The easiest way for a business to get up and running with their credit card acceptance abilities is through the First Data Global Gateway e4 Merchant Account. Integrated with hundreds of shopping carts and ecommerce applications, Global Gateway e4 provides the merchant with everything needed to start accepting credit cards with no holdups or complications.

Some of the benefits and features of the Global Gateway e4 are:

• Multi-currency capabilities
• Automatic recurring billing
• Free setup
• No application fees
• Integration with hundreds of shopping carts
• Free developer APIs for custom solutions
• Simplified PCI compliance Tokenization to store card profiles
• Free virtual terminal for manual transactions

This gateway provides merchants with a solution that is completely “hands off.” It is non-storing, and is in full compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). Cardholder data exposure is eliminated for merchants, as well as the requirement for SSL certificates. With PCI compliance being such a critical and mandatory requirement, this is a significant advantage of the gateway.

The Global Gateway e4 system can be customized. This is done according to the user interface requirements of the merchant. Cardholders have the same user interface experience during payment as when they are shopping on the merchants’ sites. This is because the colors, logos and wording can be sent to the gateway in HTML format. Other options that are included with the gateway are receipt notification emails to the cardholder and/or the merchant, and customized messaging for receipt of emails.

Access to the First Data e4 Global Gateway Real-time Payment Manager (RPM) functions such as Reports and Virtual Point of Sale are included with this gateway as well.

The First Data e4 Global Gateway is just another step in the direction of originality and customer service that First Data has implemented to improve on the service that is already the best available. It assures that the merchants’ credit card processing needs are enabled in the easiest, hassle free manner possible.

In order to keep up with the rapidly evolving credit card industry, First Data Independent Sales has introduced the next generation. It’s called Ignite, and it is a powerful new method of bringing First Data’s industry-leading solutions to merchants worldwide.

The owner of Instamerchant, David Standage, said that as a registered agent of First Data he is happy about the change and what it brings to the table. He can see that this new concept has resulted in great advantages for all of the First Data registered agents.

The name “Ignite” connotes combustion, excitement and sparks. The purpose of this rebranding is to spark the growth of the company, assuring that it keeps up with trends and technology in order to remain number one in the industry of credit card processing.  First Data will continue to offer full support to its agents, but with the Ignite program, all of the agencies are able to place their own spin on how to market their service merchant goods and services. This greatly increases the marketability of Instamerchant, as they are now be able to incorporate a higher degree of flexibility in their method of marketing the merchant account services they offer. Instamerchant will still offer one of the highest approval rates in the credit card processing industry, as well as cutting edge goods and services that will enable the merchant to optimize credit card payment processing efficiency.

Along with the rebranding, First Data has committed to Instamerchant, along with the other agents, that along with the Ignite Payment system, there will be an increase in resources, communication, products and recognition programs for them.

Ignite Payments provides Instamerchant the ability to provide merchant solutions such as credit card payments, terminals and supplies, mobile commerce, merchant cash advance referral programs, gift card solutions and First Data Retail and Restaurant Solutions.

Ignite Payments is a rebranding, and has done just what First Data anticipated; it has been a success in helping merchants find the credit card solutions they need.

The TransArmor® solution by First Data is an extremely efficient and effective security measure that has been designed to reduce the risk of theft or interception of credit card data making its way through the electronic payment network.

The key to the effectiveness of TransArmor® is the fact that it combines high tech encryption (software or hardware based) with a random number tokenization. This assures protection of sensitive information delivered when a credit card is swiped by a customer through a credit card terminal, or when the information is input online. The data is protected at every level. The reduction of the risk of a data breach is remarkable due to the double layered protection.

The TransArmor® solution was created when First Data, VeriFone Systems and RSA (the security division of EMC) partnered to create the most effective security system for the prevention of data theft.

The credit card data protection comes in the form of double layers of protection. Not only is the data encrypted, but once the card is authorized, the information is removed from the merchant’s environment and is replaced by a token number that is generated randomly, which is useless to would-be criminals. Once the card data is removed, there is nothing to be stolen or extracted, as it no longer exists in the payment card environment.

The tokens that are left after the transactions are helpful to merchants, as they can still track the card data to analyze the behavior of their customers.

The TransArmor® solution is flexible enough to be used by merchants, who can select the type of encryption they want based on their specific needs. In many instances, they can utilize their existing credit card acceptance equipment.

