Tag Archives: Interchange

AlignCloud and HMS partner up

Host Merchant Services, an industry leading provider of payment processing and e-commerce services for small and medium businesses, announced a promising new partnership with cloud consulting firm AlignCloud. This partnership is the product of extensive research and collaboration and the bold new alliance represents an exciting opportunity for customers to benefit from the combined expertise of these two companies.

AlignCloud tailors services for cloud providers and end-users alike. From cloud readiness assessment planning to cloud vendor management, AlignCloud provides indispensable services for all cloud customers. For cloud hosting providers, AlignCloud can help providers train sales staff, draft sales plans and fully engage with Web marketing and SEO. With its focus on the cloud and web hosting market, AlignCloud is a natural referral partner for Host Merchant Services.

HMS CEO Lou Honick has aptly summarized the buzz surrounding this collaboration. “Our expertise in e-commerce, payment cost optimization, and security meshes perfectly with AlignCloud to create compelling offerings,” Honick said of the AlignCloud partnership. AlignCloud clients can now seamlessly access secure, reliable merchant services, PCI compliance solutions, and e-commerce.

In the business world, demand for cloud services has reached an all time high. As mobile devices become more important for business, public worries about information security keep pace. Cloud Hosting is a type of hosting platform that allows customers powerful, scalable and reliable hosting based on clustered load-balanced servers and utility billing. Web hosting services allow individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web.

For AlignCloud’s customers, HMS has designed services to insure absolute peace of mind. According to AlignCloud CEO Stacy Griggs, the program will provide clients with “lower rates and better service for credit card processing, mobile payments and merchant services.” The experts at HMS combine technical knowledge with uniquely dynamic customer service. Through expertise in data security and fraud reduction, Host Merchant Services promotes more confident commerce, both for businesses and customers alike.

A cloud hosted website can be more reliable than alternatives since other computers in the cloud can compensate when a single piece of hardware goes down. Also, local power disruptions or even natural disasters are less problematic for cloud hosted sites, as cloud hosting is decentralized. Cloud hosting also allows providers to charge users only for resources consumed by the user, rather than a flat fee for the amount the user expects they will use, or a fixed cost upfront hardware investment.

For Host Merchant Services, the partnership with AlignCloud is part of their successful strategy to partner with the web hosting and cloud services industry. Companies like AlignCloud can better serve clients by integrating credit card processing into their offerings. Through Host Merchant Services, AlignCloud customers will experience hassle-free credit card processing with 24x7x365 hour technical support and responsive website.

Clients of AlignCloud can also earn extra revenue by referring their customers to the program.

Discover On Us Update [2023 Update]

Discover is updating the Discover “On Us” plan yet again, in an attempt to entice more merchants to accept Discover cards. Originally, the Add Discover on Discover promotion from 2011, the plan was based on the incentive that merchants begin accepting Discover cards for the first time and as a reward for this bold new move, those merchants would receive no transaction fees from Discover for an entire year.

Renaming the initiative to the Discover On Us plan, it once again was launched over the holidays a year later in 2012. The offer from Discover, through Host Merchant Services was bold and exciting. It essentially gave qualifying merchants a year of being able to process Discover payments at no cost. Discover “On Us” gave the merchants no fees when their customers swipe a Discover card. And they had this benefit for an entire year. The program lasted until December 31, 2012.

Then in July, 2013, Discover brought it all back. For many businesses the summer months are their “busy season” and as such this program is designed to add up to great savings all summer long. The “On Us” program offered from Discover is brought to merchants through Host Merchant services. When a customer uses a Discover card at checkout, merchants will not be charged any fees or interchange rates, so all the revenue stays in the businesses pocket.

This time Discover is extending it through June 30, 2014.

Download this PDF to discover how you can take advantage of this amazing opportunity and start saving on transaction fees for an entire year.

MCX, Paydiant, and the Battle Over Mobile Wallets [2023 Update]

The mobile Internet revolution is rapidly changing the longstanding status quo in the payment processing industry. As more people purchase items with their mobile devices, the public is demanding more options and greater security from transaction processing companies. For many long years, big banks and processing companies like Visa and Mastercard faced little competition and were free to change processing fees at will. Today, the upstart MCX network (Merchant Customer Exchange) is making a strong bid to compete in e-wallet services. This consortium of retailers recently added Kohl’s to its roster of members. The cooperative already includes major players like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Formed in August 2012, MCX has stated its intention to better protect consumer data, lower processing fees and otherwise improve conditions for mobile shoppers.

