added services at the POS (Point Of Sale). VeriFone provides merchant-operated, consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for the financial, retail, travel & hospitality, petroleum, government and healthcare industries. The company’s solutions are utilized by merchants, processors and acquirers in developed and emerging economies worldwide.

VeriFone Models: OMNI 3730LE/VX510LE N – OMNI 3750 4MEG DUAL COM – VX 510 6 MB DUAL COM 12MB – VX570 DUAL COM 6MB WITH SMART CARD – VX610 CDMA (AVAILABLE FOR SPRINT AND VERIZONE). For Precise Detail of the models please check our website. www.nationaltransaction.com

 

Posted in Credit card Processing, Credit Card Reader Terminal, Credit Card Security, Electronic Payments, Near Field Communication, Point of Sale Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 17th, 2013 by Elma Jane

VeriFone and National Payment Card Association (NPCA) debuted a mobile payment and rewards solution that enables convenience store and petroleum retailers to provide customers with smartphone-based payment options at the pump.

Utilizing VeriFone’s Smart Fuel Controller and NPCA’s mobile payment solution, c-store and gas station operators with VeriFone payment acceptance systems can quickly implement a fixed low-cost mobile payment and rewards program built on existing infrastructure used for merchant branded debit cards.

Consumers are increasingly drawn to rewards-based fuel purchase programs and they expect to be able to use their mobile phone to complete transactions at the pump.  NPCA and VeriFone are showing how easy it is for CSPs to offer mobile payment and reward options to customers that increase loyalty and sales.

VeriFone Smart Fuel solutions make it easy for CSPs to offer forecourt pump POS payment without incurring the cost of installing new dispensers. The Smart Fuel Controller combines pump and pay-point support into a single unit, simplifying installation and maintenance, and eliminating the need for third-party interface devices to integrate pay-point management with in-store POS systems.

Merchants can develop their own mobile app, or apply their brand to a mobile app supplied by NPCA, to enable customers to pay for purchases and receive loyalty incentives using their smartphones.

Consumers today would rather utilize the capabilities of their smartphones versus pulling out their wallets. Using this solution, retailers can easily and cost-effectively create mobile loyalty programs that attract and reward high-value customers – without having to replace their existing payment infrastructure.

NPCA’s debit-based payment programs provide retailers with the ability to drive customer loyalty and reduce the cost of payments. Fuel discounts are funded from interchange savings that retailers would otherwise pay to banks. Payment processing is done by NPCA using the automated clearing house (ACH) system to clear debits to cardholder checking accounts and net settle with retailers each day. The company holds five patents related to the processing and methods for ACH-based decoupled debit and mobile payments.

Come November VeriFone and NPCA mobile payments solution will be available for beta testing.

Posted in Electronic Payments, Mobile Payments, Point of Sale, Smartphone, Visa MasterCard American Express Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 14th, 2013 by Elma Jane

 

First what is a Merchant Account? It is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept payments by payment cards, typically debit or credit cards. A merchant account is established under an agreement between an acceptor and a merchant acquiring bank for the settlement of payment card transactions. In some cases a payment processor, independent sales organization (ISO), or member service provider (MSP) is also a party to the merchant agreement. Whether a merchant enters into a merchant agreement directly with an acquiring bank or through an aggregator such as PayPal, the agreement contractually binds the merchant to obey the operating regulations established by the card associations.

Merchant Account comes in 2 Basic Types – Aggregated Accounts and Dedicated Accounts.

Aggregated Merchant Account – such as those provide by PayPal that use a single merchant account to provide credit card processing for an entire portfolio of companies.

Dedicated Merchant Account – are provisioned specifically for your business.

Each has its Advantages and Disadvantages.

4 Key Points to Consider when deciding which type is the most advantageous for your small business.

1. Creditworthiness: To obtain a dedicated credit card processing merchant account your business will need to go through comprehensive underwriting. If you’re in a difficult to underwrite industry or if your business is very new and if it has a less than stellar credit history then an aggregated merchant account is the best choice. You still need to provide information about your business, underwriting for aggregated accounts is typically far less rigorous than for dedicated merchant accounts.

