It's Just Not That Hard

                                       IT’S JUST NOT THAT HARD!!!

I recently read an article which totally overstated the complexity of obtaining and implementing credit card processing for internet merchants.  We have owned Card Solutions Int'l for 18 years and were one of the first agents actually licensed to work with ecommerce merchants.  Card Solutions Int'l was a beta agent for the AuthorizeNet Gateway back in 1997.  We have made the application process simple and we do the work for the merchant. Our merchants have no long term contracts to sign. Once the merchant is approved, WE do the programming of the software/gateway and hold their web developers' hands for the simple integration to their website. As for PCI compliance, WE assist our merchants with this process and we help them set all of the fraud controls available in their gateway in order to better protect their company. Many gateways today assist larger companies with storing their needed data so the merchant remains compliant but still has access to all of the information needed to conduct ongoing and recurring business transactions.
It's just not as difficult as this article makes it out to be. If you find it to be that difficult, you're working with the wrong processor. We at Card Solutions Int'l process for multi-million dollar corporations as well as mom and pop owned companies. We keep it simple and accomplish the task for the merchant on a very timely basis with no hassle to them.

Simple rates, simple integration…one stop shopping with Card Solutions Int’l.

With larger companies like PayPal and The Square, it is more difficult because you don't have anyone representing you with Visa/MasterCard/Discover/AMEX. Of course it doesn't help the merchant much when The Square doesn't really have a merchant services department to contact!!!

It's just NOT that hard if you work with the right professionals!!!!

Fall in love again...

Fall in LOVE with accepting credit cards all over again....Call Card Solutions International for all of your credit card processing needs. Personalized pricing, Personalized service, We are there after the sale, We work for YOU! Has your processor educated you on The Durbin Amendment and what it means to you? Card Solutions Int'l has called their merchants AND adjusted their rates so our merchants can experience the benefits. Call Card Solutions Int'l at 800-530-2440 and Love accepting credit and debit cards all over again!

Many merchants choose to go to major business warehouses for their credit card processing.  I agree that you should be able to enjoy that sense of security by doing business with a major business entity.  But you are about to learn differently.  Another....BUYER BEWARE!!!

A prospective merchant of mine was considering signing with a major wholesale warehouse for his credit card processing; store will remain unnamed.  He was quoted fees that were considerably lower than what Card Solutions Int'l quoted them.  So I chose to call this warehouse on his behalf in order to ask "the right questions".  What I found out was very disturbing.  First, this merchant will NOT be paying fees that were quoted to him.  Not being in the industry, this merchant did not know the right questions to ask.  So on the surface they appeared to be great.  Once I asked all of my questions, this warehouse ended up charging some of the worst fees in the industry.  They also expected him to lease his terminal (Final cost after 4 yrs was $1200) vs. purchasing it from me for $199.  It was also mandatory to pay them $4.95/month for some bogus insurance on the terminal.  When I asked about a terminal which reads chip cards he said it doesn't exist.  That is totally untrue; I place them now.

Basically any industry questions that were asked were answered with pure lies.  He was just trying to sell me and would say anything to get me to sign on the dotted line.  By the end of the conversation he said we couldn't do business together because I was asking too many questions and wasn't "listening to him".  "He has been in the industry for years and knows it better than anyone.  So anyone telling me different is wrong!!!" 

Be VERY CAREFUL no matter how comfortable you may feel because of who you THINK you're about to do business with.  Unfortunately my industry is filled with dishonest salespeople.  Do your homework and stay safe.  If you want Card Solutions Int'l to verify an offer, please don't hesitate to call us.  If you aren't going to do business with us, we at least want you to do business with a reputable company.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! –Hard To Believe Phone Call…
First phone call received at our office for the new year:

Caller: Hi! This is Rachael from XXXX. I would like to send a sales rep to your office to introduce you to the new 2013 credit card processing rates just released

CSI: Do you know who you're calling?

Caller: Yes...Card Solutions Int'l

CSI: Sorry, but you're calling your competition
Caller: Oh...then we have no need to talk. HA

CSI: Just one processor to another...what new rates took place for 2013

Caller: Oh...I have no idea sir. I was just told to call businesses and tell them that. I wouldn't know what rate changes there are.

