Tag Archives: Portable Credit Card Machines

Creditcard Machines

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Credit Card Machines

Perhaps you consider buying one of the mobile credit card machines – it would be a right decision, as these devices have already proved being beneficial for the most business types. In case you company hires travelling salespeople, or regularly arranges remote sales, or takes part in exhibitions, sales, fairs, movable presentations, different events on the go – there is hardly any other thing which could compete with a mobile credit card device in the matter of usefulness. If you provide services at the client’s place, such as plumbing, carpentering, painting, cleaning etc., if your business involves after delivery payments, the value of credit card processing device can be hardly overestimated. A good number of business owners have already tried and appreciated mobile credit card machines, as it provides some dramatic advantages to the whole process of merchandising.

Even if you have a static business and conduct all the sales from your office or shop, having a portable credit card device might be useful: the whole world is trying to get wireless not without a reason. The freedom and mobility are highly appreciated both in everyday life and in business, that is why we appreciate the advantages of cell phones, notebooks and other items which work thanks to the cellular signals. We are getting less and less dependent on the electricity and cords when it comes to communication and bank operations.

The most attractive features of mobile credit card machines, except the small size and portability, of course, include the “store and forward” operations. It means you have a freedom of action even if the coverage does not reach the place you conduct the transaction. The cards’ information will be saved and processed later, but the transaction will be confirmed at once. Your clients will not have to worry about state of their funds – that these have a receipt printing application as well. Another advantage is the ability of a customer to swipe his or her card: it makes the operation more reliable and secure, as no information is required to be written down.

Mobile credit card machines are available in multitude of styles and sizes. Of course, most people are attracted by the compact size and possibility to hold a device in a hand while conducting sales. But there are also machines designed to be placed on a working table or counter, and it depends on the peculiarities of your business which variant is more appropriate.

About the cost of the device – it varies depending on how sophisticated and advanced a model is. Also the number of applications and special features are taken into account. And, of course, the size of the machine: the smaller it is the higher the price, as a rule. But simple and easy to use mobile credit card machines usually do rather well in case you need only standard operations. Besides, not everyone is willing to learn about sophisticated software. Everything depends on the type of your business, places and situations you are going to use your device in, but in any case a credit card machine is an extremely useful thing.

By Brantley Graham

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Card Machines

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Credit Card Machines

Why you need a PCI compliant credit card machine

Because we live in an insecure world

In January 2009, Heartland Payment Systems announced a data breach that may have compromised tens of millions of credit and debit card transactions. This breach was one of the largest in history, and came on the heels of another large breach in December 2008 of RBS Worldplay (a susidiary of Citizens Financial Group Inc.) which compromised 1.5 million credit card numbers. Other large breaches include Hannaford Brothers Co. in March 2008 (4.2 million numbers), and TJX Companies, Inc. (Marshalls and TJ Maxx) in 2007, who reported 45 million numbers had been compromised over a 3-year period.

Closer to home, I received new Discover Cards in the mail last week with a short explanation that our account had been compromised.

What are PCI standards?

PCI (Payment Card Industry) standards are provided by the PCI Security Standards Council, an organization founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa, Inc. to promote security through strict guidelines and education. In order for a processing terminal to be deemed “PCI compliant”, it must meet the high security standards of the Council which have been put in place to prevent cardholder information from being stolen or tampered with. For instance, a PCI compliant credit card machine will not retain transaction information after a daily batch has been submitted to a payment processor.

Will your credit card machine become a dinosaur?

In 2008, Visa/Mastercard began a 5-phase process that would phase out insecure credit card processing equipment by requiring that payment processors only offer PCI compliant credit card terminals to NEW merchant account customers. The fifth phase will be implemented in July, 2010. At that point payment processors will require ALL merchants to use PCI compliant terminal. What will it cost to replace my card processing equipment with a PCI compliant terminal?

Many merchants are finding that the cost to replace their current credit card processing equipment can be quite expensive. A recent post at the Small Business Ideas Forum stated:

I recently received a letter from my merchant services provider saying that the device I have been using to accept credit cards for the last eight years needs to be replaced because of new regulations that are being put into place by Visa and MasterCard. They say I could be fined if i don’t replace it with a new state of the art terminal! I looked into it, and it is true that they are implementing new security standards that are phasing out a lot of the older credit card terminals effective on 7/1/2010.

In my opinion it’s just a scam by Visa and MasterCard to sell credit card terminals! But what do I know? The bad part is that the credit card terminal my provider is offering to replace my old one costs $600!!!

While this poster is definitely wrong about the new guidelines being used as a means for Visa/MasterCard to increase their profits, I’m sure the cost of replacing his equipment was a shock. Thankfully, there is cost-effective solution when it comes to terminal replacement. Merchant service providers, such as Money Tree Merchant Services include free credit card machines or wireless terminals as part of their merchant account packages. When you become a new retail customer, your equipment is automatically be upgraded to a PCI compliant terminal at no additional cost.

PCI compliance is a matter of security and safety not just for you as a merchant, but for your customers as well. Security should be viewed as a benefit, a benefit that your company can promote. In the end it will bring in more income and the cost does not have to be prohibitive.

By Perry Silverberg

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Portable Credit Card Machines

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Credit Machine Photos

Merchants use mobile or portable credit card machines during point-of-sale (POS) purchases. They have become all too common and are extremely practical to have at a store or restaurant.

POS card machines are used everywhere. They process credit and debit cards. What many customers do not realize is that these wireless credit card machines are a new technology. The newest machines do not need a power cord because they are operated remotely. Many of them are so small that they can fit into a pocket.

Some mobile credit card machines have been upgraded to accept smart cards and food provision cards for people who need government assistance. A merchant can purchase a machine that has been programmed to allow gift cards as well.

Credit and debit card machines were designed for efficient, safe, and convenient transactions between the customer and the service provider. Merchants and customers do not have to worry about a lengthy wait because these little machines can be connected through Wi- Fi, cable and DSL.

It also provides peace of mind to the customer because the POS can be conducted in their presence since the device is movable. Purchasers do not have to be concerned with an employee taking their card to swipe and stealing private information from them. These hands-free machines have eliminated those worries.

Now mobile credit and debit card machines are used by most merchants and vendors because they can walk around and handle business transactions anywhere. This makes it effortless for retailers to take it anywhere that they conduct business. Restaurants, open-air markets, swap meets, expos, and flea markets are prime locations for these machines. This is due to the fact that the machine can be moved around each customer with ease.

The mobile credit card machines have been popularized because they decrease the expenses of operating a business. There are fewer chances of fraudulent behavior from customers because the merchant is present at the POS transaction. The newest models of these machines can issue an immediate alert to the merchant if the card being swiped has been declared stolen or has a frozen account.

A Notebook and laptop can be converted into a portable credit/debit card machine too. It is amazing that this technology exists. There is software that can be purchased for a computer’s conversion into a POS device. After a credit card swiper has been plugged into the laptop, business can begin. This is an inexpensive option for small businesses that want to maintain low costs. If a printer has already been installed then the business can also print out receipts for customers.

The most cutting edge technology on the market is the cell phone processing machine. This will be the new wave of the future and it has not become well known but it will be famous soon. A vendor can simply punch in the credit or debit card number for processing and hook a printer up to the phone to access receipts. Cell phone credit card swipers have already been invented but they are just entering the hi-tech market and will see increasing demand.

An efficient POS purchase can be made anywhere in the world with safety and assurance for business owners and the clients. The service industry and purchasing just became a little more like the space industry with this new remote equipment. It is going to change the way everyone handles business.

By Eddie Lamb

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