When a customer makes a purchase using a credit card, the data must travel many roadways and circuits to make it to the “approval” or “denial” stage. With every road traveled, the information is that much more vulnerable to being intercepted. In 2011 over 30 million data records of consumers were extracted because of data breaches in the U.S. No merchants are immune to these breaches, as thieves continue to develop more sophisticated methods of data extraction from the payment system. However, thanks to TransArmor®, it is bound to be drastically reduced.

FDIS (First Data Independent Sales) is unveiling a rebranding, complete with a new name: Ignite Payments. According to First Data, the new name and branding is a strategy by FDIS that will allow all of the registered agents of the mother company to place their own spin on their marketing techniques and sales styles. Ignite is still a wholly owned subsidiary of First Data, but it will introduce a flexibility to the agents that has heretofore not been implemented. It is evidence of their efforts to keep up with the ever-changing credit card processing industry.

First Data has assured their agents that they will have the full support of the new brand in order to make it a seamless transition.

First Data chose the name “Ignite” because it sends out a strong signal that communicates just what the company stands for. When the word is heard, people tend to think of heat, fire, combustion and light. This is the kind of image Ignite wants to put forth, and the feelings they want to remain instilled in their agents. They want each of their representatives to feel a sense of pride at just the mention of the name. Just as an ignited fire spreads, so will the excitement felt by the agents who are the beneficiaries of the rebranding.

Along with the name change comes a new beginning for the company; one that is intended to take them to the next tier of success in the world of credit card processing.

The introduction of the new name “Ignite Payments” offers a winning combination for the agents. They will continue to receive the full support of First Data and all they have to offer, but they will also be able to implement their individual strengths and styles. It is this new diversity that is designed to create a resilience that will also result in a more responsive organization.

Along with a name change, First Data has promised its registered agents the following commitments in order to set them up for success:

More Resources

There will be new Regional Business Directors to coach and assist the agents, as well as a position whose only job is to see the Ignite Payments brand. Also, they are adjusting their training program to assist the agents with meeting the changes in the ecommerce market more efficiently.

Better Communication

First Data has committed to providing a greater number of communication resources to keep abreast of the current market needs.

Updated Products

Merchant customers of the agents will receive more enhanced solutions such as Merchant Cash Advance and First Data Mobile Pay.

Improved Recognition

Quarterly promotions and incentive programs will be offered to the agents, as well as improved recognition programs for outstanding performances.

In short, Ignite Payments will offer the flexible operations of an independent company, with full support from First Data.

On the lower side of Manhattan there’s a sidewalk hotdog push-wagon that’s been serving up the same natural-casing hotdogs for 25-years. For a quarter of a century — same great dogs, same spicy mustard, same hot-steamed buns –-everything’s the same … except one thing. That popular sidewalk eating spot just added something that’s very today: it now takes credit cards with a cell phone merchant account.

Now, anytime, anywhere – no matter how mobile your business is, no matter where it is – if you can get a cell phone connection, you can do cell phone credit card transactions.

If you’ve got an Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows smartphone, tablet, or a Windows wireless device, you can now take credit cards with a simple swiper attachment. This attachment allows you to swipe your customer’s credit card right on the spot. Of course, you’ll want to ensure compatibility between your device and the cell phone merchant account before you make a decision.

Beyond the anytime, anywhere benefits of wireless credit card transactions, there are many other reasons why mobile merchants should consider such a system. Among those are instantaneous authorization and multiple users on one account. There’s also the ability to e-mail a receipt to a customer right from a wireless device.

Because fewer and fewer people are carrying cash these days, a cell phone merchant account spells opportunity for merchants, vendors and delivery people who have no access to a landline. Considering the relatively small fees charged by the providers of wireless credit card processing, this means a greatly increased customer base for businesses on the go.

Clearly, we’re living in a progressively more cashless world, at least where transactions are concerned. And the more businesses can take advantage of this age of plastic, the more profitable they will be.

No longer will hungry businesspeople have to pass by that hotdog stand or corner newsstand just because they don’t have any cash in their pockets. But most important, the people running those establishments will not miss out on the business that otherwise would have walked right by.

All thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones and the increasing availability of cell phone merchant accounts anytime, anywhere.

The advent of recent technology when it comes to convenience and streamlining of consumerism has been just short of miraculous. Purchase transactions can now take place in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the work of merchant services online, all but gone are the days when you would have to write a check for goods or services and send it to the company in order for them to send you the item you selected from their catalog. And all but gone are the days when you’d have to hold up the line at the grocery store while you draft a check and display your driver’s license to make your purchases.

