Having a virtual terminal as a backup to your usual terminal can be a lifesaver if that terminal goes on the fritz. You can even use a virtual terminal as your sole credit card processing system – although there are some pros and cons to that approach.

If you’ve looked at your credit card processing statement recently you’ve probably seen a reference to “interchange fees.” While you can’t eliminate interchange fees entirely, there are a few ways you can keep them as low as possible. We’ll review them in this article.

A few weeks ago, we wrote a post covering five ways to protect your business from online credit card fraud. We promised a part two – and here it is! Once you’ve taken care of the tips and tricks covered in part one, take a look at these ways to improve your online security.

Scammers are getting craftier all the time, and you have to think fast to stay ahead of them. Fortunately, there are some common-sense steps you can take to combat online credit card fraud. We’ll cover them in a two-part series (this is part one).

No business owner ever likes to see a credit card processing rate increase. After all, you work hard for your money – why should you part with any more of it than you have to? If you do see a rate increase on your next bill, don’t panic. Here’s how to respond.

Earlier this year the four major credit card companies announced that they would no longer require customers to sign for their purchases, regardless of the dollar amount. The signature is a long way off from dead, however. We took a look at the top three reasons why merchants still require signatures for credit card purchases.

Our customers tell us it can be hard to get rid of a credit card processing rep, even when they tell them how happy they are with 360 Payments. We thought we’d help them (and everyone else) out and provide some ways to get reps out of your hair quickly.

Nobody likes to pay credit card processing fees – we get it! It can be tempting to pass the cost of your credit card processing fees on to your customers – but is that a good idea? Let’s take a look at some of the main pros and cons of credit card surcharging.

Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense for your customer to make a payment in person. Offering ways to pay remotely can send your profits skyrocketing. In this post we’ll explore three common methods of accepting card not present payments so you can decide which one is right for you.

Being labeled “high-risk” in the credit card processing industry isn’t the end of the world, but it can mean higher processing rates or a little difficulty finding a processor to work with. Here’s how to tell if you’re a high risk for credit card processing.

As we visit new shops and meet their owners, we’ve noticed some troubling trends in the way the auto repair industry accepts credit cards. Here are our top three tips to help you choose the best credit card processor for an auto repair shop.

If your business model is built around the same customers returning month after month (or year after year) to purchase the exact same product or service, you are a great candidate for recurring payments.

Cash-only businesses are a dying breed – but they still exist. However, businesses who are still refusing to accept credit card payments in 2018 are missing out. Let’s break down the top four reasons why your business should accept credit cards.

We’ve fielded a lot of questions from our merchants recently about the rules and regulations surrounding asking for identification when a customer attempts to pay with a credit card. Let’s break down why and how you might want to ask for identification on a credit card purchase.

At the end of June, you probably heard a lot of news about Supreme Court rulings. On June 25 the Supreme Court narrowly sided with American Express in a case that impacts merchants, credit card processors, and the industry as a whole.

We’ve written in the past about credit card surcharging and how it’s a gray area in terms of legality and whether or not it’s a great idea. What if we told you that there’s a very similar but distinct option available that has no legal issues? It’s called a cash discount – let’s take a look.

Big changes are coming to security for credit card transactions – are you prepared? At the end of June, all digital credit card transactions will be subject to additional encryption protocols to protect the card data. This is great news for your customers and for you – unless your payment system isn’t set up to support it.

If you’re shopping around for a new credit card processor, you may notice a few new questions being asked on the application form. Starting May 1, 2018, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)’s new Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements for financial institutions are being enforced. Let’s break down the changes and what they mean.

So you dipped a customer’s credit card, and it was declined. Ugh. In addition to a flustered and potentially indignant customer, you now have to figure out what to do. Here’s our cheat sheet to the decline codes your machine might produce and what to do about them.

Chances are at least one slick credit card processing salesperson has come into your business singing the praises of leasing your terminal. They probably fed you a lot of compelling lines to make you sign on the dotted line, but hopefully you were able to resist. Leasing your credit card terminal only benefits your processor.

On April 1, 2018, the payments industry said goodbye, at least in part, to an old friend. Businesses are no longer required to obtain signatures for chip card and contactless transactions, ending a practice that had become a punchline for businesses and consumers alike.

You should never sign a credit card processing contract. Period. Contracts are just an excuse for payment processors to overpromise and underdeliver once you’ve signed on the dotted line. At 360 Payments, we never ask our customers to sign a contract. Here’s why you should never agree to a contract for credit card processing.

Over the past month or so you may have seen a new message on your credit card processing statements. Changes are coming to the way Visa handles its chargeback and retrieval requests process, and we’re excited to share that it will significantly streamline the process for our customers.

Credit card surcharging – the practice of assessing an additional charge or fee on transactions that are paid with a credit card – has become a hot button issue lately. This post will show you how to begin surcharging if you’ve already decided it’s right (and legal) for you.

