Ecommerce Tips

Does Cardservice International offer a secure payment gateway?
Cardservice International, offers SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Application Programming Interface (API) for e–commerce merchant Website builders and providers an encrypted connection to a powerful, secure payment engine. All Cardservice International merchants receive significant benefits by using the LinkPoint Secure Payment Gateway (LSPG) technology, the heart of the LinkPoint Internet product suite. Among the benefits include you can expect from aligning your business with Cardservice International through their Internet merchant account and free payment gateway services is the LinkPoint gateway fraud screening of each transaction submitted and real time reporting via their Web browser. Back to the Top

Describe EFT and ACH transactions?
Most forms of consumer monetary transactions involve a collaboration of entities representing the consumer, business, banking/financial, and government sectors. The instrument form, payment application, and delivery technology have all evolved from the simple check or draft where an account holder issues a written order that authorizes the recipient to submit the instrument for payment. Thanks to the World Wide Web, we have seen credit and debit cards rise in monetary transaction importance, but check-based instruments still exist and are, in fact, making a comeback. This is due to two relatively new ways of handling check-style payments electronically: · Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is a non-check method for electronic payments and collections. EFT is considered safe, yet is less expensive than paper checks. The government, a large user of EFT, estimates a cost of $0.86 to issue each check payment, whereas, it costs only $0.09 to issue an EFT payment. Moreover, checks normally take time to cash plus time for various functions in the check-clearing system. EFT technology makes it more efficient and convenient by significantly reducing paperwork. · Direct ACH uses the government-industry clearinghouse function to enact monetary transfers electronically without paper checks. Direct ACH transactions may include paychecks, payments to contractors or vendors. They also include consumer payments for things such as products, liabilities, mortgage loans, and all sorts of bills. Of course, businesses also use ACH to collect from customers online, rather than accepting credit or debit cards. When shopping for systems, software, and products to help your business to compete as an online e commerce merchant, don’t forget to include EFT and ACH Direct payment options in your planning. The professionals at Cardservice International are well prepared to advise you and supply you with your entire Internet merchant account needs. Back to the Top

Can I use my credit card terminal online?
The nature of modern commercial activity has become intertwined with the credit card and other electronic payment modalities. This is even more a part of online enterprises than it is with traditional brick and mortar stores. To prosper and keep your customers happy, you must accept credit cards and other means of payment besides cash, paper checks and drafts. Cardservice International is an independent agent office of Cardservice International and offers free merchants accounts, software, and hardware options so your business can accept credit cards and other forms of payment online, at the counter, over your Website, or even by the phone or fax. There are two basic tools used with a merchant account. In a brick and mortar application, the business usually uses a credit card terminal that is most commonly integrated to the business point of sale (POS) system. For online businesses, a virtual terminal is the norm and serves as the functional equivalent of the counter-top credit card processing terminal mentioned above. This device frequently uses your computer and network for automated or direct entry of credit card, debit card and other forms of electronic payment. This basic configuration can be augmented with electronic check readers, custom POS interfaces, shopping carts, and other secure online shopping aids. Serve your customers better and investigate the benefits offered by Cardservice International for your initial entry into the ECommerce merchant community or to convert your current merchant account to an online version. Back to the Top

What is the difference between a virtual check and an electronic check?
Checks have been the mainstay of banking and commerce since their introduction centuries ago. It's believed that the Romans probably invented checks before the time of Christ. It wasn’t until medieval times in Italy and Catalonia that ‘checques’ became instruments of payment and still later, into the 16^th Century, until they were somewhat accepted. But today, checks are everywhere and even more widely used and they have found their way into the online payment world of the 21^st Century. Let’s take a brief look at two types of online checks used on the Internet and in electronic applications today: · Virtual Check – the basic form of the check used in remote payment transactions for approximately the last decade. This instrument and associated techniques represent the foundation of most online checks. In the virtual check, the customer provides (by phone, fax, or online) the salient information that would appear on his/her check if they wrote it out and presented it in person or by mail. This includes your name and address, account number, your bank’s routing or ACH number, transit code, and a check number. Critically important to this and all forms of online checks is the signature, or an electronic authorization to debit your account for the amount of the transaction. In virtual applications, the check is prepared and printed by the business and presented to the bank as if it were completed and signed by you, the customer. (Offered by SoftwareSolutions.net) · eCheck – the eCheck is a relative new form of the virtual check. It offers improved security while eliminating the need to generate and deposit a paper instrument. The information gathered is the same as above, but reduces the re-entry of data and labor associated with handling paper checks. This technology improvement is the result of a collaboration of the banking community and the governmental and quasi-governmental entities involved in the check handling process. Detailed information on this emerging tool can be found as part of the eCheck Initiative at www.eCheck.org. (Offered by Wells Fargo Bank and other merchant service providers like Cardservice International.) The security and other features of virtual and other electronic checks make them a viable companion to credit and debit cards for the e-commerce merchant. Be sure to ask your Cardservice International sales representative about this important product and technology for your business. Back to the Top