In many ways, MCX represents the most forward-looking hopes of the retail industry. Though the network is not fully operational, industry watchers are fascinated by the ways that MCX could change the e-commerce landscape. In its bid to create a viable alternative payment network, MCX seeks to emulate the success of Paypal, the most successful independent online transaction processor. With its focus on mobile purchasing, MCX shows a feel for the developing trends of modern commerce. As the battle over mobile payment fees heats up, many consumers aren’t aware of how their payment choices effect the underlying struggle for lower fees in the mobile commerce sector.

Increasingly, large banks and financial companies are bringing enormous resources to bear in their efforts to woo mobile consumers and prolong their dominance. While these large institutions are currently making concessions to secure their position in mobile payments, one could persuasively argue that more choice will lead to greater satisfaction for participants in mobile commerce.

Of course, MCX faces an uphill battle in its quest to change modern payments. Major banks and Interchange processors have rallied around Paydiant, the mainstream platform for e-wallet services. Though far from perfect, Paydiant has won broad acceptance for its widespread relevance and ease of use. Over the next few years, the competition between MCX and Paydiant will represent one front in the all-out war to control and define mobile payments. At the same time, Paypal will likely make every effort to extend its commanding position into the mobile commerce sector. While Google Wallet has yet to make major gains in mobile processing, it is never wise to underestimate the potential of this groundbreaking corporation.

Every month, dramatic numbers of people start using mobile payments to purchase goods and services. Familiar with brands like Visa and Mastercard, many of these consumers will gravitate towards Paydiant. At the same time, MCX has hired media-savvy personnel to potentially launch their brand into global prominence. If any group has a real chance of changing the status quo of modern transaction processing, it is MCX.

Compared to monolithic financial companies, retailers are arguably better poised to meet the changing needs of modern consumers. Only time will tell which mobile processing network will achieve the same kind of dominance that Paypal has realized in online payment processing. Though consumers are fairly loyal to major financial brands like Visa, the new decade tells a tale of increased public hunger for technological innovation and greater choice. Whoever succeeds in dominating mobile online payments, it is likely that consumers will experience a new era of speedy, secure transactions. As mobile devices continue to revolutionize modern culture, people from all walks of life will learn to appreciate the ease and convenience of doing business through cell phones and mobile devices. Experts can only guess at how many middle-class consumers will ultimately execute most of their daily payments online.

Next-Day Funding Now Available

The Official Merchant Services Blog would like to announce that Host Merchant Services has now added next-day funding to their already impressive line of services. Merchant services customers appreciate getting their deposits the next business day, as this is critical for funding payroll and inventory purchases for the week.

Merchants can now expect funding for MasterCard, Visa, and Discover transactions by the next business day, rather than within 48-72 hours, as is customary for other processors. All HMS Merchants can qualify. HMS long-term merchants will attain next-day funding, immediately upon request.

A merchant who currently has two day funding for example, would not see the money from a transaction processed at noon on a Monday, until Wednesday morning at the earliest, creating a 48-hour delay that could be the source of a merchants’ cash flow dilemma.

Any merchant that processes with Host Merchant Services and batches, or settles their terminal regularly in the evening, will receive those funds in their bank account by the next business day. Batching is the end-of-day or end-of-shift process in which the merchant balances and submits transactions for clearing and settlement. This allows executives to make quicker business decisions that impact their bottom line, as well as increase cash flow for the business.

Merchants should beware however that not all next day funding programs are created equal. While many companies claim to offer next day funding, merchant account providers have different capabilities and requirements resulting in very different times for fund dispersal.

Next day funding can benefit particular types of merchants like restaurants, principally when it comes to those that have heavy weekend volumes. For these merchants, next day funding can help them gain their weekend proceeds faster so they can be used to fund payroll and inventory purchases for the week. These restaurants would get their deposit for Friday, Saturday and Sunday activity on Monday instead of Tuesday, which is a very big cash flow benefit.