2. Funds Control: With an aggregated merchant account, transaction proceeds go to the service provider and are then deposited to your bank account at the provider’s discretion. There are no industry standards or rules that govern how an aggregated merchant account provider handles or disburses your money. The provider makes the rules, and can change them at will, so if you choose an aggregated merchant pay very close attention to the contract terms and any changes made to them. With a dedicated merchant account, transaction proceeds, less processing fees, are deposited directly into your business account. While the merchant account provider can correct errors, react to potential fraud and debit your account for customer “chargeback” claims. This must all be done based on industry-standard credit card processing rules.

3. Neighborhood: With an aggregated account, you’ll have no idea about the other companies processing transactions. If a good number of them engage in fraudulent activity, it is possible that the service provider’s processing account will be terminated and even honorable businesses like yours will lose credit card processing ability. If you do go with an aggregated account, it is very important to make sure that your provider is large enough to absorb fraud generated by a few bad apples.

If you’re using a small provider, try to get a list of the other business using the service and check them out to see if you want to live in the same neighborhood. With a dedicated merchant account the only company processing credit card transactions through it will be yours. You are in full control of keeping the account in good standing.

4. Speed: Getting a dedicated merchant account can take time. While there are some providers automating the process and providing same-day decisions. A typical application will take 48 hours to approve and additional time to integrate into a POS or electronic payment processing environment. Signing up for a credit card processing under an aggregated account service provider can usually be done in minutes, and it often comes with an online system that can have you actively processing payment within the hour.

Offering your customers the option to pay with a credit card is a great way to enhance revenue for your small business. Customers want the points associated with rewards cards, and they want to manage their own cash flow by floating balances or financing their purchases. Allowing them to use credit cards accomplishes both. So, give the customers what they want. If you don’t accept credit cards yet, now is a great time to start. Having made that decision, the next step is to obtain a merchant account for credit card processing.

The actual credit card processing rates you’ll be charged are a critically important factor as well. But as with most things, you get what you pay for. So don’t choose a low rate without also considering how the provider you  select will impact your overall business.

For Merchant Account Services Please call National Transaction at 888-996-2273 or visit our  website www.nationaltransaction.com to know more about our services.

Posted in Credit card Processing, Merchant Services Account Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 11th, 2013 by Elma Jane

PayPal payments giant may finally have found a way to get people to use (Quick Response Code) QR Code.

The company is introducing Payment Code today, a new technology intended to enable shoppers to make purchases by scanning a QR code on their mobile phone, or receive a short four-digit code on their phone, to complete a purchase. “Payment code is easy to use and understand and utilizes a ubiquitous technology that merchants have and are familiar with. If the merchant has a barcode or QR code scanner, the merchant scans to complete the transaction. If the merchant doesn’t, then a four-digit code pops up on the shopper’s phone that can be entered into the PIN pad at checkout.

According to the PayPal blog, Payment Code is an extension of the company’s offerings aimed at enhancing in-store payments. Their approach isn’t to push technology for technology’s sake, but to truly make the paying experience better for consumers and to give merchants more opportunity to innovate without a costly investment. When shoppers are ready to pay, they open the PayPal app (or the specific merchant’s app) and check in at that location, which will result in the app prompting them with a QR code, or a four-digit short code, to authenticate their purchase.

Posted in Financial Services, Merchant Account Services News Articles, Mobile Payments Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 11th, 2013 by Elma Jane

U.S. Bank and Monitise will develop a mobile shopping experience that includes product selection and instant checkout payment capabilities. Leveraging digital and audio watermarking and scanning technology for product discovery, an initial pilot will integrate mobile action codes, mobile shopping and mobile payments.

Mobile money solutions provider Monitise and U.S. Bank announced an agreement to accelerate the delivery of a product discovery and shopping service that the companies say will make it easier for top-tier retailers to help consumers interact with and buy from leading brands via mobile.

“Technology is creating new ways to bank and buy, and U.S. Bank is committed to playing a leading role in the digital commerce revolution as money becomes more mobile,” developing mobile money services has been a key focus for the company.

