Merchant Processing
Knowing the basics of the merchant services industry is imperative when selecting a processing provider. Visa/MasterCard has over 200 different charge types that can affect your costs. Learn how certain card types and the methods of accepting those cards can cause your rates to fluctuate. The diversity in business types dictate how merchants will be charged, so it is important to know what type of transactions your business will conduct. CBMS is committed to giving its merchants the most cost effective way to accept bankcards.
Did you know...
- - All merchant processors are subject to the same interchange rates set by Visa/MasterCard
- - Swiped Consumer cards are considered Qualified transactions and will be processed at the best rate
- - Key-entered, Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO), and Internet transactions where Address Verification (AVS) is used and Reward Cards are considered Mid-Qualified transactions and will be processed at a mid-range rate
- - Key-entered transactions (w/out AVS), MOTO (w/out AVS), Internet (w/out AVS), corporate, signature, purchasing cards and transactions not batch settled in 48 hours are considered Non-Qualified transactions and will be processed at the highest rate
- - CBMS will match or beat any written offer you receive from another merchant processing company
Watch for...
- - Processors that offer a low “flat” rate for all transactions
- - Processors who fail to ask the percentage of face-to-face transactions your business conducts
- - Processors that show an unwillingness to discuss or offer Mid Qualified and Non Qualified rates
- - HIDDEN FEES, i.e. annual fees, monthly minimums, customer service fees, conversion or reprogramming fees and application or set up fees
- - Processors that show an unwillingness to offer a rate quote in writing or to disclose the term length of the contract
- - Any mentioning of an “introductory offer”
- - The promise of free equipment. Eventually they will re-coup their investment
- - An attempt to sign you to a long term “lease agreement” for processing equipment
- - An attempt to force you to purchase equipment without the option of reprogramming existing equipment