Host Merchant Services is always looking for ways to make it easier and more convenient to do business as well as provide added value in accelerating the growth of companies. With next day funding Host is enabling small business owners to improve their cash flow with faster funding of dollars earned through credit card sales. This corresponds with HMS’s ongoing goal to provide quality payment transactions solutions at the best price to merchants across the United States. Contact Host Merchant Services now to save money on your processing fees, as well as see your money a full day earlier than with other processors.

iPhones, NFC and Rewards Cards [2023 Update]

Today the Official Merchant Services Blog brings NFC technology back into the spotlight, with a look at a pilot program U.S. Bancorp is running in two test cities. The company, one of the nation’s more tech-oriented big banks, is joining the ranks of companies testing near-field communication (NFC) technology by pairing a rewards credit card with Apple Inc.’s iPhone in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Portland, Oregon.

It’s been a while since we discussed the technology surrounding Near Field Communication, or NFC, so lets take a moment to recap. NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices with a touch. This touch capability allows for sharing, pairing, and transaction capability between the NFC devices. A smartphone or tablet that is NFC capable can be used as a keycard or an ID card. The same device can also be used to make credit card payments.

U.S. Bancorp, based in Minneapolis is offering new holders of its FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature card a special sleeve for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The sleeve contains a microNFC chip, and an antenna that facilitates payments by communicating with contactless point-of-sale terminals. Unlike a small but growing number of smart phones running Google Inc.’s Android operating system, the iPhone does not have a built-in NFC chip. With the sleeve and U.S. Bank’s new Go Mobile app, cardholders will be able to use their iPhones to make purchases at any merchant location that accepts the contactless Visa payWave card.

Cardholders will receive the case free for participating in the test. The case also includes a battery that extends the iPhone’s charge time by more than 50%, a feature U.S. Bank says will appeal to frequent travelers. The card itself is free in the first year but afterward charges a $49 annual fee.

U.S. Bank, already has offered the FlexPerks card with a Europay-MasterCard-Visa (EMV) chip so that international travelers can use their cards easily in EMV countries, which is now most of the industrialized world. The new test is part of an effort to learn how consumers and merchants take to NFC, according to Dominic Venturo, chief innovation officer at U.S. Bank Payment Services.

Some major players in mobile payments, notably PayPal Inc., Square Inc. and Starbucks Corp., are using non-NFC technologies such as browser-based systems or 2-D bar codes. NFC is a high-capacity, fast technology, but skeptics cite its need for chip-equipped phones and POS terminals as reasons to use other technologies. And while still small considering that the U.S. has about 8 million card-accepting locations, Venturo says the number of locations capable of accepting NFC payments, is now up to about 300,000 and growing.

U.S. Bank picked Salt Lake City and Portland for the NFC testing because of their tech-oriented populations and previous experience with high-tech card or Internet systems. Salt Lake City, for example, is one of the two test cities for Isis, the NFC mobile-payments joint venture of AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA. Also, the Utah Transit Authority, the Salt Lake area’s mass-transit system, already accepts contactless cards. Google, meanwhile, picked Portland as its first test site for Google Offers, a competitor of Groupon Inc.’s daily-deal offers now available in about 40 cities. U.S. Bank has no end date for the test and in fact considers it a limited rollout that may expand later this year.

This technology is being embraced by some major companies in the e-commerce industry for its ability to process credit card transactions. PayPal purchased Zong for just that reason. Visa invested heavily in mobile payments, as seen by their marketing plans for the 2012 Olympics. Google is making its Google Wallet and Google+ beta work toward that same vision of mobile payments made through NFC-based touch technology. Only time will tell if the future of NFC payments is in fact bright and as usual, Host Merchant Services will keep you up to date on any new developments.

Industry Terms: E-Commerce [2023 Update]

This is the latest installment in The Official Merchant Services Blog’s Knowledge Base effort. We want to make the payment processing industry’s terms and buzzwords clear. We want to remove any and all confusion merchants might have about how the industry works. Host Merchant Services promises: we deliver personal service and clarity. So we’re going to take some time to explain how everything works. This ongoing series is where we define industry related terms and slowly build up a knowledge base and as we get more and more of these completed, we’ll collect them in our resource archive for quick and easy access.