Along with the convenience of credit card purchases and Internet shopping comes the risk of credit card scams. Identity theft has become a nuisance in our culture, costing billions of dollars annually. Identity theft affected the lives of over 11.5 million people in the year 2011. Many of these identity cases involved the illegal use of stolen or counterfeit credit cards. Last year there were over 5.5 billion dollars in credit card theft.

In order to accept credit cards, a business owner must have access to merchant services online. This requires that he or she acquire a merchant services account. It is not uncommon for credit card thieves to apply for one of these accounts so they can run the stolen cards as though the victims were purchasing items, with the expectation that the funds will be deposited in their accounts. Fortunately, technology, fused with common sense, has placed security measures to help keep this from occurring. This is done through the use of information probing, making the would-be merchant account holder answer a list of questions that the credit card processing company is privy to, and that only he or she would know (such as banking information, former addresses, etc.).

Another form of credit card fraud is easily accomplished by the work of malicious receipt collectors. For instance, if you should leave the customer’s copy of a receipt at a restaurant, and it has your credit card number printed on it, you have opened yourself up to credit card fraud. It displays your name, your signature and your card number. The perpetrator can look up your address, and that is enough information to start ripping you off. Fortunately many establishments are no longer printing the entire card number, but there are those that still do.

The best way to avoid being the victim of a credit card scam is to hang onto your cards and be vigilant of your account history. It is also a good idea to keep a photocopy of them in your home so that in the event that you lose them, you can call the issuer right away and have them cancelled.

Imagine this scenario: You’re in a curio shop in Cabo San Lucas, when a brightly colored serape strikes your fancy. After you give the clerk your credit card, he disappears into a back room for about a minute. He returns and hands you back your card and your bagged purchase. You think nothing about that until over one-thousand-dollars in online purchases appear on your next credit card statement. Purchases you didn’t make.

You’ve been a victim of one of the easiest forms of credit card fraud. The curio shop clerk had written down your credit card number, along with your name, expiration date and the security code on the back. That’s all the person to whom he sold that information needed to ring up purchases all over the internet.

Avoid credit card fraud scams by keeping your eye on your credit card during transactions and by dealing with merchants who offer quality credit card processing. Don’t let fraudulent card usage ruin your day.

The moment you get your credit card statement, open it and read it carefully. Look for not only major charges, but several smaller ones that might otherwise go unnoticed. Keeping a close eye on your credit card account helps avoid credit card fraud and helps to safeguard your credit as well.

Besides your computer, the best piece of equipment you can have in your office is a shredder. Frequent use of your shredder will help protect you by getting rid of unneeded credit card receipts. It’s not terribly sophisticated, but going through your trash left by the curb is another way sneaky scammers can pilfer your personal and credit card information.

Your signature is uniquely yours. Make use of it the moment you receive a new credit card by signing the back of it. It’s just another step to protect yourself and help avoid credit card fraud.

One of the most oft-used scams is sending unsolicited e-mails requesting information about you, including your credit card number(s). Some of these will even have your bank’s logo on them. A reputable company would never request such information by e-mail.

The same applies to unsolicited phone callers who request your personal and credit card information.

Another thing you can do to protect yourself is to photocopy each credit card you’ve received, or at least write down its number and the issuing institution. Call and cancel all lost credit cards immediately.

When making a purchase online or otherwise using your credit card number, always make sure you’re on a secure site. With today’s technology, unsecure sites are easy pickings for scammers specializing in fraudulent credit card usage. Your most effective weapon to avoid credit card fraud is common sense. Guard your credit cards by keeping your personal information … well … personal.

Follow these suggestions to protect your credit cards, your credit and your peace of mind.

As in any industry in existence, there are those companies who stand out and go above and beyond the norm. There are usually awards that are presented to the top performing companies that that are given in recognition of their outstanding service and production. In the merchant services arena, one of the awards most prestigious is that of the President’s Club, presented annually by the largest credit card processing company in the world.

The President’s Club recipients must be chosen amongst the top thirty producing, as well as top ranked performing merchant services companies in the nation. One such company is Instamerchant, who has received membership into the President’s Club five out of the last six years.

When a company receives this honor, you can be assured that their focus is on customer service. The growth comes only from serving the needs of each of their customers by supplying the knowledge and equipment to those starting up, or bettering their business.

The customers best served by merchant account companies are business owners who want to establish a means by which to accept credit cards.Whether it be:

• Accepting checks online
• Retail Merchant Accounts
•  Authorize.net
• Check Guarantees
• Wireless Account
• Internet Merchant Account

It doesn’t matter whether your establishment is a brick and mortar store or an online company, it’s a fact that you must accept credit cards to best serve the needs of the customer, as well as the needs of your business. By accepting plastic, the credibility to your business is enhanced ten fold. This requires an application and acceptance by a merchant services company, and the acquisition of the credit card machine needed, and you are off and away.

