Over the past couple of weeks I have run into many merchants that feel ripped off by their merchant sales representative. Time and time again I hear “I just didn’t know what to ask for.”. Like with any other purchase for your business, it is important to learn about your product. Here is a list […]
Are Your Vendors PCI Compliant? Visa, who has always been the strictest association regarding PCI compliance, data security, and cardholder protection, has set the pace again. Merchants who accept multiple card types are required to follow the strictest card operating guidelines to become PCI compliant which usually come from Visa. They issued series of mandates […]
What does PCI mean to Merchants? Merchant Services Providers and merchants have been hearing about PCI Compliance for the past few years. Sometimes there is a lack of understanding about what is needed to become PCI compliant. We come across information online or by word of mouth, and it may not always be correct. Some say it’s […]
Business owners already have a lot to worry about regarding changing tax laws and employee wage laws, now they have to add Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards Compliance to the mix. PCI Compliance has evolved with each passing year. Business owners are already up against rules, restrictions, and deadlines that are added every year. Some feel […]
Many merchants ask me this question and want to know how it will affect their business. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements developed by the major credit card companies to enhance credit card data security. These requirements only apply to e-commerce merchants or merchants that are using […]
The sales associates at retail outlets following proper security guidelines is a good start to protecting against fraud this holiday season. But what if you are an online business, or the magnetic strip on a card does not work? In Part 1 of this topic, we talked about proper procedure for accepting cards in a card present […]
Over the past couple of weeks I have run into many merchants that feel ripped off by their merchant sales representative with regards to their merchant account fees. Time and time again I hear “I just didn’t know what to ask for.” Like with any other purchase for your business, it is important to learn […]
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is an algorithm used to secure your wireless network also know as a Wi-Fi Network. Many major retailers, such as TJ Maxx, use WEP and have recently been hacked into. Many weaknesses have been identified when using a WEP connection and it has been known to be easily hacked. In the PCI […]
We all frequently read about various types of scams to look out for, warnings of Packet Sniffing, and stolen card numbers. The real scams to look for are the ones that are directly on your merchant account application. Merchant Account Fees seem to suddenly pop up after you have signed your agreement. One of the […]
In Part I, I discussed the importance of PCI compliance, consequences of non-compliance and the effect of account termination on a merchant. Part II will discuss the basics of PCI compliance responsibility and how merchants can avoid fines and account termination. Who is Responsible for PCI Compliance? In order to be PCI compliant, all acquirers, […]