E-Commerce

Today’s term is Electronic Commerce, or E-Commerce for short. E-Commerce is the process of using the Internet or computer networks in order to buy or sell information, services, or products. This includes all transactions involved in conducting business over the fore mentioned networks. The act of buying or selling over these networks allows for secure paperless transactions to happen electronically. It has also given many businesses the ability to expand from local and regional markets to national and global markets.

Initially E-commerce just involved business to business transactions over private networks, it wasn’t until the mid 1990′s that it became completely open to the public. These businesses were using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), which was a transfer of electronic data from computer to computer and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), which was an electronic transfer of money from one computer to another in order to do business with each other. Doing business like this guaranteed that the transactions would be completed in a faster and less expensive way. Advancing computer networking capabilities led to the public use of the Internet and opened the doors of E-commerce to the world.

E-Commerce has a major impact on the markets that businesses can reach. Businesses now have the ability to reach a large global market allowing for a greater return on their product sales. Retailers can sell more of a particular product at a lower cost, as a result of business being done online and not by man power alone, which gives them the ability to lower prices and increase sales. Although we may take advantage of E-commerce and the ease it creates in our daily lives, its benefit to the global economy is always changing and ever-increasing as technologies continue to develop. Everyday we see new businesses from all over the world implementing E-commerce into their business strategies, resulting in the growth of a “global community”.

Host Merchant Services offers a variety of E-commerce solutions to fit your business, including HMS Express, our own cutting edge in house payment gateway. HMS is able to interface with most of the major Payment Gateways out there, including Authorize.net. We also offer unparalleled protection for all of our merchants in the form of our PCI Compliance Initiative.

Interchange Settlement Update: Challengers Awaiting Final Approval

Today the Official Merchant Services Blog brings you another update on the ongoing Interchange lawsuit settlement. We began talking about the possibility of ‘The Big Cash Comeback’ back when the settlement was first announced in July, and later we discussed the opposition to the settlement. Last week a federal appellate court denied a retailer’s appeal to review part of the controversial settlement in the massive credit card interchange case, clearing the way for the trial court to move toward final approval. At the same, the process of notifying the millions of merchants affected is getting under way.

Judge John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y., gave preliminary approval of the settlement on Nov. 9 and has set a hearing for next Sept. 13 to consider final approval.

Lawyers representing seven merchant trade groups as well as some individual merchants asked the Second Circuit Court to consider a narrow part of Gleeson’s preliminary approval, the provision of the settlement that releases defendants Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc., and some major banks from liability for interchange pricing policies. The provision is shaping up to be the key objection of the 1,200 retailers and trade associations since it would affect current and even future card-accepting merchants. This case, now seven years in the making, began when merchant plaintiffs accused the networks and banks of using anti-competitive practices in setting interchange rates.

Under the settlement announced in July by lawyers for both sides, the defendants will pay class merchants about $6 billion in damages, and Visa and MasterCard will provide another $1.2 billion in temporarily reduced interchange rates and ease up on certain rules, especially ones restricting merchants’ ability to add a surcharge for card transactions. In return, the networks want to be released from future court challenges by merchants regarding Interchange and network rules. The defendants also are paying about $550 million to a handful of large merchant plaintiffs that have now dropped their claims.

Judge Gleeson indicated that the standard for final approval is much higher than the one for preliminary approval, which means that the objecting plaintiffs still have some hope even though parts of the settlement already are going into effect or will be soon. For example, the networks have 60 days from Nov. 27, when the court entered Gleeson’s order implementing preliminary approval, to conform their rules to terms of the proposed settlement.

The district court meanwhile, is setting up the machinery to administer the settlement process. Gleeson appointed Kansas City, Kan.-based Epiq Systems Inc., a specialist in legal-systems administration and technology, to oversee notifications and related matters. That is no small task: the class settlement covers any merchant that has accepted Visa and MasterCard cards between Jan. 1, 2004, and late 2012. Experts estimate 6 million to 8 million affected merchants that must be notified. The settlement agreement also calls for merchant acquirers to assist in the notification process.