“As mobile technology accelerates the convergence between the offline and digital worlds of banking, payments and commerce, banks are identifying new revenue streams and driving value for both retailers and consumers,”

Posted in e-commerce & m-commerce, Electronic Payments, Financial Services, Mobile Payments Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 10th, 2013 by Elma Jane

There are various payment processing rates that apply to credit and debit card transactions. Visa and MasterCard do not publish their rules and regulations or the payment processing standards required to get the lowest interchange rate. It’s up to credit card processing companies to understand and implement them to their merchants’ benefit. A high downgrade rate may indicate that your processor does not know the standards, or may be reluctant to implement best practices or new rules changes. The application of these rates is based on a variety of factors related to the particular circumstances of the sale and the way the payment is processed, as well as on the type of the card that was used. Typically payments processed in a card-not-present environment (e.g. online or over the phone) are assessed higher processing fees than payments processed in a face-to-face setting. Payments made with regular consumer types of cards are generally processed at lower rates than payments made with rewards, business-to-business or commercial cards. Debit cards are processed at lower interchange rates than credit cards. In order to simplify the pricing for their merchants, the majority of the processing companies have elected to use various tiered pricing models (two-tiered, three-tiered, six-tiered, etc.). There are three general classifications used in the various tiered pricing models:
Qualified Transaction (also referred to as the Swiped Rate) This is the rate charged per each transaction when the card is physically swiped through a credit card terminal. When a transaction is processed in accordance with the rules and standards established in the Payment Processing Agreement, signed by the merchant and the processing bank, and It involves a regular consumer credit card, It is processed at the most favorable rate. This rate is called a “Qualified Rate” and is set in the merchant’s Payment Processing Agreement. The Qualified Rate is set based on the way a merchant will be accepting a majority of their credit cards. For example, for an internet-based merchant, the internet interchange categories will be defined as Qualified, while for a physical retailer only transactions where cards are swiped through a terminal will be Qualified.

Mid-Qualified Transaction This is the rate charged when a transaction is manually keyed-in using AVS – Address Verification Service (card #, expiration date, address, zip code and CVV code all match). When a consumer credit card is keyed into a credit card terminal instead of being swiped or   The cardholder uses a rewards card, business-to-business or another special type of card the transaction is charged a discount rate that is less favorable than the Qualified. This rate is called a “Mid-Qualified Rate.”

Non-Qualified Transaction This is the rate charged when manually keying-in a transaction without using AVS – Address Verification Service. When a special kind of credit card is used (like a rewards card or a business card), or a payment is not processed in accordance with the rules established in the Payment Processing Agreement, or It does not comply with some applicable security requirements.
Qualified Transaction Conditions                                            

One electronic authorization request is made per transaction and the transaction/purchase date is equal to the authorization date.                                                                                                                         The authorization response data must also be included in the transaction settlement.                               The authorization transaction amount must match the settled (deposit) transaction amount.                     The card that is used is not a commercial (business) credit card                                                                 The credit/debit card is present at the time of the transaction, the card’s full magnetic stripe is read by the terminal, and a signature is obtained from the cardholder at the time of the transaction.
The transaction must be authorized and settled under a standard retail industry code.
The transaction must be electronically deposited (batch transmitted) no later than 1 day from transaction/purchase/authorization date.

Mid-Qualified Transaction Conditions
One or more of the Qualified conditions were not met

Non-Qualified Transaction Conditions
One or more of the Qualified conditions were not met, or                                                                               The card that was used was a commercial card without submitting the additional data or:
The transaction was electronically deposited (batch transmitted) greater than 1 day from the authorization date, or:
The transaction was not electronically authorized, or the authorization response data was not included in the transaction settlement.

 

 

 

Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Credit card Processing, Electronic Payments, Financial Services, Merchant Services Account Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 3rd, 2013 by Elma Jane

Here’s how typical credit card transaction works:
When a consumer pays with a credit card, the merchant sends the details of the transaction along with the credit card information to the merchant’s bank. The merchant’s bank forwards the information to the cardholder’s bank for approval. If approved, the cardholder’s bank sends the required amount to the merchant’s bank, minus the merchant discount rate. The credit card companies don’t receive any revenue directly from interchange rates. Instead they make their money by charging the banks fees for networks, transactions and other kinds of services.

