The card security code (CSC) cannot protect against phishing scams. This scam is where the cardholder is tricked into entering the CSC among other card details via a fraudulent website interface. This type of fraud has grown and has the reduced the effectiveness of the CSC as an anti-fraud device. The growth of this type of scam has seen growth since building legitimate looking web sites has become easier and quicker to deploy.

Another scam is where an individual has hacked a merchant database and has obtained the card account information and then uses this information to provide proof of authenticity when asking the victims for this missing information for online transaction frauds.

Since the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) do not allow to store the CSC be stored by the merchant for any length of time a merchant who needs to bill a card regularly would not be able to provide the code on each transaction following the initial transaction. In order to accommodate this payment gateways, have added “periodic billing” feature is a part of the initial payment authorization process information data.

Since It is not mandatory for a merchant to require the security code for making a transaction some card issuers will generally charge a merchants higher card processing rates where the CSC not validated and when any fraudulent transactions without CSC validation investigations are more likely to be resolved in favor of the cardholder at the cost of the merchant.

One of the first anti-scam measure introduce to protect the merchants against card fraud from online purchase scams is the card sekurity code(CVC or CVC2). Introduced for the growing number of purchases where the card is not present or Card Verification Value (CVV or CVV2), allowing validation of the card number presented is the original produced by the issuer. Supplying the card security code(CSC) in a transaction is intended to verify that the customer has the card in their possession.

Security benefits

For “card not present” transactions merchants are forbidden from storing the CVV2 once the individual transaction is completed. The idea here is if a database of transactions data is ever compromised, without the CVV2, the stolen information has limited value for online credit frauds. The online payment gateways as part of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) do not allow to store the CVV2 code, therefore access to these web-based payment interfaces may provide access to complete card numbers, expiration dates, and other transaction information without the CVV2 code.

The PCI standard applies to larger merchants who stores, processes and transmits card holder information and. These merchants have the resources to develop their own credit processing solution or are credit card service providers who service smaller merchants with point of sales (POS) devices or online credit card processing web interfaces.  Since the CSC is not contained on the magnetic stripe of the card, it is not typically included where the card is presented and handled in a POS device. Some merchants may require the code for their own security standards. These are usually larger merchants chains who use this code to validate a presented card for protection against duplicated cards. Usually these larger merchants have negotiate better rates from card payment processors based on the lower risk they represent to card issuers, who provide them the interchange services.

If you’re a merchant, you know the importance of accepting credit cards from your customers and how it has become a near necessity in today’s marketplace. Unfortunately, you probably also know all too well the heavy cost that comes along with it.

You may have tried changing processors only to find that you’re still paying just as much, if not more than what you were initially quoted. You may be thinking that no matter which company you go with, it’s going to be the same.

You start to face the reality that unless you’re a huge corporation, your relationship to your payment processor and the rates they’ve offered are directly related to the size of your business and the volume of your monthly credit card transactions. Most merchants feel that there are not many choices. Either they accept the costs associated with taking credit or they become a cash-only merchant and limit their customers.

Sekure Card Services offers a far better solution where merchants can have their cake and eat it too! While you’re not going to grow four hundred times your size overnight, Sekure Card makes it possible for you to access much lower rates by becoming one of the 400 plus merchants we work with every month. This volume allows us to get you the lowest rates possible with very little effort on your part.

If you were to negotiate with a processor you would be negotiating your volume, now every processor wants a new merchant but your volume always dictates the rates they will offer you. Not only will you have to do all the legwork but you will also have to do the entire necessary due diligence that comes along with selecting a new processor.

However, working with Sekure Card Services has other perks than just the lowest rates. Free Equipment, early termination fees reimbursement and an unparalleled support and integration team are just few things that come with our service.

Our service is free without any obligation whatsoever. Simply fax us your most recent processing statement and one of our many professional will call you within 24 hours with an easy to understand “side by side” cost analyses of your rates.