Find the right merchant services company and get started accepting credit cards. Look for those who have won service awards, who are well established and who place a high emphasis on customer service. It’s a big step in keeping up with technology, not to mention serving those who patronize your business.

Secure Payment Gateway by Instamerchant helps merchants process payments 24/7 by setting up credit card acceptance capabilities on their websites. As the e-commerce continues to grow, so does the need for online merchant accounts and the ability to accept payment for goods and services.

When 2012 began there was already a high expectation that e-commerce growth and related online credit card processing would continue to rise. The purchasing format was already enjoying a boost of popularity as smartphone and tablet devices were moving mainstream due to more models available at lower prices. That in turn made the use of mobile e-commerce apps more widespread, boosting purchasing large and small. The second big boost was the movement of businesses to dynamic website design, which allows websites to deliver better, faster-loading websites to mobile devices versus traditional desk computers. That also boosted purchasing connections as well as smartphone credit card processing.

By the third quarter of 2012, the map began to shape up considerably going into the holiday season. Already, general spending (including all categories as well as e-commerce) had hit $41.9 billion or 15 percent more than 2011. The same trend was expected to translate over to the electronic and Internet buying side as well. And it performed on target. The second quarter of the year had already closed out 15 percent ahead of the same mid-year date in 2011. This trend then pushed expectations for the rest of the year to stay on track as originally predicted.

As a result, many market watchers were pegging e-commerce to grow in 2012 by what was considered a modest rate of growth at 15.5 percent. With a target of purchasing to reach $224.2 billion transacted versus $194.3 billion in 2011, many having been watching the results ever since. This translates into the importance of credit card acceptance by successful merchants, and Instamerchant’s Secure Payment Gateway now makes it easier than ever.

The Secure Payment Gateway facilitates adding payment capabilities to your online website, while the risks of payment acceptance is reduced. When a merchant sells goods or services online, it presents complications that a simple informational website does not.

Instamerchant now provides the Secure Payment Gateway, which helps you as a merchant with payment processing. The use of this service is easy to initiate, and all without the worry of safekeeping of customer identity data, fraud prevention and complying with state and federal regulations. It is taken care of for you.

There are different levels of the gateway. It is up to you how functional you want it to be, and how much you want to take on yourself. Our Secure Payment Gateway handles the payment information of consumers so you don’t have to. When the customer makes a purchase, payment is captured on the site hosted by the gateway. The authorization is granted by the issuer and the confirmation is displayed on the screen. The results of your transactions are sent to you and the customer automatically. This facilitates the tracking and processing of your online orders. This merchant service supports all major credit cards. It can also be integrated with most shopping carts as well.

In today’s world of commerce, check writing and paying cash are quickly going away. Over 80% of consumers now pay with credit or debit cards. This has increased the need for companies that supply merchant accounts and credit card processing.

As a business owner, you must realize that if you do not accept credit cards, you are subject to losing customers, who will find a business that do. In order to start accepting plastic or other forms of electronic payments, you simply need to acquire a merchant account. It’s a simple process, but it is important to find a merchant services company that is established in the industry and that realizes the importance of customer service.

You would be wise to search out a company like Instamerchant, who has been in the business of serving the credit card processing needs of customers for over fifteen years. They provide very high merchant approval rates, low credit cards processing rates, 24x7x365 customer support, quick account funding (48 hrs.) and there are no account applications or set-up fees.

Whether it’s Internet merchant accounts, online payment gateways or credit card machines, Instamerchant can help your business enter the arena of credit card acceptance. They can process credit cards over the Internet, a retail store, your smart phone, or anywhere access to a wireless network is available.

Instamerchant has been in business for so long because they realize the importance of quality customer service. They treat each merchant as though they were their only customer, and they provide all their credit card processing solutions quickly and efficiently. They put accounts together for businesses who sell retail, but also accept phone and mail orders. They accommodate restaurants who process tips and combine bar and food checks. They assist taxi drivers, small vendors at special events, contractors and more. They also help ecommerce companies at conventions and trade shows that need payment processing. Instamerchant will also supply all the equipment you may be in need of. Their state-of-the-art credit card machines make credit card processing simple and convenient.

It’s imperative for merchants today to accept credit cards, and it’s just as imperative to find the right merchant services company to help you do that.