Are you the owner or manager of a non-profit organization? If so, you may be eligible for lower credit card processing rates than regular businesses. This article will discuss the best solution for non-profits to accept credit card payments: let’s take a look! As a non-profit, your goal should be to make it easy for […]
The Best Solution for Nonprofits to Accept Credit Card Payments Read More »
In 2005, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Visa and MasterCard by claimants who argued that the two credit/debit card providers were colluding in price fixing and anti-competitive practices. The case was settled in 2013, and the card companies agreed to provide compensations totaling $6.05 billion, reduced by 25% to account for exemptions and exclusions,
HMS to provide recovery services for claimants in Visa/MasterCard class-action lawsuit Read More »
On Wednesday April 9, 2014 Bank of America settled a lawsuit and agreed to pay $772 million in penalties for deceiving millions of customers into buying costly and unneeded services when they signed up for credit cards. The Crux of the Case The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that Bank of America illegally deceived 2.9
Bank of America to pay $772 Million Penalty Read More »
Chargebacks are a headache for both merchants and credit card processing companies alike. They create problems with merchants getting money for the goods and services they provided, and can really cut into the profit for both small business owners and larger corporations. Although chargebacks cannot be 100% gotten rid of, there are some steps that
Stemming the Tide of Fraud [2023 Update] Read More »
EMV Smart Cards are an inevitability. They are coming, they will be standard, and the United States is going to have to adjust. The major credit card companies, in preparation for changing the standard have instituted a shift in liability. The fraud liability shift goes into effect on October 1, 2015 for Visa, MasterCard, American
Counterfeit Fraud Liability Read More »
The swipe fee antitrust lawsuit that The Official Merchant Services Blog has been covering for a few years now has an update: Wal-Mart, accusing Visa of excessively high card swipe fees, is suing Visa for $5 billion. The action by Wal-Mart is being taken because Wal Mart opted out of the settlement of the class
Wal-Mart Sues Visa Read More »
On Tuesday, February 25, 2014, Nevada and Delaware lawmakers signed a landmark agreement to join the states together in online poker ventures, potentially increasing payouts for residents who gamble online. The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada and Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware established a legal framework for the first authorized interstate
Online Poker in Delaware [2024 Update] Read More »
Apparently the general disdain that people stereotypically have for the DMV is shared by the collective Hacker community. Or maybe local governments still haven’t caught up with the cutting edge of cyber crimes, leaving your sensitive credit card information in danger of virtual theft even while you stand in an agonizingly long line just to
Hax Target: Los Angeles DMV [2023 Update] Read More »
Today marks the start of CoinSummit San Francisco, a two-day event ”connecting virtual currency entrepreneurs, angel and VC investors, hedge fund professionals and others who are looking to learn and network in the virtual currency industry.” CoinSummit will take place on March 25-26 2014 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Many in
Here Comes CoinSummit! [2023 Update] Read More »
Following up on our recent blog about terminal of the future, the VX 520, today we’re going to let the other shoe drop. With the payment processing industry thrusting its spotlight onto security in the wake of the Target Data Breach, the PCI DSS and its upgraded protocols are getting a lot of attention. Host
Terminal Retirements Read More »
Sometimes the future just sort of sneaks up on you. Even if you’ve given yourself reminders, sticky notes, calendar alarms, and the proverbial string tied around your finger, the future still has a way of creeping up on you unawares. Which is why Host Merchant Services is happy to offer its customers a payment processing
The VX 520 Embraces the Future Read More »
February was the month that the all-seeing eye of the media turned its lidless gaze upon Bitcoin and the craggy peaks of Mt. Gox, the Japanese Bitcoin exchange site. Almost half a billion dollars went missing from Mt. Gox, the exchange was rocked, Bitcoin was scorched, and the site went bankrupt. The Official Merchant Services Blog
The Doom of Mt. Gox [2023 Update] Read More »
Twitter, the modern equivalent of Mad Libs and the yellow journalism of the late 19th century, has revealed to us a gem of irony that makes the whole Target getting hacked story seem that much more poignant. No one is safe in this bold new era of credit card hackers and identity thieves. Not even
PayPal President Hacked [2023 Update] Read More »
It’s mid-February 2014. The Mid-Atlantic, homebase to Host Merchant Services, has been mired in a series of snowstorms that makes the jaunty tune of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” seem months and months away. Yet today, February 12, is the day pitchers and catchers report for Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training 2014. Six days ago
It’s 1, 2, 3 Swipes, You’re Out! Read More »
Back in November, The Official Merchant Services Blog dove into the Bitcoin currency craze with an in-depth look at Bitcoin mining. Bitcoin, introduced in 2008 by a programmer or group of programmers under the name Satoshi Nakamoto, has no central issuing authority and uses a public ledger to verify encrypted transactions. It is a virtual currency
The Bitcoin Roller Coaster Read More »
According to a story in the payment processing industry periodical Digital Transactions, Heartland Payment Systems Inc. filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday against Mercury Payment Systems LLC. The suit alleged deceptive pricing by Mercury allowed Mercury to lure scores of merchants — well, 30 — away from Heartland and attract prospects to Mercury that had been weighing
Heartland Payments Sues Mercury Read More »
Holiday Inn, Marriott Hotels Suspected Targets of Data Breach The Official Merchant Services Blog has breaking news regarding the ongoing series of credit card data breaches. One the heels of the major hack of discount retailer of Target that stole credit and debit card data from 40 million accounts right smack dab in the middle
Hackers find new target: Mariott [2023 Update] Read More »
Apple recently set a new record as it sold over nine million new iPhones in one weekend. The new offerings consisted of two related yet distinct models. Both phones figure prominently in an exciting new narrative for mobile credit card processing. The iPhone 5S is a prestige model with solid glass and aluminum construction. Though
iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S on HMSPay Read More »