What to know about credit card processing

New blog location

2011-11-18T09:58:00.002-05:00

To all our visitors to this blog:

Please know that we have moved our blog over to our domain effective 11/2010. The address to get to our blog now is http://blog.creditcardsnj.com.

Thank you for your loyal readership and interest.

CCNJ

Looking ahead - 2011

2010-11-08T19:00:00.002-05:00

As we are approaching the end of 2010, our thoughts start to the holidays and all the fun they will bring with them and what 2011 might be like. CCNJ would like to know - what do you think 2011 will be like for you and your business? Do you think the economy is going to improve for your business? Do you plan on expanding your operations or maybe cut back?

2010 Holiday Season

2010-10-27T13:03:00.004-05:00

If you are like most people, you cannot believe that 2010 has flown by so quickly! I know that I am still amazed at how quick the year seems to have gone by - it seems like only yesterday I was celebrating the holidays with friends and family and now it's time to start thinking of shopping for everyone on my list again! Time to sit in the malls and figure out what to get everyone or try and find something online that will fit each person's individual character and needs. Or, if I am absolutely out of ideas, I may just end up with gift cards for some people.

If you're a business owner, you might want to pay close attention to the statement above - gift cards are among the most preferred gifts and the stores that have a program in place before November 10-15th will be able to make many more sales as people searching for the perfect gift end up with a gift card.

Credit Cards, NJ can help you get all setup and provide you with everything that you may need to be able to effectively sell the gift cards to your customers in time for this holiday season. Plus, did you know that the same plastic card can be used as a loyalty card too and keep track of your customer's spending habits and incentivize repeat purchases?

Check out our gift card page for more details and sign up today!

Here's to wishing you and yours a lovely and happy holiday season,
Credit Cards, NJ

Bye Bye T7Plus

2010-10-19T18:55:00.004-05:00

It’s time to say goodbye to a beloved classic. Hypercom Corporation has announced the end of life of the popular T7Plus countertop payment terminal. Support for the T7Plus is expected to continue with most processors through July 2014, but Hypercom will no longer be manufacturing it after April 2011. To accommodate your future business needs, CCNJ will be placing a final order based on your sales needs.

Please give us a call (1-201-645-0132) as soon as possible to begin discussing your T7Plus requirements. The deadline to make the final purchase is approaching quickly. By submitting your signed order forms now, you are ensuring availability in 2011.

All purchase orders must be submitted to CCNJ by November 20th to make the Hypercom order deadline. Please contact your sales representative with any questions or concerns you may have or you can call our offices at 1-201-645-0132.

Thank you for your continued business,
Credit Cards, NJ

New website ideas

2010-09-27T10:27:00.004-05:00

A note to our loyal readers:

We are in the process of re-designing our corporate website, creditcardsnj.com, and would like to get some feedback from you regarding what features, etc you would like to see. Do you like our special news section, our newsletters, product information??? Please tell us before October 15, 2010 and if your ideas are chosen, you'll win a new MP3 player!

Thank you,
Credit Cards, NJ

Crazy statements

2010-08-11T10:56:00.002-05:00

Like most business owners, you probably only glance at your credit card processing statement and guess that the information presented on the statements is correct because you simply do not understand what is being presented in the manner it is presented. Or you may choose to simply let your accountant or bookkeeper figure it out for you and confirm the information is correct or if there is an issue to advise you of the same.

What are you to do if you just want to be able to understand your statements?

The answer is simple. If you call Credit Cards, NJ, we'll walk you through what your statement means and even come up with ways to provide you with a savings over your existing rates. For our current clients, you already know how easy we make your statements and how quick we are to respond to any questions that you may have regarding your account(s) with CCNJ. How great is that?

What are you waiting for? CCNJ is standing by ready to answer your calls.

4th of July

2010-07-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

From all of us at Credit Cards, NJ we wish you all a very Happy 4th of July and a very big Happy Birthday to this great country of ours!

