Category: Credit Card

I’m sure as a business owner you have enough to do without having to figure out how Credit Card Interchange Fees work. The good new is it’s not that complicated. There are hundreds of different interchange fees, what is important is to understand that interchange is essentially the wholesale rate that banks charge each other in order to process a credit card or debit card transaction. It is the cost of doing business, usually around two percent of the transaction amount.

Although the card companies set interchange rates there are things you can do to help avoid paying too much.

Review Your Charges Annually

At least twice a year (generally every April and October), Visa and MasterCard re-assess their processes, regulations and fees then announce rate changes and new fees. Many times your existing provider will layer on additional rate increases above the Interchange adjustments. Call another provider, fax in your merchant statement and have your account analyzed to “catch” these hidden rate increases.

Use an Interchange Pass Through Program

In order to pay the lowest fees when processing credit cards, a merchant’s goal is to pay as close to interchange as possible. A merchant account that uses an Interchange Pass Through pricing method applies processing fees by adding a small percentage to the actual Interchange Rate for every transaction and all dues and assessments are passed through directly at cost. This ensures that you only pay the true interchange rate in addition to a small mark-up that goes to their merchant service provider. Many times your existing provider will layer on additional rate increases above the Interchange adjustments. Call another provider, fax in your merchant statement and have your account analyzed to “catch” these hidden rate increases.

Avoid Downgrades Whenever Possible

A downgrade occurs when a transaction falls to a higher rate then what your business may qualify for. Whenever possible swipe the card at the point of sale device in order to reduce fraud and qualify for your lowest rate. For those of you that own some sort of on-site service or repair business, invest in either a wireless credit card processing terminal or look at some of the newer solutions such as RoamPay or PayWare mobile which allow you to use your mobile phone as a point of sale device.

Obtain the Correct Billing Information

In order to avoid downgrades for Card Not Present Transactions always obtain the correct billing information for the card being used. Credit Card Companies use an Address Verification Service (AVS) for Domestic Cards to determine if the billing information you enter matches the Card you are keying in. Always collect the Billing Address of the Card including the Postal Code as well as the Card Verification Code. The Card Code is the 3 Digit Number at the end of the Signature Panel on the back of the card for Visa, MasterCard and Discover. For American Express it is the 4 digit number on the front right hand side of the card above the last 5 digits of the card number.

Make Sure your Point of Sale Device is Programmed Properly

If your Point of Sale Device is not prompting you for Billing Address information as well as the Card Code, contact your Merchant Service Provider right away to get your device updated in order to pass that information to the Credit Card Companies. Another way transactions can downgrade is if you do not Settle or Batch your transactions within 24 Hours of obtaining an Authorization. Virtually all point of sale devices have the ability to Auto-Settle or Auto-Close at a specified time on a daily basis. If your device does not have that option enabled, contact your Merchant Service Provider right away to get your program updated.

Train Your Staff

If you are not the person directly responsible for processing credit cards at your company it is important that you properly train your staff to avoid downgrades. Routinely observe your cashiers, monitor transactions and carefully review your month end processing statements.

Summary: Worried about your credit card debt? Well, balance transfer is a good option, provided you know the ins and outs of the process. Credit card debt relief programs help you get to know the balance transfer process better.

Credit card relief program You can keep better track of your debt by transferring your balance from high interest credit cards to a lower interest one. This also facilitates paying off your debt faster. But most of the time there are hidden charges incurred during the transfer process which could make the deal turn costly for you. That’s why it is mandatory to understand the intricacies of credit card balance transfers before opting for one. Debt management experts recommend credit card relief programs as the best source for learning more.

Here are some tips on credit card balance transfers which will help you get the most out of your credit payment.

Check out the introductory rate duration Most credit cards offer introductory annual percentage rates (APRs) for balance transfers. But the offer is for a specific time period, and, once the period is over, you will be charged with normal interest rates. Hence credit card debt program experts recommend checking the validity of the introductory rate offer before you decide to go ahead with it.