In the credit card industry the interchange fee defines a fee that a merchant’s bank pays a customer’s bank in a credit card or debit card transaction.  The interchange fee is charged to the acquiring bank (merchant’s bank) and paid to the card’s issuing bank(Customer’s bank) in order to cover the money transfer costs. The acquiring bank then credits the merchant account the amount of the transaction less any interchange fee and an additional fees referred to as a discount rate that is a rate charged by the payment provider to cover transaction costs and POS terminals and any networking communication costs . The interchange fee a merchant must pay on credit and debit card transactions. This fee is intended to cover transaction costs that are made up mostly of the interchange rate that can vary in relation to the transactions security risks, which are based on many factors including:

• Card type: Debit cards have the lowest risk and therefore have the lowest interchange fees, on the other hand a high-limit signature validated rewards cards have the highest.
• Payment method: Online Purchases where the card is not presented have high fees, while PIN validated transactions have the lowest fees.
• Merchant Type: Small businesses, gas stations, restaurants pay the highest fees because most fraud cases have involved these kinds of business and their handling cards leave opportunity to copy card information, while big box retailers are rarly involved in any frauds so combined with the volume they process and the lower risk they represent they are able to negotiate lower prices.

Every transaction involving a credit or debit card will have and interchange fee that is applied to cover the cost estimated from the risks of fraud, the data transactional costs, and other overhead that must be absorbed by the transaction or merchant. The merchant must pay the interchange fee along with other transaction fees but due to the lack negotiating power on the merchant side, it’s now a major source of profit at every bank.

As everyone knows; commitments are a necessary part of any business’s long-term success.

Your business would not be where it is today without the commitments you’ve made, such as money and countless dedicated hours put into building your business. To move forward and be profitable, these commitments must be made. It develops trust and strengthens the bond between you as a business and all the other people and companies at play. No one wants a short-term relationship that leads to uncertainty and doubt.

Sekure Card Services is willing to commit to you for the length of your merchant agreement. Our cost free-brokered quote from national providers allows us to show you what the buying power that hundreds of merchant’s combined volume can offer. With fixed rates for the length of your agreement, dedicated account managers as well as in house technical and customer support we are committed to developing a lasting relationship with your business. Regardless of your industry, size or specific needs we promise to do our utmost to make you a priority and strengthen that bond.

In the courting ritual that is shopping for merchant service providers, there are a lot of fast talkers on the dance floor. The most common but unstable pick up line is the promise of a month-to-month contract. Our best advice is to politely decline any offer built on this premise. Just like everyone else, you want something that works for you in the long term. Today is fleeting and tomorrow is inevitable.

Month to month contracts mean zero security for your company. Thousands of merchant complaints and reviews prove these arrangements never work to a business’ advantage. Fluctuating rates, hidden fees and the nightmare of terminal leasing and rental costs often go hand in hand with this type of account. Then there is the dreaded promise of meet or beat policies. What better way to start a relationship than to admit they may be overcharging you? Then when you call their bluff, the rates inevitably increase after a few short months.

Any sales rep can offer you the sun and the moon to get you to sign. As much as the freedom of not having a contract may be a relief, rest assured the storm is just brewing.

What kind of company wouldn’t want build a lasting relationship with you as a client? As we all know, most sales reps don’t make a salary or hourly wage. Lucrative signing bonuses, kickbacks when your new account is approved and yet another payoff when you’re plugged in is their ultimate goal. After that, they make a percentage of your monthly costs. This is true whether it’s the rep down the block or an agent for a leading national bank.

Then the rep simply moves on to the next merchant, saying whatever is necessary to get them on board. With only a handful of new accounts each month, they’ve made a substantial profit directly off of your trust. In the end they want you to feel at ease because they know it won’t last.

At Sekure Card Services, customer referrals accounts for 30% of our business and this directly related to building long term relationships with our merchants. Because we sign hundreds of new accounts every month, our focus is based on retention, the cost of retaining a client is far less than acquiring a new one, a simple lesson that few agents seem to learn. Our goal is to be a solid foundation for your business and help you expand by lowering your basic costs. Because of our size and relationships with major banks and processors, you’ll get rates you can count on and the support you need. Whether it’s an immediate concern, technical questions or even basic question about your billing we’re there to guide you through the process.

