All posts by Abtek

Abtek is a state-of-the-art Credit Card Processing and Merchant Account Solutions provider. As credit card experts, we enable businesses big and small to accept and process credit cards, as well as delivering customized processing solutions to fit your evolving business needs.

Email | Visit Abtek's Profile →

EMV® Cards, Tips

6 Easy Steps for Using EMV Chip Cards

September 14, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

The EMV liability shift is now less than three weeks away! Is your business prepared for an influx of chip card-carrying customers? You may have installed new terminals and software, but now what?

If you’ve been to Target recently, you may have noticed that the staff is now actively encouraging all customers who have EMV chip cards to run them the proper way—by dipping them in the terminal, instead of swiping. Now, accepting EMV chip cards is great for your business and even better for customers—but it can be bad for your checkout line wait times if your customers don’t know how to run them properly.

So, now it’s time to train your staff. It’s important for your employees to be patient as millions of Americans learn how to use their new cards. It’s certainly not hard to run an EMV card, but it is a significant change in the way we’re used to paying. It’s a change of habit, and it will take time for the public to become completely comfortable with the new payment process. You can share this infographic with your employees to bring them up to speed on this new-fangled technology. When they understand how to use the terminals, it will be easier for them to explain to customers how to use them as well. Remember, good customer service leads to happy customers! You can see the text-only version of this guide by clicking here.

Text-Only Version:

6 Easy Steps for Chip Payments

Examine the terminal – Does it have a portal on the bottom designed to read chips?
If not, slide your card as if you would a regular magnetic stripe card.
If yes, gently insert your card into the terminal—it should be sticking about halfway out.
Leave your card in the terminal as it reads the unique code generated by the chip. You may need to wait for up to 10 seconds for the transaction to complete.
Remove your card, and place it back safely in your wallet or purse.
Sign for the purchase to help verify your identity in the case of fraud. Or, if you are using a debit card, you may need to enter a PIN.

Why the change? EMV chip cards are designed to be significantly more secure than magnetic stripe cards. Because the chip generates a unique code for each transaction, it drastically reduces the risk of a customer’s credit card information being stolen in the event of a data breach.

Share and Enjoy

Breaking News

Abtek COO Discusses CRM Options on Website Magazine

September 1, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Tami Cohorst, Chief Operating Officer of Abtek, was recently featured on Website Magazine, a leading resource for all things digital. Find out what she has to say about CRMs for e-commerce businesses.

“Without favoring one CRM over another, retailers would do well to look for a solution that allows them to not only collect customer data, but also make notes: What kinds of purchases did the customer buy? What do you know about their demographic make-up? How frequently do they come in? This kind of information can be collected and can be used to help tailor any number of outreach strategies that lets the customer know how much you appreciate their business–even if it’s been a while since they’ve stopped in.”

See more insider CRM tips and tricks at WebsiteMagazine.com!

Share and Enjoy

EMV® Cards

How the EMV Liability Shift Will Affect Your Business

August 25, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Being able to accept EMV cards isn’t as simple as flipping a switch on your existing terminals. In most cases you’ll have to physically replace your POS equipment to be able to accept these more secure, chip-enabled cards. And with only half of merchants expecting to be ready by the October 1 deadline, there’s a lot of work still to be done.

What does the Liability Shift Really Mean?

Currently, merchants are at quite a disadvantage when it comes to credit card fraud. In the event of a fraudulent credit card charge, the merchant is first faced with the loss of the merchandise, which in most cases is irreversible. Then, the cardholder’s bank (the card-issuing bank) takes the hit for the lost funds, meaning that they’re responsible for refunding the person who was the victim of fraud. These banks, however, often look to the merchant for reimbursement, claiming that the business didn’t take the proper measures to prevent the fraudulent charge from occurring.

Come October 1, what we know about fraud liability will be flipped upside down. In essence, once the shift hits, the fraud liability will transfer to the party that has not adopted the new EMV chip card technology.

Here’s a detailed look at how the liability shift will affect your business, depending on the situation in which fraud occurs:

Situation 1: A magnetic stripe card is swiped at an outdated terminal

The merchant hasn’t gotten around to updating their terminals, but lucky for you, the fraudulent charge was made with a traditional magnetic stripe card. In this situation, both parties—the merchant and the card-issuing bank—are at fault, meaning that the liability falls initially on the card-issuing bank, just like today.

Situation 2: An EMV chip card is swiped at an outdated terminal

This is when things really go downhill for merchants. If a customer comes into your store with a chip-enabled card, but they don’t have the equipment to process it properly, they’ll be forced to run it as a magnetic stripe card. This puts the cardholder at an unnecessary risk for a breach of their payment data. In this case, the merchant has not invested in the more secure chip technology and the card-issuing bank has, so the liability falls on the merchant.