Calculate the transfer fees Normally the savings from a credit card balance transfer are more than the cost of the transfer fee. But debt management experts still suggest that you calculate the transfer fees to ensure that it will be profitable for you. According to credit card relief program counselors, you are charged either with 4% of the transferred amount or a minimum of $10 as the balance transfer rate. Check if you can pocket more savings with this provision than with regular rates.

Build a solid credit score The low-rate balance transfer option depends on your credit score. The higher your score, the better chance you have for lower interest credit payoff. Do you know that 35% of your FICO score is based on your payment history? That’s why debt management experts suggest paying your monthly balance on time to strengthen your credit score.

Take advantage of a balance transfer Credit card balance transfers generally take around two weeks to complete. Here is a debt management strategy: don’t fall behind in your regular monthly debt payments during this period as it will compromise your credit score. A late fee of any sort can impact your credit score negatively, which could ultimately affect your balance transfer process.

One of the features of online/Mobile banking is SMS banking services which are operated using both push and pull messages. Push messages are those that the bank chooses to send out to a customer’s mobile phone without the customer initiating a request for the information. For example push messages could be either Mobile marketing messages or messages alerting an event which happens in the customer’s bank account, such as a withdrawal of funds from the ATM or a payment using the customer’s credit card, etc.

Pull messages are those that are initiated by the customer, using a mobile phone, for obtaining information or performing a transaction in the bank account. Examples of pull messages for information include an account balance enquiry, or requests for current information like currency exchange rates and deposit interest rates, as published and updated by the bank.

The bank’s customer is empowered with the capability to select the list of activities (or alerts) that he/she needs to be informed. This functionality to choose activities can be done either by integrating to the internet banking channel or through the bank’s customer service call centre.
It is however sad to note that fraudsters and internet hackers have capitalized on this laudable innovation to rip people off their money. So it is important that as a bank account holder or intending holder you should be aware of this trend and choose the right bank to bank with where your money will be properly secured through adequate online security tips.

Skye bank as a customer friendly bank knows about the activities of these fraudstars and has developed security measures to protect its customers finances. If you are a Skye bank account holder, you might receive emails that seem to emanate from the bank.The mail might even carry the names of Skye bank top Management staff or Director. Some of them may require you to send in information on your Bank details, Pin codes and even your personal information as contained in the bank’s database of you. They might also claim to have access to large sums of ($)US dollars for you domiciled with the bank. Please note that these are scam mails and you should be very careful to avoid being a victim to fraudsters.

As part of its commitment to online security, Skye bank has developed some security tips for all its customers to recognize when they receive emails or letters from potential fraudsters.

Please note that Skye Bank would never ask you to disclose your account number or Pin code on the internet. Also Skye Bank would never ask you to disclose personal information on the internet.

You should also note that Skye Bank site would always carry a security certificate which would be visible on access to the bank’s site and be sure that the site you are on is a genuine Skye Bank site.

In addition Customers should not open attachments or follow Web links in unsolicited emails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.

The official Skye Bank web address is www.skyebankng.com. If you are still in doubt, please get in touch with your nearest branch or call us on (000 234 1) 8531655, 8948103, 07028390633-5

We are living in a highly developed society that is completely based on high-end technology and in every field we can experience the contribution made by the latest technology. It has made our life simple, easier and convenient in various aspects and we have experienced the major transformation it has made in our life. One of the best results of this technological development is the credit card that is used for payment of almost every transaction we make. A credit card payment system is much safer and easier than the traditional method of cash payment. Credit card and wireless credit card terminals have changed the method of online and offline shopping.

