Payment Processing Security PCI 2.0

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The recently released Payment Card Industry data-security standard (PCI) Version 2.0 does not contain any major changes.  But, there were some small revisions for payment processing security.

Clarifications and additional guidance included in the updates include:

  • New language involving the scope of PCI compliance  regarding to what degree a merchant or processor’s computing and data-transmission systems store or pass cardholder data. If they touch the data, it is considered “in scope.” Before annual PCI audits, companies should inform their Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) of every place card data could reside on their systems.  This will help the QSA as well as making merchants more aware of where cardholder data could be stored.
  • An “evolving requirement,” to rule 6.2 about risk ranking will become mandatory July 1, 2012. Companies subject to PCI will need to identify their security vulnerabilities and state how they plan to mitigate them.
  • Small merchants may visually determine “rogue access points” in their computer systems that could allow hackers to invade systems, rather than using automated tools.   Visual inspections won’t be enough for mid-sized and large merchants with more complex systems.
  • Clarification that the primary account number (PAN) is the key piece of data that needs protection.
  • Clarifications regarding centralized log management to track activity on computer systems.
  • Acknowledgement of the practice of virtualization, which lets merchants to use multiple operating systems on a single server or host computer.

For information on secure payment processing visit paynetsecure.net

 

What is High Risk Processing?

High risk merchant accounts are a classification used by banks. The classification is associated with certain industry types that have a greater than average likelihood of chargebacks & fraud.

Even if your business has low incidents of fraud & chargebacks, you will still be considered high risk if your industry type is classified as high risk.

High risk merchants have always had fewer choices of financial institutions willing to underwrite their businesses.  There is little doubt that acquiring banks are getting more selective when underwriting accounts

High risk merchant accounts are still available with favorable rates.  Yet you are wise to follow a few common sense tips when applying for accounts.

Tips to Enhance Account Approval

The current climate in the banking industry makes it more important than ever that you invest the time and effort to properly prepare the documents required for acceptance for high risk processing.

  • The most important supporting document to submit with a high risk merchant account application are previous payment processing statements.  Verifying previous processing demonstrates to underwriters at the acquiring bank that a company has the ability to properly manage a high risk accounts.
  • Be sure to include a overview of the business model to help underwriters clearly understand the way products and services are sold. 
  • Include policies on returns and refunds. 
  • Include business financials such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements to prove the stability of company operations.
  • Do you have a exceptional management team? Include their background along with the application.
  • Have enough capital in your business bank account to substantiate the requested processing volumes. 
  • Provide assurances that the company has taken the proper steps to address prevention of contingent liabilities such as chargebacks & fraud.

Conclusion

Spend the time necessary to properly prepare your application for high risk processing. Provide the documentation in an organized fashion. Include all the requested information and any extra documentation that will help underwriting view your application in a favorable light.

How are you applying for high risk processing?

Contact info@paynetsecure.net

 

Health care payment processing for medical services are handled in a dismally ineffective way by the majority of medical care providers.  Physicians and hospitals are collecting only 50% health care payments from insured patients.  For the uninsured, the portion of patient payments drops to a shocking 10-20%.

Considering the ways in which payment processing accounts are handled, it’s no wonder that health care providers are being placed in dire financial straits.  And the problem will only get worse in the coming years as more patients are opting for higher deductions to be able to afford coverage.

The easiest and fastest way to increase cash flow is get payments from patients before the services are rendered, rather than waiting until after the services are delivered.  At the time of service, patients sign a one page form authorizing automatic payments via credit cards, debit cards or direct debits from bank accounts.

If a patient cannot afford to pay the entire amount due, a recurring payment plan is set up which fits the budget of the patient.  Scheduled payments are preauthorized by the patient and recurring payments are automatically made.

For more information on recurring billing and payment processing for patient collections,  contact paynetsecure.net

Health care providers and medical billing companies have been accepting card payments for a long time.   Yet, it is surprising how few health care organizations or medical billing firms accept payments online.

In this day and age, offering patients the ability to pay online seems like a “no brainer.”  More than 60% of Americans already pay at least one bill online every month.  Customers like the convenience of paying online and are quickly becoming habituated to making payments over the internet.  In fact, 18%-28% of consumers prefer to make regular payments online rather than over the phone or mailing in a check.

But the potential for increasing revenues by offering online payments become crystal clear when considering consumer preferences in paying past due bills.  For bills that are 30-60 days past due, 27%-48% of consumers prefer to make payments online.  And for bills that are 60-90 days past due, 44-69% of consumers prefer to pay online.

This preference for online payments makes logical sense.  Most consumers would rather not talk to a live person or so they don’t have to speak to a ‘live’ person and go through the embarassment or hassle of a call.

It is easy and free to set up a patient online payment portal.  Health care providers and medical billing companies that want more information can contact paynetsecure.net