Is your credit card terminal/equipment compliant?

2010-06-03T15:45:00.002-05:00

Did you know that there is a very important deadline in becoming PCI compliant right around the corner? There is, and that deadline is July 1, 2010.

If you are using equipment that was never compliant or equipment that does not meet the new PCI standards, be prepared for fines from Visa & MasterCard starting at $500 per month! Protect yourself today by speaking with a representative at CCNJ to find out if your equipment is compliant and if you need to upgrade, there are special programs available to help you upgrade to the newest equipment to insure you will not be penalized.

Credit Cards, NJ - Your Smart Choice for Merchant Services

Get a new electronic cash register for FREE!

2010-06-01T16:52:00.002-05:00

There are literally millions of businesses out there who still use cash registers to handle their sales. Many of these units are old, some are even ancient! Why not take the opportunity now to update your system and get a brand new electronic cash register (ECR) with a built-in credit card terminal for FREE!

Contact CCNJ today for more information about how you can qualify for a FREE ECR just for allowing us to process your credit card transactions - and save money too! How much better can things get?

Your friends at Credit Cards, NJ - Your Smart Choice for Merchant Services

Mobile Check processing with GUARANTEES!

2010-05-06T10:21:00.004-05:00

CCNJ is pleased to introduce its first cellular phone product for checks: MobileXpress21 ... The first of its kind mobile Check 21 processing service ... with GUARANTEE included!

That is correct….

We are pleased to be rolling out a customized, revolutionary service not available anywhere else…

A wireless check21 based check approval service using just your cell phone - just think of the possibilities…

Delivery type merchants (pizza, auto parts, restaurant, etc.)
Low volume check merchants (that cannot afford a check imager but already have a certified cellular phone)
Contractor business types (plumbers, electricians, all in home service workers, etc.)
Anything else you can think of where the driver / service provider is remotely situated from a terminal / imager

To find out more about this new wireless check21 product, please contact CCNJ today.

Credit card processing & QuickBooks

2010-05-06T10:10:00.003-05:00

Do you use Intuit's QuickBooks program to process your credit card transactions? If so, you are probably paying too much and you should also know that you now have the ability to process your credit cards with ANY processor through your QB software - as long as you are using the QB Accounting suites and not the POS software, we have a solution for you! You can even continue swiping credit cards or simply keying the information into QB the way you do now and save money!

Contact CCNJ today to find out how you can take advantage of this solution and start saving today.

Generating Business

2010-04-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

Do you want to increase your business? Most people would seem to say "Yes, of course I do." But a lot of people leave innovative ideas on the table or don't even know of them unless someone tells them about it and shows them why it makes sense.

Please allow me to introduce a relatively new program to you: Mobile couponing. Using mobile couponing, you send text messages to your customers telling them of a special. You can use this type of program when your store is empty and need traffic or when you simply want to generate buzz for an upcoming sale - whatever you can think of, you can bring people to you! The costs are carefully managed by having an account with us and you can rest assured that every dollar you spend on a campaign will result in a generous ROI.

Try a campaign today - contact CCNJ and we'll get the ball rolling.

Gateway Security

2010-03-26T14:46:00.002-05:00

Over the past few weeks, we have seen an increasing number of transactions that are processed remotely, via an API, from eastern Europe and other far reaches of our world. These attempts to process credit card information may have resulted in some approved sales that you may or may not recognize or make much sense in the grand scheme of things as they relate to your normal billing amounts. Your accounts have not been directly impacted, however, with the possibility of transactions that have been completed being put into dispute status with the processor, we are urging you to take immediate action and update information on your account immediately.