Just like any reputable player in the processing industry, we will also cover the standard termination fees with your current provider. We see it as an investment in you as a merchant. We want to earn your trust as well as your business. Thousands of satisfied companies each year would agree.

If you’ve made a commitment to a provider who simply can’t live up to your cost expectations, Sekure Card Services would love to have you as one of our clients now and in years to come. You strive to treat your customers with the respect they deserve. You should expect nothing else but the same from your merchant service provider.

www.sekurecardservices.com

1-866-437-3189 ext.225

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) was established, and on 15 December 2004 and was initiated to define, on behalf of card issuers, the level of security required for merchants to meet basic acceptable level of data and communication security when storing and transmitting cardholder data.

The Security Standards Council defined the standard to provide better data security protecting against credit card fraud. Compliance is very expensive and as well as the costs of the annual mandatory validation by a QSA (Qualified Security Assessor) for organizations handling large amounts of card transactions.

So many companies turn to third party PCI compliant payment providers like 2checkout or 1^st Americard to simplify the integration of payments services with their organization. These PCI compliant services offer their platform as a service for a fee, that that make up the costs the merchants must absorb that makeup the complex set of rates, rates that are part of accepting credit card and debit card payments today.

Although the integration with these compliant third party providers shield the businesses from formal validation and compliance of the PCI DSS standards there are still some security associated with the handling of credit cards that must be implemented by businesses and the personnel responsible In the handling of credit cards and the information that are on these cards.

Unfortunately for most merchants, fixed pricing above interchange cost simply isn’t available or offered during the setup of your merchant account. Payment processing service providers frequently increase costs to drive up their profits. Hidden fees become the norm and if your volume fluctuates, so do your rates.

In this difficult game your processor and rep’s gains come directly from your hard work. The market is full of conflicting information and sometimes it’s hard to know who you can trust.

At Sekure Card Services we’re excited to work for you to get the most competitive rates and make sure they stick. As a brokerage with literally millions of dollars in combined merchant volume every month, payment processors provide us with the privileged rates even the most well connected merchants don’t have access to. Because we side with the merchant every time, you can trust that every quote will be fixed for the length of your merchant agreement.

This model has directly benefited countless merchants in every industry type while still proving to be modestly profitable for the processors involved. By lowering the profit on each individual account, these processors have seen a steady stream of new clients and are eager to work with us.

Sekure Card Services ensures that merchants will always pay as close to cost for their processing fees, while our competition offers teaser rates with regular increases. We promise no hidden fees, no catches and no surprises. You no longer have to keep a close eye on your rates, thus eliminating the single biggest complaint merchants have with their current provider.

Another major benefit is that we analyze each merchants needs providing you with the best solution for your business. What is perfect for a retail environment may be incredibly costly for a company that keys in the majority of their cards. A cost plus structure with a small standardized percentage above interchange could give you long term savings many sales agents wouldn’t even provide as an option. By discussing your payment processing needs with one of our account managers, we can offer effective solutions and access to resources that are tailored to you as a merchant.

At the end of the day, we want you to make an informed and long-term decision so you can get back to business.

Please see below for more information regarding SekureCard Services, or visit us online at, www.sekurecardservices.com

Corporate Sales:

Phone: (866) 437-3189 ext.225

Email: info@sekurecardservices.com

Statement Analysis:

Fax or email your most recent statement to:

Fax Numbers: 1-888-990-9929
 or 1-888-990-9932

Email: analyze@sekurecardservices.com

One of the biggest problem facing merchants accepting credit cards is fluctuating rates. Merchants often enter into agreements with credit card processing companies at established rates, only to find these rates “creeping up” anywhere from one to four times a year. These increases are rarely “red flagged” on the statements which, as a rule, are quite complicated and difficult for the average merchant to understand or review. As well, increases will come in different forms such as, an increase in basis points, transaction fees or monthly fees. As such, these increases look nominal but, in fact, they can have substantial impact on the merchant’s bottom line.