While we have discussed this settlement from different aspects previously, noting the advantages it would seem to give the Issuing Banks over merchants, the settlement seems to be proceeding along without much further adjustment or negotiation. Although it is not finalized yet, the dissenter’s cries seem to be going unheard, as they believe that the settlement protects the status quo more than anything, and will not change the way the networks set interchange. Host Merchant Services will keep you informed of all the latest news involving this landmark litigation.

‘Tis The Season, For Facebook Gifts [2023 Update]

This holiday season, the Official Merchant Services Blog brings you the latest on Facebook’s newest venture, Facebook Gifts. On Tuesday, the company announced that any U.S. member can now send Facebook friends tangible gifts, which includes wine, digital gift cards and even charitable donations.

Facebook Gifts

The Facebook Gifts program, previously available only to some users of the social media site, began as the ‘Facebook Wish List‘ program we covered a few months ago. Since Facebook takes a percentage of every transaction, this program could also be the “gift” that gives significant profits to the company. The social network hasn’t revealed how much it has made from the service, but Facebook’s 170 million users in the U.S. could generate an estimated billion-dollar revenue stream for the now-public company.

In addition to the advertisements that run on Facebook, the company has been selling virtual goods. Since the line is blurring between socializing and shopping online, this move builds on the companies existing strengths.

From Virtual to Real Goods

Billy Pidgeon, senior analyst at Inside Network told the E-Commerce Times, “Google is stepping up in e-commerce, and we’re seeing that Pinterist has a laser focus on retail. At the same time, we’re seeing that online retailers such as Amazon and eBay are looking to get more social. This is really just the next step in greater convergence of the two.” Social media sites looking to enter the e-commerce market, and online retailers looking to enter the social media market continue to point to expanding e-commerce trendsas the reasoning for branching out.

“This is a major opportunity for Facebook and could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue,” said Greg Sterling of Sterling Market Research. “However, user experience, privacy and security considerations are critically important here. In addition, the selection of products that are available is also important.”

After the disappointment of Facebook’s May IPO, this could be the holiday miracle that Facebook and its investors hoped would deliver the goods. At the very least, it could help the company end the year on an upbeat note.

Facing Facebook Facts

The different types of products available will most likely determine whether this will be the gift that keeps on giving or whether the company will face a negative reaction that could turn off some users. The integration of gifts could make the Facebook experience a more organic one, and in turn the project could reap more success. However there will always be some people who are wary of giving Facebook their credit card numbers and purchase histories.

In order for end-users to feel comfortable using their credit cards and making purchases on the site, Facebook needs to change the culture of the user experience and provide sufficient security assurances, there enlies the challenge.

Merchants Appeal Key Part Of Interchange Settlement

Today the Official Merchant Services Blog brings you the most recent developments in the ongoing credit card interchange settlement lawsuit.

Merchants opposing the pending credit card interchange case filed an appeal last week challenging the court’s preliminary approval of a key part of the settlement. The appeal, filed by four merchants and seven merchant trade groups, asks the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to nullify the lower court’s preliminary approval. The merchants are collectively challenging a provision of the settlement that releases defendants Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc., and a handful of major banks from liability for interchange pricing policies. Meaning that merchants could no longer sue Visa or MasterCard for interchange policies they deem unfair.

“This settlement has fatal legal defects and should not get preliminary approval. We look forward to presenting the problems we see in this proposal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals,” said Jeffrey Shinder, the merchant group’s attorney and managing partner at Constantine Cannon LLC, New York, N.Y.

About 1,200 merchants and trade groups have raised objections to the agreement since it was reached in July. In the deal, the card networks and banks agreed to temporary credit card interchange relief valued at $1.2 billion and $6 billion in damage payments for merchants along with relaxation of certain network rules, including ones that restricted surcharging. The pact received preliminary approval from the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based district court’s Judge John Gleeson on Nov. 9.

Besides the liability release, merchants have objected that the settlement does nothing to reform the networks’ interchange processes and cements in place a number of anti-competitive practices. “The merchant community is deeply committed to reforms that bring transparency and competition to the broken electronic payments market. The volume and diversity of those objecting to this flawed proposal is remarkable and continues to grow,” Shinder said in his statement.

