Merchant accounts are bank accounts that make it possible for a business to accept a credit card and/or a debit card as payment. While the accounts are offered through ordinary banks, they are not the same as the checking or savings account you have with your local bank. A merchant account is more like a contract between the bank providing the account and the business owner, with rules about how products or services are sold and paid for.
Use Credit Cards Wisely During The Holiday Season
When November rolls around every year, stores begin advertising like crazy, and people start getting in the mood to shop. Just about everyone has a list of people for whom gifts must be purchased, and the only way to accomplish this is obviously to spend money. Unfortunately, many people see the holiday season as a good excuse to put all purchases and expenses on a credit card because they dont have enough cash on hand to pay for everything all at once.
Top 10 Ways To Save Money On Credit Cards
The following tips are basic principles about obtaining and using credit cards that can save you some serious cash and keep you out of debt.
Tips For Avoiding Credit Fraud
There are a variety of ways that thieves can get your information and use your cards to make purchases. Here are a few of the more common ways:
Securing Online Payments
A study by TNS Research in August of 2006 shows that 87% of online shoppers are concerned with credit card fraud and 85% of online shoppers are concerned about identity theft when providing their credit information online. As an online retailer, you must work to gain trust of your customers in order to enable success of your e-commerce business. It certainly won’t do if 65% of your site shoppers discontinue their orders before paying because of the check-out process!
On-Line Credit Applications Are Fast And Easy
Gone are the days of waiting several days or weeks to be approved for a credit card. While it is still possible to apply for credit via snail mail, it is now more common than ever to apply for any type of credit via the Internet. With the help of the Internet, its possible to apply for and receive approval on a line of credit in a matter of seconds or minutes.
Line Of Credit Or Loan?
When you need cash, is it better to obtain a line of credit or get a loan? The answer depends mainly upon your self discipline and what you plan on using the money for. If you want to make fixed payments over a specific period of time, then a traditional loan is your best option. If you prefer to have a line of credit that you can use whenever you need to as long as you have money available, then a line of credit is probably the route you want to take.
Holiday Shopping And Credit Cards
Minimize Credit Card Spending During the Holidays
Hidden Credit Card Fees
By federal laws, credit card fees cannot actually be “hidden” from consumers, but that doesn’t mean that all credit card users fully understand how they are charged or what instances will result in fees or increases to existing rates. Sometimes, the fees are provided in the small print of the back of your statements, or only in the account disclosure statement you receive when you first open the account- so it’s easy to over look the fine details of credit card fees- and that…
Give The Holiday Season A Little Credit
Falling into the trap of overspending on credit cards during the holiday season is never a good thing as far as your wallet is concerned, but wise spending with credit during your holiday shopping can be really beneficial.
Evaluating Credit Card Processing Companies
There are numerous credit card processing companies to choose from, each offering different features and fees. Choosing a company to process your customer’s credit card payments can be a daunting task, and sometimes you’ll experience difficulties both looking for a merchant account provider and then afterwards- if you make the wrong selection!
Contact-Less Payment With Credit Cards?
An embedded radio chip in credit cards could change the way we use our plastic friends when making purchases in retail establishments. The magnetic strips weve become accustomed to on the backs of our credit cards are sharing the small surface area with something called radio frequency identification, otherwise known as RFID, and may someday make swiping credit cards a thing of the past. The RFID system would let credit card users hold their card within an inch or two of…