Explain 128 bit data encryption?
The casual observer of online e-commerce merchant account issues may dismiss data encryption as a James Bond fantasy without much application to his or her business. That perception is wrong – dead wrong – as 007 would put it. As soon as electronic banking, ATMs, the Internet, and online credit card use grew in popularity, the seedy side of our population quickly tried to profit on this new financial tool. It didn’t take long for the electronic banking and related communities to turn to data encryption to help solve the problem. The first approach used an evolving technology called public key encryption. In this approach, transmissions could be coded in an extremely complex manner using an encryption key generated locally at the time of message transmission. The message was then decoded by the receiver at his/her site by generating a compatible key with the help of a public key transmitted along with the message. As the ability to transmit data at faster and faster rates emerged, another technique became the de facto standard of the online payment world. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is the term used to describe this approach and involves including personal information (normally still retaining public key encryption) along with the card and transaction data to provide another layer of security. The complexity of the encryption is measured in bits -- 40 bit, to 56 bit and on to 128 bit encryption. Some cutting edge methods are now at 1028 bit (but cannot be processed by most encryption systems.) To solve this problem, VeriSign and others have developed server-gated cryptography (SGC) that appears to address this issue and provide customers with stronger encryption, greater privacy, and reduced risks of fraud. Back to the Top

How a Free Payment Gateway works?
You want to ensure that your customers' information is secure no matter how you do business. A free payment gateway, such as LinkPoint, helps process payment by taking the payment from the customer via the merchant's website and processing the payment with the bank's network. This free gateway payment process is a fast way to secure funds for your company. Not sure if a free payment gateway is necessary? Try the LinkPoint demo on Cardservice International website. Don't enter any personal information when you conduct the demo, use the recommendations provided by Cardservice International. By using the free payment gateway demo, you'll have a better understanding of how your business can operate more smoothly. Back to the Top

Descibe the meaning of virtual terminals and how do they apply to online credit cards?
Cardservice International is an authorized value-added partner for the complete Pay-Me-Now line of payment processing services for online business and ECommerce merchants. As you research your options for entering the online market or for expanding or augmenting an existing capability, these companies should be high on your vendor list. Two product offerings, part of Pay-Me-Now’s line of gateway tools are briefly reviewed below: · Free Payment Gateway + Virtual Terminal – this software is an expandable and adaptable payment processing solution with accept credit cards online, checks, and recurring billing features. This product is suitable for e-commerce merchants and Website holders that also process transactions via phone, fax, email. A virtual terminal is the functional equivalent of the counter-top credit card processing terminal seen in most brick and mortar stores but uses your computer and keyboard with credit card swipe ability for card-present applications. · ACH Virtual Terminal + Check Conversion – This is an add-on feature for customers looking to expand their online payment capability to include ACH (Automated Clearing House) online check acceptance and ability to take input hard-copy checks into the automated system. The ACH Virtual Terminal provides check guarantee, electronic conversion, recurring billing, and compatibility with check readers and keyboard card swipers. Back to the Top

What is PayFlow and Website Payments Pro?
VeriSign, a leading online payment services provider, developed a family of secure payment gateways and online merchant account systems offered to the business community by merchant service providers, including Cardservice International. These gateway systems were designed with two merchant groups in mind: · Website Payments Pro (formerly known as VeriSign Payments Pro) – for the merchant business new to the using credit cards online as a method of secure payment. Since PayPal purchased this line of products from VeriSign, they changed the name and have integrated the PayPal payment modality into the product. · Payflow Gateway (formerly VeriSign PayFlow) – for the business that already has a merchant account and has been accepting credit card payments, whether online or by other method. This product claims to augment the performance of the merchant by adding PayPal capability with the security of the VeriSign name. Back to the Top

Do I need a shopping cart to run E-Commerce?
Yes, yes, yes. Free shopping carts are the sales closing mechanism for ECommerce merchants. This important feature of the online store or Website allows the online shopper to select products and temporarily store them (set-aside) in a convenient electronic location, or shopping cart. The consumer is then free to continue browsing the store/catalog and select other products to purchase. When shopping is complete, the saved items are recalled during "check out" and the sale is closed when the payment is processed. This quick, comfortable, and simple virtual shopping experience has proven to be the catalyst behind the explosive growth of ECommerce in the past decade. Are you ready to incorporate a free shopping cart and share in the prosperity? Back to the Top

Do I need a secured payment gateway?
A gateway is the Internet technique that handles the electronic interchange between customers, vendors, and each of their respective financial institutions. This gateway is the actual electronic medium where packets of information regarding payments are carried, thus the term - payment gateway. In the early days of electronic banking, fraud was more difficult due to the cutting edge nature of the transmission protocols, and as a result, security was limited. It didn’t take long for various criminal elements to realize the huge potential electronic financial transfers possessed. Thus the race began where smarter crooks forced financial and software/data industries to improve security in ever evolving cycles. Currently the industry, as represented by the partners of Merchant Service Providers like Cardservice International, have managed to stay a step ahead and offer secured payment gateways that enable greater volumes of transactions while protecting each participant in the payment stream from consumer to financial institution. This is the principal benefit offered with an Internet merchant account so your business can freely accept credit cards online. Back to the Top

How is credit card authorization best done today?
Remember the old days of credit card usage, when purchasing something with a credit card meant waiting for the clerk to phone in and get an authorization number for the transaction? That unwieldy process is all but gone from the retail environment today and has been replaced by speedier and more secure authorization techniques. A principal provider of such services is Authorize Net; a free payment gateway service provided to e commerce merchants, through channel partners like Cardservice International as part of their merchant account offerings. Free Authorize Net merchants cover all industries and modalities, including Internet, brick and mortar stores, mail order, telephone call center, and mobile POS. No matter what your business, you should make sure your ability to accept credit cards online and otherwise should be augmented by this valuable service. Back to the Top