Up until April 2008, interchange rates were simple and inflexible. At that point, the company decided to move to a more dynamic system.

Interchange rates now vary from card to card, depending on the types of services and incentives offered. Typically, premium cards, which come with rewards for things like travel, cost merchants more to process. The rates also vary by type of transaction, and even by type of retailer. At times, the card companies have, for example, set special rates for grocery and gas retailers in a bid to boost credit-card use in locations where cash and debit traditionally dominated. The card companies have also introduced a growing number of premium and even super-premium cards that cost merchants more to process. The cards appeal to consumers because they contain a number of attractive incentives, such as travel and other rewards. The changes in the rate structure followed a change in the credit card companies’ business model in the mid 2000s.

Visa and MasterCard evolved from private associations owned mainly by the banks they serviced to publicly traded, profit-driven entities beholden to a wide range of shareholders. Merchants say the fees they pay to accept credit cards are rising as a result and have become increasingly unpredictable. Critics of the credit card companies say the merchant is a powerless middleman in a system that entices consumers to use their cards and banks to reap the benefits.

The credit card companies say the system benefits everyone, including merchants, by providing a rapid, secure form of payment.

Every time you use your credit card to make a purchase, the merchant pays what is called the “merchant discount fee.” The merchant discount fee is calculated as a percentage of the good or service purchased. It can range from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent. On a $100 item, for example, the merchant could pay a fee of between $1.50 and $3.The merchant discount fee covers a number of things, such as terminal rentals, fraud protection and transaction slips. But the biggest component of it is based on the interchange rate, which is set by the credit card companies.

In a complicated twist, the credit card companies don’t make any money from the interchange rate. The banks do. The interchange rate is what makes the credit card system work.  This rate ensures the banks have a financial incentive to issue and accept credit cards.

Posted in Credit card Processing, Electronic Payments, Merchant Services Account, Visa MasterCard American Express Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 3rd, 2013 by Elma Jane

National Transaction Gift Card Programs

Features & Benefits

Why National Transaction Gift Card? A gift card program offers you a great opportunity to boost sales by increasing customer loyalty and enhancing your business brand. Gift cards are used like credit cards and can be loaded with any dollar amount. NTC offers customized gift card processing merchant services tailored to your gift card processing needs. It’s secured and easy to manage.

 Benefits to Consider:

 Brand Building and Loyalty                                                                                                                          Gift cards can be a great source of advertising for your business.                                                                Gift cards are re-loadable; customers often reload them and continue to use them.

 Cash Flow Enhancement                                                                                                                            Prepaid gift cards are purchased prior to customers receiving their goods and services from you.  You can re-invest these dollars back into your business.                                                                                Earn money; research shows that customers tend to spend more than the value of the gift card.

 Easy to Manage                                                                                                                                              Merchant gift cards are easy for your customers to use and easy for your employees to issue and redeem, as they work similar to credit cards.

 Eliminate or Remove Cashback                                                                                                                  Don’t have to use the full balance of the card – the balance remains on the card.                                        It can be issued for returned merchandise, thereby reducing fraud.                                                              Gift cards can only be activated by swiping through a POS terminal.

Get and Bring New Customers                                                                                                                   Using gift cards as presents (e.g. Showers, Mother’s Day, Birthdays, Graduation and Christmas) is more popular than ever before.                                                                                                                         Offering a gift card program can help bring new customers to your business, thereby increasing sales.

 Increasing Brand Awareness                                                                                                                        Gift cards customized with your business name or logo are an effective way to advertise your  business and leave a lasting impression with customers.

Electronic gift card vs paper certificates?                                                                                                 An electronic gift card solution provides a number of benefits over certificates, such as:

Minimize Fraud – card are difficult to duplicate while paper certificates can be photocopies or duplicated.     Save Money – cards can be reloaded. Paper certificates can only be used once.                                   Save Time and Maximize Efficiency – gift cards can be loaded and redeemed easily, and provide electronic reporting. Paper certificates require manual work.