Tired of paying exorbitant credit card processing fees? How can you avoid taking a hit each month on these fees? In some states, you can pass these fees along to your customers – but is this the right call? Let’s break down the pros and cons.

If you’re like many business owners, you love the idea of gift cards. They’re easy to sell, make great impulse buys, and you get to pocket the money upfront without having to part with any inventory. However, with the rising popularity of gift cards comes a spike in fraud concerns. Here’s how to safeguard yourself.

What if we told you that signatures on credit card receipts don’t really matter? In fact, the major credit card companies in the United States have all started to phase them out! Let’s take a look at what prompted this decision and what it means for you.

Your credit card processing application was denied. When you contacted the potential processor to find out why, they told you it’s because your business is on the MATCH list. What does this mean? How did you get on the list, and how can you get off? We’ll answer those questions and more in this post.

Choosing a new credit card processor is a big decision. Before you make a final call, there are a few questions you absolutely must ask to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible for your business. Here are the top three questions to ask before signing up.

Taking payments from your customers sounds simple enough, but it can be pretty difficult to get customers to actually make a purchase. You can help remove the barriers customers face when shopping at your business. Here are four simple ways to do just that.

Accepting credit cards is a wonderful feature for businesses to offer their customers, but it does come with risks. One of those risks is the threat of a chargeback. Let’s dig a little deeper into what happens during a chargeback and how you can protect yourself.

One common bonus that credit card processors use to earn your business is the promise of next day funding. It sounds great – make a sale today and get your money tomorrow – but it’s not without tradeoffs. Here’s how to decide if next day funding is really for you.

Choosing a credit card processor important. You’re not just choosing a vendor, you’re picking a partner who will guide you through the complex and sometimes overwhelming world of credit card transactions. Price is obviously a consideration, but it’s far from the only one. Here are four other factors you should take into account.

Credit card transactions are not all created equal. There are three levels of credit card processing (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3), and which one a particular transaction falls under depends on the type of card used. Depending on your business, you may encounter all of these types. Here’s what you need to know.

This kind of credit card fraud preys on well-meaning cashiers and business owners who want to believe that “the customer is always right.” When the customer steps aside and pretends to call their card issuer, they are likely calling no one at all.

Have you ever visited a business and seen two prices posted for the same product or service – a cash price and a credit card price? Charging customers a bit extra to pay by credit card is a way for business owners to fight back against the credit card fees that cut into their bottom lines.

Applying for a new credit card processing account can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for first-time business owners. The approval process often seems arbitrary, and you may not have a lot of answers if your application gets denied. We’ll explain some of the main reasons why applications get declined, and what you can do.

Credit card fees aren’t fun to pay – we know that as well as you. Consider a minimum purchase requirement to eliminate or minimize the number of sales on which you lose money. While not the right fit for every business, minimum purchase requirements can help ease the burden of credit card fees.

If you’ve had it with high rates, hidden fees, and customer service that runs and hides when a problem arises, you might be thinking about switching to a new credit card processor. Here’s why a contract isn’t a death sentence for your plans to jump ship.

I have worked in the credit card processing industry since I was 21, and while in my early years I was naïve about many things, it was always clear that business owners didn’t like American Express. In fact, many businesses outright refused to accept it! What’s wrong with American Express? Is its bad reputation well-deserved?

Customers are abandoning their online shopping carts at an alarming rate – nearly 70% of the time, to be exact. The key to cutting down on cart abandonment on your site is making payment as easy as possible. Here are our top ten tips for streamlining the process.

The credit card processing industry is in desperate need of an overhaul. There’s a distinct lack of transparency, and credit card processors and banks alike often hide behind complex regulations and legalese to take advantage of customers. These attempts to hide the truth are frequently illegal and always inappropriate.

Business owners have a lot to keep track of, and your credit card transactions are no exception – there are fraud concerns, customer satisfaction issues, and processing costs to worry about. Understanding and using credit card pre-authorizations to your advantage just might be the best business move you’ve made all year.

If you’re a business owner who accepts credit cards, you’ve likely heard the terms “authorization” and “capture” before, but how much do you know about the delay between them? Let’s talk some more about this very important step in the credit card process.

How much do you really know about that little piece of plastic you pull out to pay for everything from candy bars to cars? Where does your card data go, who has access to it, and how does the whole thing even work? Let’s take a look at the process from start to finish.

Choosing a credit card processing partner for your business is a big deal. At 360 Payments, we want to help you make an informed decision – and help you evaluate your choice if you’ve already signed up with a provider! How many of these mistakes are you making?

As a small business owner, you know what it feels like to be a small fish swimming among sharks. Keeping costs down is a must, but don’t be tempted to skip accepting credit cards! Even in the age of Apple Pay and PayPal, here’s why your business must absolutely 100% accept credit cards.