Are You Aware of Risks in Merchant Accounts ?

Most merchants are not aware of the risk and liability involved in accepting credit cards as a form of payment. Oh….not the risk and liability on the part of the MERCHANT, but the risk and liability on the part of the processor and underwriting banks. A business owner can’t understand why a specific transaction can suddenly be suspended and/or not funded within normal processing times. Most of the time funding is held because a specific transaction is outside of the normal processing guidelines set by the processor, outside of the usual processing habits of a specific merchant, outside the usual practices of a specific cardholder, and/or not within the processing guidelines of a card issuing bank. Now THIS is when, who you process with, makes a HUGE difference. If you’ve obtained your own merchant account through normal application processes, AND you know who your agent and processor are, you will be contacted about the transaction in question. With a legitimate processor, you will have a human being to speak to via a phone or many times in person. You will have an advocate to work on your behalf to answer all of the questions the underwriters or banks may have; to get any required backup documentation, and get the funds released as timely as possible. This process could take 1 -14 days to resolve. Merchants who are gravitating to the large conglomerates who have decided to call themselves processors, will find it very easy to sign up for the ability to process; often without any application or cost involved. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, it possibly is until the first time your equipment doesn’t work or your funds are held because of a possible risk to the processor, underwriting bank, or issuing bank. First, the merchant will usually NOT be notified of the fund holding. A merchant will eventually realize their funding is too low and can’t figure out why. They have no manager or agent on their account so they can only try to contact the processor. If you’re processing with a company such as The Square, you will find they have no customer service department so you can’t call to find out what happened to your money. You can email or Tweet, but your wait time for each response is 24-72 hours. You are also not brought in as part of the resolution to the issue; you are told to wait until they can research the transaction in question. If you process with a company such as PayPal, you will be able to call in and speak to a different hourly customer service rep each time you look for answers. Again, they won’t know much, won’t act as your advocate, and will tell you to wait until they have researched the transaction. This process with the FREE programs such as the Square and PayPal can take from 30-180 days to be resolved ! When choosing who you entrust your company’s credit card processing to, always do your homework. FREE should never be a reason to do business with a company. Understand what you’re getting into. Know who you are working with. Make sure you can contact your processing manager and/or processor when YOU need them. Always confirm that you have multiple means of contact; always including phone contact. Question the processor so you understand how they maintain their risk and liability and how it will affect your company’s money flow. If a salesperson ever says it can never happen with their merchant account, RUN!!! It can always happen with every merchant account. The difference is who works for you, what your options are, and how long their process will take. A good processor will educate you on your risk control to minimize any delay in funding of your transactions. If you don’t receive that education, then you’re with the wrong processor.

Don't Pay Early Termination Fees

Whenever you sign any contract, make sure you read it first and/or have a lawyer review it for you. Many, if not most merchant services salespeople require you to sign a contract which includes an "Early Termination Fee". When we speak to business owners, the majority of them never realized that they signed a term of contract. It can often be very expensive to switch processors. Why do processors lock merchants into long term contracts? Often times it's very legitimate. If the processor has invested money into your business by providing proprietary software, helps create a unique POS System to better fit your business needs, or if they place a terminal (at their expense) free for your use, an ETF (early termination fee) is very legitimate. It will enable the processor to recoup their initial investment in your business. But many salespeople lock you into a contract for their own financial gain or just because they can. What does a merchant gain from signing a long term contract? Usually not much. A processor has no obligation to give a merchant the service they deserve or help when there are issues with their processing. The processor often stands to make more money off of the ETF than continued processing fees. Be careful when signing any merchant services contract. Unless the processor has invested in your business, DO NOT sign any length of contract. Make them earn your business. At Card Solutions Int'l, we don't require any term of contract. You are free to leave with 30 days notice....But you won't want to. Why? Try us…you’ll like us!

Don't be a Fringe Business

Merchant: "I'm not doing much business. Not ready for credit cards yet." Me: "Hmmmm....Maybe if you allow your customers to buy your products and services the way THEY can afford to, you would be doing business!!!"
 Did you know that accepting credit cards actually MAKES you money?
Don't be a fringe business with no clients!
We can show you how to accept credit/debit cards by recouping your fees!

Call us: 800-530-2440

Validating ship to and billing addresses online

                                     Validated Addresses (AVS)

Some online stores require that the credit card a customer uses MUST match the issuing bank’s billing address on file in order for the sale to be approved.

So….Here's another fact few people don’t seem to know:

You can have more than one valid address on a credit card. You can call your issuer and have them add your summer location and even your cousin's house so the address will validate. You can add a permanent second address or even a temporary one. So if you are going away for the summer, you can add your summer address and make it valid only while you are there.

Each issuing bank has its own policy concerning additional addresses on debit/credit cards so check with them first!

"Where eCommerce begins"

Who is operating an ecommerce website?

Have you been trained on how to use proper fraud protection?

Did your agent teach you AVS and CVV blockage and proper use?

Would you know what to do if a thief used your site to test stolen card numbers?

Who would you call?

Oh...sorry that you don't know the name of your personal processing agent to call.

Don't get into a dangerous position where fraud costs you unnecessary expenses. With Card Solutions Int'l, you receive 17 plus years of ecommerce experience with personal agents who actually care about your business.

If you are operating or thinking of operating a business website, contact Card Solutions Int'l for all of your credit card processing needs. Ecommerce with a personal touch.

There is a difference among processors....WE ARE the difference

Good News for all Business Owners

Good news for all business owners. Our government listened and 2 Republican Representative, 1 Republican Senator, and 1 Democaratic Senator introduced legislation that would prohibit the IRS from requiring merchant transaction reconciliation. "Under pressure from retailers and Congress, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed on 2/9/12 it will NOT require merchants to reconcile actual gross transaction receipts reported on their 1099K forms with the aggregate gross receipts they report on their taxes". Senator Thune from South Dakota is quoted as saying: The overreaching and unnecessary 1099K tax reporting requirement will create a paperwork nightmare for small businesses already struggling in a weak economy." The National Federation of Independent Businesses stated: "This is a small, but important victory for small business, and we appreciate the IRS working to alleviate the concerns of small-business owners on this issue. " Great news for businesses and our industry!!!!

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!

Surcharging is a bad idea for merchants

Don't take my word for it....Here is a professional written opinion from a senior analyst on the new V/M settlement with retailers allowing them to surcharge their customers for paying with credit cards:

Overall, surcharging is a bad idea for merchants. Surcharging can cause consumers to think twice about their purchase at the checkout counter, but there's more to it than that. … Forcing consume...rs to use a given payment type makes them consider how much money is on-hand in cash, in a [checking] account, and available to pay for the purchase, a mindset that can reduce the amount of goods and services consumers will buy and lower the average ticket price of sales for merchants.

Are you overpaying enough that you think surcharging is a good idea? Call us at 800-530-2440/561-721-1900!

Client Testimonial

Testimonials from a loyal client just don't get any better than this: One of my clients emailing a fellow business owner trying to help him with his business.....

"Mike, your people should check into Card Solutions Int'l again if they are not using them already. I just had someone look at my processing fees to see if his company could beat my rates and he said "you have the lowest fees out there! Stay with the company you are with because I cant beat it!"