Situation 3: A magnetic stripe card is swiped at an EMV-enabled terminal

A recent poll shows that only one in 10 Americans have received new EMV chip cards from their banks. The cost to replace mag stripe credit cards is starting to catch up with the banks and we can expect a number of consumers to still be using magnetic stripe cards, even after the liability shift hits in October. In this case, so long as you have upgraded your equipment, the liability will fall on the card-issuing bank.

Situation 4: An EMV chip card is swiped at an EMV-enabled terminal

In this situation, all parties have put in the effort to upgrade their payment technologies, so it’s unlikely that fraud would even occur in the first place. However, if a fraudulent charge does occur, the liability would fall on the card-issuing bank.

Contact your merchant solutions provider today to find out how you can get EMV-compliant by October 1.

Abtek is here to help merchants like you make the transition from traditional POS terminals to EMV-enabled equipment. We know that EMV can be confusing, and we’re here to answer all of your questions. Give us a call today at (800) 544-9145 to explore your options, before it’s too late! October 1 will be here before you know it! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Share and Enjoy

Breaking News

PaymentsSource: Tami Cohorst Explores the Future of Mobile Payments

August 17, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Tami Cohorst, our vice president, was recently featured on PaymentsSource, a global online resource for all things payment-related. Take a look at what she had to say about the future of mobile payments, according to data collected from social media:

Mobile payments are quickly becoming an integral part of consumers’ daily lives. In order for businesses to stay competitive, it’s important for them to stay on top of the trends in the industry.

Social media is an important way to accomplish that. It has emerged as a major influence on the mobile payment processing landscape. Payment service providers, financial institutions and merchants are monitoring online conversations and developing processes and technology based on what consumers want in terms of mobile payment experiences.

Keep reading at PaymentsSource.com→

Share and Enjoy

Break Up With Credit Card Processor | Abtek

Merchant Service Providers

Is it Time to Break up with Your Credit Card Processor?

August 10, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Not all credit card processors are the same. Some processors are truly dedicated to your business’s success while others–well, let’s just say they have other priorities. Here are a few warning signs that may indicate it’s time for you to make a change:

They’re Not Open and Honest About their Fees

One of the biggest complaints we hear about other processors is that they’re not honest about the fees they charge. Unless they have something to hide, there’s no reason for a processor to keep their fees a secret. Honest communication is the key to a strong relationship, after all! Here at Abtek, we don’t play games with our clients—we tell them right up front exactly how much they’ll be charged and why. Take a look at our fee breakdown to learn more.

They Don’t Offer 24/7/365 Customer Service

In the real world, a question or problem can arise at any time of day. Your processor should be available to help you solve your payment processing challenges whenever the need arises—even if it is at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning.

They’re Not in it for the Long Run

Unfortunately, some credit card processors are only in it for the money—and once the money stops flowing, they drop their clients and move on the next big idea. If you get the feeling that your processor is less than dedicated to your success, you should get out, quick, because your business deserves to have unwavering support. One of the easiest ways to tell if a processor is in it for the long run is to take a look at its history. How long has it been in business? Does it have reputable clientele?

Abtek has been in business since 1986—that’s almost 30 years! And ever since our start, supporting our customers has been our number one priority. Our business is built on integrity and because of that, we’ve been able to grow a client base that includes everything from retail to B2B to governmental agencies. Take a look at some of our valued clients.

They Don’t Offer High Tech Equipment

Are the POS systems provided by your processor holding your business back? If you are consistently frustrated with the ancient technology that you’re being forced to use, then that’s a problem. Additionally, if your processor hasn’t yet reached out to you to get your business set up with new EMV-compatible equipment, that’s a sure sign that they’re not putting your best interests first.

BONUS: Abtek will Pay for You to Make the Switch

If you’re not happy with your credit card processor, don’t worry—you don’t have to be stuck in a bad relationship. In fact, Abtek will help you break up with your processor and actually pay to break your current contract! Give us a call today at (800) 544-9145 to get started.

Share and Enjoy

Breaking News, Mobile Wallets

Featured on Entrepreneur: Tami Cohorst Discusses Mobile Loyalty Programs

August 4, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Vice President of Abtek, Tami Cohorst, recently discussed mobile wallets and the future of mobile loyalty programs on Entrepreneur, a prominent online resource for business development news.

She writes:

“What many merchants don’t realize is that mobile wallets can also be used as strategic marketing tools to help increase their bottom lines. The solution is in mobile loyalty programs.”

Find out how this mobile wallet trend will effect business loyalty programs on Entrepreneur →

Share and Enjoy

Tips

Paper Gift Certificates are SO 1995!

July 27, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

The old school paper gift certificates not only look unprofessional, but they can be easily damaged or lost and their uses are limited. Today’s “stored value cards” have the capability to do so much more. Here’s a look at how this modern gift card system works.

What is a Stored Value Card, Anyway?