A credit card swipe terminal is essential for a shopkeeper, who wants to accept credit cards in their shops. Traditionally this terminal has a magnetic strip reader, a display and a keypad. Sometimes a printer is also attached. The latest version of the credit card terminal is a wireless credit card terminal, which is most suitable for restaurants and cab firms. Wireless credit card terminals allow a person to process credit cards electronically anywhere and it allows business to process transactions from mobile locations efficiently and quickly. This terminal is mostly used by businesses that mainly operate in a mobile environment. For mobile business it is the easiest way to conduct transactions for their business.

The working process of the wireless credit card terminal is same as the traditional credit card machine, except that the transaction in the wireless terminal occurs over wireless networks instead of phone lines. The wireless credit card terminal is the most advanced processing terminal and it still incorporates time tested technology to ensure their durability and reliability. Presently some terminals operate on GPRS wireless network giving complete advantage in wireless availability over any other wireless terminals. These terminals are the most cost effective method for wireless credit card processing.

Wireless terminals do not have any wires connected to them hence it can be moved to any place and this is the biggest advantage with the wireless credit card terminal. Moreover these terminals are small, lightweight, portable, and hence it could be easily carried inside a pocket to any place. It can accept the card virtually at any place. These terminals do not require any separate phone lines. Wireless technology is quite safe and secured and it also reduces the chance of fraud or stolen cards. It also eliminates the involvement of hard cash in the transaction thus reducing the chance of error in calculation.

Paul Chehade – Need Help With Debt Consolidation?

Do you want to take measures to reduce your debt? Are you at wits end from the pile of bills on your desk? If this sounds like you, there is help. Continue treading to learn more about how debt consolidation may work for your situation.

Prior to taking action, do a thorough review of your own credit record. You need to know what got you in your situation. This can help you to avoid making yourself go further into debt once debt consolidation has helped you.

Think about long-term ramifications when you choose a company for debt consolidation. You want to fix your current issues, but you need to know whether a company can work with you as time goes on, as well. Some offer services and classes to help you avoid needing such a loan again.

Are you the owner of a life insurance policy? You may wish to cash it in to pay off the debt. Talk to your insurance agent for more information. Sometimes you’re able to borrow some of what you’ve paid in.

At times, filing for bankruptcy is necessary. However, filing for bankruptcy will ruin your credit score. But, if you simply cannot repay your debts, your credit is probably already damaged. You can get your financial house in order by clearing the decks and starting fresh with a bankruptcy.

An offer for a new credit card that features a low interest rate can be a powerful asset in a plan to consolidate your debts. The interest rates they offer tend to go up once the initial period of low interest ends. You will have to pay the card off quickly before the interest rate goes up.

See a company comes up with the interest rate for your debt consolidation. Fixed interest rates are ideal. That means you will understand how much you will pay in total. Watch out for any debt consolidation program with adjustable rates. If the rates go up enough over the loan period, you may actually end up paying more than the original debt.

How have you accumulated your debt? You must decide this prior to assuming any consolidation loans. Even if you do get a debt consolidation loan, you may still find yourself in debt if you don’t fix the original problem. Therefore, discover the cause(s) of why you are in debt, resolve it, and then pay off your outstanding debts.

Have you considered debt management? If you pay your debts by managing your situation, you’ll be paying less in shorter period of time. There are many companies who will help you negotiate lower interest rates.

When you consolidate debt, your goal is to have a single payment that you can afford to pay every month. Typically, you should have a plan where your debts will be eliminated after 5 years. Some individuals chose shorter or longer plans for getting out of debt. You’ll have an end date for getting out of debt, so you’ll be able to stick with your goal more easily.

If you are looking for a debt consolidation company in Florida or Maryland, realize that they do not need to be licensed. If you live in one of these states, you might want to use a firm from another state which does require licensing. You have no legal protection if you choose a local firm.

There are many people who don’t have a proper understanding on how debt consolidation works and what it can do for you. It can be tough to go through, but easier than having the heavy burden of debt. Take the information in this article and use it to get back on the path of financial stability.

Paul Chehade

Solidary Foundation

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