SekureCard Services, a merchant services broker servicing merchants throughout the United States, connects credit card processors with merchants looking to save money on their processing rates. SekureCard typically deals with a few hundred merchants per month, and often guarantees rates for 36 months, therefore addressing the above concerns and complaints merchants have with regular rate hikes. Establishing guaranteed, competitive processing rates can save merchants substantial, bottom line dollars.

Merchants accessing processors through SekureCard Services are offered additional services by the brokerage. An accounts manager is assigned to each merchant. The account manager completes the application process with the merchant, making sure that all required documents are submitted correctly. However his / her responsibilities do not stop there. The accounts manager becomes the “go to” person for all issues relating to credit card processing. Up-grades, adjustments, repairs, billing inquiries etc. can all be addressed by the accounts manager. Removing this tedious responsibility from the merchant frees up valuable time and ensures that all processing related issues will be handled quickly and effectively.

Merchants who are referred to credit card processors by brokerages such as SekureCard Services inevitably access competitive rates rarely available to agents with specific geographic territories and representing only one processor.  These commissioned based agents are encouraged to maximize their earnings by applying elevated rates. They also frequently lease and, or sell terminals at exorbitant rates. Merchant’s should never be obliged to pay for terminals in any way, and leasing is considered to be a scam. It is the responsibility of the processor to supply state of the art equipment to their merchants, without exception.

The safest, most efficient and cost effective way to access credit card processing is through a merchant service broker such as SekureCard Services.

SekureCard Services has an excellent support staff available to assist you. Accepting credit and debit is a necessity in today’s business environment and a very important aspect of your business. Electronic payments already make up the majority of consumer spending and are increasing at a rapid rate. We understand the importance of having nothing but the best in customer support and service for any need or question you may have, big or small. Our integration team is available for all your POS and terminal needs, whether its reprogramming equipment, assisting in updates or transaction inquiries.

We are dedicated to supporting you in every step of way. We believe strongly in after sales support and customer referrals accounts for 30% of our business. Sekure Card is quickly becoming a trusted name in credit card processing and has been advocating for merchants since inception.

We are always honored when a Merchant allows us to analyze their statement, whether it leads to a new customer or simply empowering a merchant with valuable information. SekureCard reviews thousand of credit cards statements every month. We attract a wide variety of potential customers ranging from savvy business owners looking to cut costs, to some merchants that actual feel like they have been taken advantage of or even been victim of a scam.

Whatever your reason may be, Sekure Cards staff of over 150 professionals is ready to help. If you would like a free analysis of your statement without any cost or obligation then call us today or visit us online.

www.sekurecardservices.com

1-866-437-3189 ext.225

TERMINAL LEASING

Unfortunately there are numerous ways a merchant can fall victim of a scam when shopping for payment processing services. One of the most common, as well as financially damaging, is leasing a credit card terminal.

Far too often some smooth talking salesperson convinces a merchant their current equipment “isn’t compliant” or “needs to be upgraded”. Surprise, surprise… they have the perfect solution! They offer a state-of-the-art terminal that is always much more expensive than you’d expect. Surely you wouldn’t want to pay thousands of dollars upfront for such a sophisticated new machine. The rep then cuts you a great deal with reasonable monthly payments for the next four years and the machine is yours.

What isn’t brought up is that the leasing agreement can’t be cancelled and the true value of the terminal is usually no more than a few hundred dollars. It isn’t uncommon to pay well over ten times the value of the terminal over the length of a lease. Many of these agreements aren’t even lease to own, and  in some cases the equipment may be refurbished or less current than the previous terminal.

Most reputable companies will provide you a free terminal as a loaner or simply sell it to you at cost. Often the equipment you have is perfectly fine and can be reprogrammed in a few minutes over the phone. SekureCard Services  has a full integration team for ease of switch or reprogramming your equipment.

Sekure Card Services has had only one complaint with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) which was successfully resolved, thus giving us an “A” rating CLICK HERE to see SekureCards BBB rating.

If you wish to have a review done of your processing statement and fees you can contact us at,  1-866-437-3189 ext.225 or visit us online at, www.sekurecardservices.com