A stored value card is a plastic card that looks and functions similarly to a typical debit or credit card. It’s easy to use, fits nicely in consumers’ wallets and can have a number of different functionalities, including:

Gift Cards + Prepaid Cards – Today, gift cards are often a gift of choice, giving the receiver the freedom to pick out anything they’d like from a given store. When purchasing a gift card, the buyer can determine the amount of money they’d like to be loaded onto the card, making it an ideal, customizable gift option.
Merchandise Return Cards – Allowing customers to return merchandise to your store is great for customer satisfaction, however, it can lead to lost profits if customers are regularly taking advantage of the system. One way that merchants can curb this problem is by offering “store credit” cards, or gift cards that are loaded with the value of the returned item, instead of a full cash refund. This helps to ensure that the money spent in your store stays in your store.
Loyalty Cards – Membership cards, frequent shopper cards, and customer discount cards all fall into the loyalty card category. These types of cards help to keep customers coming back by offering some sort of reward for their patronage each time they swipe their card at your register.

The Perks

So, why should your business jump on board with a stored value card program? There are a number of reasons, but one of the most convincing is the fact that it can significantly increase your profitability. According to GiftCards.com, 72% of consumers spend more than the value on the gift card. That means that you’re making the sale on the gift card, plus more! On top of that, you may be bringing in consumers who might not otherwise frequent your business if they hadn’t received a gift card.

The Future of Gift Cards

It won’t be long before plastic gift cards become a thing of the past. With the increasing popularity of digital wallets, more and more consumers are demanding digital options for spending. But, in the meantime, the important thing is to provide your customers with a reason to return—and a stored value card could be that reason.

Abtek’s FlexCache program features everything businesses need to issue spending credit, from database maintenance to transaction processing to 24/7 helpdesk support. To learn more about Abtek’s stored value card program, visit our website or call us at 1-800-544-9145.

Share and Enjoy

Breaking News

Digital Transactions: Don’t Let the Scourge of ‘Friendly Fraud’ Hurt Your Bottom Line

July 15, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

Tami Cohorst, Abtek’s Vice President, was recently featured on Digital Transactions, an online business publication focusing on trends in the electronic exchange of value.

You may have heard the term, “friendly fraud.” It’s no surprise, then, that there’s nothing friendly about it. And it’s quickly becoming a major problem for merchants across the globe.

Friendly fraud, also called friendly-fraud chargebacks or cyber-shoplifting, occurs when a customer makes a purchase online and then files a dispute with his or her credit card company, claiming that the charge was fraudulent or that the product was never delivered.

Continue reading the full article on Digital Transactions →

Share and Enjoy

EMV® Cards

The EMV “Chip Card” Countdown Begins

July 9, 2015 Abtek Leave a comment

We are now less than 90 days until the EMV liability shift. Come October 1^st, if your business isn’t prepared with EMV “chip card”-compatible processing equipment, you could be liable for losses due to fraudulent charges at your establishment. But, there’s no need to panic! Here, we’ve put together a handy dandy checklist to help you stay on top of the things you need to do before the October 1^st deadline hits.

Step 1: Contact Your MSP

Merchant service providers exist to help you though your payment processing challenges—and the EMV transition definitely falls in the “challenge” category. It’s not that making the transition is difficult, but rather it can be confusing for many merchants. There are so many compliance requirements to meet, and it can be tough to keep them all straight. Your MSP can help you understand what you still need to do before October and answer your questions along the way.

Step 2: Connect with a POS Provider

The average merchant only replaces their POS equipment every seven to ten years—and if you’re one of these merchants, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to need an upgrade in order to be able to accept EMV cards. Since EMV, or chip-and-pin cards, use a microchip to communicate payment data instead of a traditional magnetic stripe, outdated equipment will likely need to be completely replaced with new, high tech devices.

Step 3: Check Your EMV-Compatible Equipment

If you’ve already completed steps 1 and 2, you’ll want to make sure that your equipment is still up-to-standards. Even if you’ve received new EMV-compatible equipment, it might not necessarily be ready for the liability shift. Many merchants aren’t aware that the EMV requirements continue to be in flux, and have likely shifted since they bought their new POS. Your MSP can help to ensure that not only you have the equipment you need, but that it’s updated and configured properly.

Step 4: Train Employees

With new chip-and-pin cards being mailed out by credit card companies every day, more and more confused customers will begin to come through your business, not understanding exactly how to use their new cards. Now is the time to begin to train your employees on how to guide customers through the slightly modified transaction process. Happy, non-confused customers are repeat customers!

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re not totally out of the woods yet! Moving forward, it will be your responsibility to monitor the shifting compliance requirements and ensure that your business’s equipment stays-up-to date. Of course, your MSP can help, and that’s where Abtek comes in. Give us a call today at (800) 544-9145 to find out how we can help you prepare during this final stretch of the EMV “chip card” transition.