For months, we have been talking about PCI/PED Compliance and how security mandates are requiring changes to the equipment we use to process PIN (Personal Identification Number) based debit transactions. Now that the compliance deadlines have passed, many of our merchants are receiving compliant PIN pads in the mail and are being given the option to replace the equipment or discontinue the acceptance of PIN based debit cards. Here are a few things to consider in order to make the best decision for your business: ********************************************************* #1- Should I Be Using a PIN Pad? With all of the recent changes to debit card pricing, it would be a good time to have our team evaluate whether accepting PIN based debit is still the best and most effective way

Sir Smiley here to wish you and your family the best 3 day weekend ever! Our TMC team will be enjoying the day off with their families (our 24 Hour help desk will still be available if you need assistance!). Please enjoy this walkthrough history as the folks from Wikipedia share the history of Labor Day with us: Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands on the U.S. Military and U.S. Marshalls during the Pullman strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a

As businesses, we are paying TONS for credit card fraud prevention! We need to remember that there are simple things we can do to prevent the improper use of credit cards, thereby reducing some of that darn credit card fraud! I was reminded of this recently when I watched a customer get upset after being asked for ID (even though the back of their card said SEE ID ). This past weekend, I saw a ‘Better Signed Than Sorry’ flyer at a local store (call our office if you would like to have one of these flyers!). This reminded me that fraud prevention starts with the basics! The back of a credit card needs to be signed in order to be considered a valid credit card! Personally, make

Slip Showing? This article was taken from the FTC’s web site. Here at TMC we want to remind all of our merchants to be aware of the truncation laws so that you can protect yourself against fines and disgruntled customers! If you need any assistance with making sure the full card number is not listed on your receipts give our office a call at 1-888-249-9919 or email us: Service@TotalMerchantConcepts.com Federal Law Requires All Businesses to Truncate Credit Card Information on Receipts What’s on the credit and debit card receipts you give your customers? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says it’s time for companies to check their receipts and make sure they’re complying with a law that’s been in effect for all businesses since

A funny- lighthearted story about the little things that make a big difference! As I so often do these days, I took a lunch order from my lovely partner Christie “Have it your way” Tadday. I drove down to *Big Burger Barn and placed my order. As I pulled up to the window, the young gentleman that greeted me took my money, and asked me “would you like some ketchup or salt for the fries?” A nice gesture, and one that is most-likely required by upper management. I listened to his offer, and countered with, “actually can I get a couple things of Ranch?” He quickly informed me that in order to get 2 sides of Ranch it would be an additional $.22 each (per item fee?/LOL) I

The New & Improved TMC web site is here… Stay tuned for continued updates from the new TMC Blog! Friday, August 13, 2010