CSI: There were NONE!!! Very deceiving on your side isn't it?

Caller: I'll ask my boss so I know better what I’m talking about. Thank you for taking my call!

REALLY? Don't start the New Year by believing these misleading marketing techniques. Nothing has changed in the interchange world for 2013. If you want your current processing analyzed free of charge and want to work with an HONEST processor, please call

CARD SOLUTIONS INT'L at 800-530-2440.
We look forward to helping you grow your business in 2013!

4% Surcharge to Consumers....Worth it or Not?

By now you've seen the news about the new law that will allow merchants to tack on an additional 4% to the bill of every credit card purchase. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE MERCHANTS WHO DO THIS!!! Let me tell you why......

1. The credit card... processing fee is just a part of a business's overhead expense. All businesses have already factored this cost in to the price of their goods and services.... You're already paying for it. And you should; just as a consumer pays for the electric bill, employee costs, gas costs, shipping costs etc. that a business incurrs in order to exist.
2. You ALREADY pay for their processing costs. Ever pay a "handling fee" or "courtesy fee" online? That's what that is; the costs involved with accepting your credit card. As stated above, for face to face purchasing you are already paying for these costs as they are bundled into the the cost you are already paying.
3. With today's processing fees, most merchants are paying on an "Interchange Plus" fee structure. With this fee structure, the cost to accept your card is well under 2%. A high fee averages 2.5-2.75%. Very few hit 3% anymore. It depends on the type of the card and how the merchant accepts it. Your retail giants such as WalMart, Target, Penney's, Macy's, Tire Kingdom etc. are paying much much less than the fees I quoted above.
4. Because of what I stated in #3, this additional 4% is nothing but pure profit to the merchants and has nothing to do with paying for their banking fees.

Over paying for credit card processing?

Did you know that 80% of merchants over pay for their credit card processing? With the... spring months upon us, it's a great time for businesses to reassess their business overhead, expenses, and operating programs. This would include your current merchant account program. If you've been with the same processor for years, chances are you're paying higher monthly fees than merchants who have taken the time to study the changes in the credit card processing industry.

Now is the time to call Card Solutions International for a FREE cost analysis of your existing processing program. The usual outcome is large savings to the merchants we analyze. Let us help YOU reduce your credit card processing costs...
Call us at 561-721-1900/800-530-2440, info@cardsolutions.us

Are discounts for paying with cash a good idea?

The government and courts are getting involved in the credit card processing industry once again. Please remember that the last time they did this the consumer ended up suffering and the savings were never realized by the consumers. Now the courts are mandating that merchants can offer cash discounts for purchasing. Sounds great doesn't it? Well don't get too excited. It won't be to a merchant's benefit for many reasons.

First....By offering a discount for paying for your products and services with cash, you are actually PENALIZING your customers who choose to pay with their credit cards. It's all about perception. It is your customers freedom to choose if they want to buy from you AND how they choose to pay for it. If they know they will be penalized, they will either lower the amount of their purchase or take their business elsewhere.

Secondly....A merchant who gives a discount for cash purchases is automatically reducing the size of their average ticket, reducing the opportunity for add on sales, and is controling in a negative way what and how much their customers will buy from you.

On the surface it sounds like a really good idea, but think it through: A local Florida restaurant gives a sizable discount for paying with cash. A party of six ate at this establishment last weekend. They had appetizers, dinner, and drinks. They were offered a 15% discount if they paid with cash. Who among us walks around with over $200 cash in their wallet? So in their opinion as a customer, they were penalizing for spending too much and for paying with a credit card. Their calculation is they each paid $2.50 more for their dinners because of the penalty. How do I know this? One of them called me and asked me to help the restaurant owner out because he HAS to be paying too much for his processing. If this restaurant continues with this policy, either this consumer will stop going or will cut way done on what they order at this restaurant. So was this a smart decision on the part of the restaurant owner? Of course not!

If you feel you need to penalize a credit card customer, call ME first. You must be paying too much!