NTC Gift Card Operations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     How does a Gift Card work?                                                                                                                         Cards are activated through your NTC merchant account with a dollar value requested by your customer and not dependent on things like proprietary equipment. Once the card is activated, it’s ready to use as payment at your location.

Are my Gift Cards reloadable?                                                                                                                   Yes, and may be reloaded as many times as you wish. You may consider offering an incentive to thank your customers for their loyalty. Incentives can range from providing a free product or service from your store.

What NTC Merchant Services terminals do I need to process NTC Gift Cards?
Your NTC Gift Card will function on any Standalone, Wireless and Bluetooth terminals.

Card Ordering/Design

What is the standard gift card size?                                                                                                       Most gift cards are the exact same size as a credit card:

What options do I have to advertise my business name on my cards?
To help promote and advertise your business brand on your cards, you can choose one of these options:

Basic – Include your company’s name, address and phone number on a pre-selected style.                 Standard – You can choose from an attractive selection of pre-designed card styles.                             Add a single color logo or customized text in your choice of font style and color.
Custom Cards – Custom cards designed by you or with our help, invest with style.

How long does it take for me to be set-up and receive my gift cards?
Your application and set-up on NTC systems will take approximately 5 – 7 business days.                       Non-peak times (outside Christmas) – 2 weeks                                                                                           Peak times – 4 to 6 weeks

How many cards I can order?                                                                                                         Quantities of 50 for Basic, 100, 1,000 for Standard.

Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Electronic Payments, Gift & Loyalty Card Processing, Merchant Services Account Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 1st, 2013 by Elma Jane

A payment card transaction involves some or all the following participants:

Acquirers or Payment Processors that market card acceptance services to merchants, obtain transaction authorization, and clear and settle card transactions for the merchant.

Consumers or Cardholders that use payment cards to purchase goods and services. Issuers that market and issue payment cards to consumers and set the terms and conditions for their use; Merchants that accept payment cards for the purchase of goods and services; Network Operator that oversees the system and coordinates the transmission of information and the transfer of funds between issuers and acquirers.

Since the network operators revenue depends on the value of transactions that flow through its network, it tries to ensure the widest possible acceptance among consumers and merchants. In order to increase use and acceptance, the networks use marketing techniques to gain brand recognition, create products that encourage consumer usage and merchant acceptance, and set fees and impose rules on system participants including:

Interchange Fees  they are set by the network but are generally paid by acquirers to issuers and are usually reflected in the merchant service fee paid by merchants to acquirers. Interchange fees can be calculated either as a flat fee per transaction, as a percentage of the transaction value, or a combination of both.

Membership Requirements MasterCard and Visa require issuers and acquirers to be regulated financial institutions or be sponsored by a regulated financial institution. Interac also requires issuers to be regulated financial institutions.

Network Switch Fees these fees are charged to acquirers and/or issuers, and are set and collected by the network. They can be calculated either as a flat fee per transaction or as a percentage of the transaction value.

Merchant Acceptance Rule Includes:

No Discrimination Rules which prohibit merchants from encouraging consumers to consider (or steering consumers toward) lower cost payment instruments.

No Surcharge Rules which prevent merchants from charging consumers a fee for the use of a credit card rather than some other credit card or method of payment;

Honour-All-Cards Rules which require merchants that accept any of the networks credit cards to accept all of that networks credit cards (core, high spend and premium high spend in the case of MasterCard), regardless of the applicable interchange fee. The networks have also expanded this rule to include debit cards (i.e. if a merchant accepts one debitcard, they must accept all of that networks debit cards).

With four-party card networks, such as Visa and MasterCard, the card networks seek to maximize the transactions following through them by attacting more card issuers. The networks do this by offering the prospect of interchange income to issuers, thus creating an incentive to increase interchange as much as the market (i.e. the parties paying the interchange fees) will bear.

The ability to use credit cards and debit cards to purchase goods and services rests largely on a behind-the-scenes architecture of procedures, rules and technology that govern how funds and information are transferred between people and institutions in the process of settling accounts, i.e., of ensuring that merchants that sell goods and services get paid by the people who purchase them.

Posted in Best Practices for Merchants, Credit card Processing, Electronic Payments Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,