The 11 merchants and merchant groups filing the appeal are: Coborn’s Inc., D’Agostino Supermarkets Inc., Jetro Holdings Inc., Jetro Cash & Carry Enterprises LLC, Affiliated Foods Midwest Cooperative Inc., National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of Truck Stop Operators, National Community Pharmacists Association, National Cooperative Grocers Association, National Grocers Association, and the National Restaurant Association.

Opponents said the plan would protect what they view as anti-competitive interchange practices from further challenges by merchants, even from merchants that don’t yet exist. Opponents also questioned the value of the new surcharging freedoms, noting that 10 states prohibit the practice. This settlement attempts to force a one-size-fits-all solution onto a wildly diverse group of merchants, which may be extremely unsuccessful.

We have discussed this settlement from different aspects previously, noting the advantages it would seem to give the Issuing Banks over merchants. Although it is not finalized yet, the dissenter’s cries seem to be going relatively unheard, as they believe that the settlement protects the status quo more than anything, and will not change the way the networks set interchange. Host Merchant Services will keep you informed of all the latest news involving this legal battle between the merchants and the card-issuing giants.

Interchange Settlement Given Preliminary OK

On Friday, the Judge presiding over the controversial Interchange Settlement case in Brooklyn, N.Y. gave preliminary approval to the settlement of credit card interchange litigation announced July 13. The Official Merchant Services Blog recently explained why the controversial Interchange settlement was being considered for preliminary approval, despite the backlash from merchants and large corporations. We also began talking about the possibility of ‘The Big Cash Comeback’ when the settlement was first announced, and later we discussed the opposition to the settlement.

U.S. District Judge John Gleeson indicated in late October that his cursory review showed that the settlement probably met the legal requirements for preliminary approval. He scheduled a hearing for Nov. 9 to get input from lawyers for the merchant plaintiffs and network and bank defendants. The judge said final approval requires a higher standard, and lawyers don’t expect final sign-off anytime before 2013. Opponents argued that the plan didn’t even meet the lower threshold for a preliminary approval.

The National Retail Federation, the leading retail-industry trade group and an outspoken foe of the agreement, quickly issued a statement saying it would “explore all legal options.” But the Electronic Payments Coalition, a lobbying group of card networks and banks, said it viewed Gleeson’s ruling “as further indication that this historic settlement is a fair and balanced resolution to the epic swipe-fee battle.”

The NRF’s Mallory Duncan said in a statement that “retailers, their customers and competition would suffer irreparable harm if this one-sided deal is allowed to move forward. We will consult with our attorneys and act as soon as possible to correct this injustice.” The NRF is not a plaintiff in this case, and made no mention of which legal remedies it would pursue.

MasterCard Inc. general counsel Noah Hanft said in a statement that the settlement “was reached with the assistance of the court and was supported by the merchant class representing millions of large and small retailers, and prominent trade groups across the country.” MasterCard also said it remains confident that “the court will grant final approval in the coming months.”

Visa Inc. said “this settlement is a fair and reasonable compromise for all parties. It is the result of two years of negotiation between retailers, their legal counsel, the networks, financial institutions and two highly regarded mediators under the supervision of the court.”

Merchants and some trade associations sued Visa, MasterCard, and about a dozen banks in 2005 alleging credit card interchange is unfair under federal antitrust laws. With a trial set for September 2012, the parties reached a settlement that calls for the defendants to pay more than $6 billion in damages and temporarily lower credit interchange to the tune of $1.2 billion. The networks also are to grant relief from some of their rules, including an easing of restrictions on surcharging, and let merchants negotiate in groups in the interchange-setting process. In return, the merchants are to agree not to sue the networks over interchange and rules in the future.

While we have discussed this settlement from different aspects previously, noting the advantages it would seem to give the Issuing Banks over merchants, the settlement seems to be proceeding along without any further adjustment or negotiation. Although it is not finalized yet, the dissenter’s cries seem to be going unheard, as they believe that the settlement protects the status quo more than anything, and will not change the way the networks set interchange. Host Merchant Services will keep you informed of all the latest news involving this legal battle between the merchants and the card-issuing giants.