In an effort to minimize the possibility of fraudulent transactions being processed, we have implemented a merchant PIN system that will require all transactions to be accompanied by the PIN in order for the transaction to process and settle. It is possible to have the PIN added to your account immediately, however, if you have a website that accepts payments in addition to simply using the virtual terminal, you will need to have your web programmer insert a line of code into your shopping cart/payment pages that has the PIN so that transactions from your website will be able to be processed, as usual. This process should limit the chance that payments are made to you in a fraudulent manner and help to make your site more secure. Should you simply be using the virtual terminal as a stand-alone system, entering the PIN will not modify any of your normal processing routine, but will prevent any API (outside sources) attempting to see if your account is legitimate from being able to even process any charges.

To update your account and have a PIN generated for your protection, please login to your Merchant Partners virtual terminal system using your account credentials and on the left column, please look for the box that says "FRISK(TM) Management" and click on the "Configure Options" link. Once there, scroll down to the very bottom of the page to the last section called "API Controls" and click on the "Edit" link to the right of the "Merchant PIN" field. On that screen, you will need to click on the "Generate New PIN" button and in the bottom section called "Merchant PIN for Transaction Processing," please select the "Require Merchant PIN for transaction processing" radio button and finally hit update. A PIN will now have been generated for you and your account is now updated. Please remember that if you have a website, your website sales/donations will NO LONGER FUNCTION OR ACCEPT PAYMENTS until the PIN has been inserted into the payment pages on your website. Instructions for inserting this PIN into your website are available through the Integration Guide on the Merchant Partners' website.

Should you have any questions related to this update, please feel free to contact us at 201-645-0132. If you have already updated your account(s) with us to have the PIN generated and active, please disregard this message.

Thank you again for your continued business and we look forward to continuing to service your account with us for many years to come.

Best regards,
Credit Cards, NJ
p. 201.645.0132

PCI Compliance

2010-03-03T16:34:00.007-05:00

Over the past few months, there has been much talk about new fees popping up on people's statements. These fees have been called a variety of names but they are mostly all for a newer initiative on behalf of Visa & MasterCard. That initiative is called PCI and is something that is meant to secure your business and your customer's credit card information.

Below are some frequently asked questions concerning PCI and what it may mean for you:

1. What is PCI? The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) is a set of regulations detailing security requirements for merchants and merchant service providers regarding the storing, processing and transmission of cardholder data. They are a combination of technical and operational requirements intended to prevent credit card fraud, hacking and various other security vulnerabilities. This standard is meant to safeguard consumer data as well as provide a more secure processing environment at every merchant location. This is a global initiative being implemented across the industry.

2. Why is it important? The last decade has seen some of the worst compromises of consumer data in history. Fortunately, CCNJ’s network of processors' systems have never been breached, but we must embrace the PCI standards and take a proactive approach in order to provide the highest level of security for our customers’ payment information. The process is not limited to CCNJ and our partners; it requires the compliance and best practices on the merchant level as well, including the use of PCI compliant credit card terminals. In this technological age, it is critical that we maintain maximum protection of consumer data and specifically credit and debit card numbers.

3. What do I need to do? Most importantly, you need to keep educated about the PCI standards and how to remain compliant. Our goal is to help you stay up to date and part of the purpose of this blog post is to help you remain educated. However, there is only so much CCNJ can do on your behalf. The majority of PCI compliance relies on our merchants using best practices and keeping themselves educated. Together we can make sure that our customers’ payment information is as safe and secure as possible.

4. If I do nothing, is that okay? The major credit card networks have implemented substantial fines and penalties for failing to remain PCI compliant. The consequences can be tremendous, especially in the event of a cardholder compromise.

5. Is this why I was charged a PCI fee? Virtually all processors are now assessing PCI fees. The expense of PCI compliance for CCNJ and our processing partners goes well beyond creating a blog post - there are websites that have been setup to provide Self Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs), and, in addition to the expense of remote PCI system scans, these guidelines have required us to make substantial upgrades to our partners' processing systems, implement new security protocols and hire additional employees. It is becoming increasingly rare to find any processor not implementing an annual PCI fee to cover these expenses. If the fee is not directly labeled as a “PCI fee”, these costs are most likely being paid under the pretext of another type of fee. CCNJ has tried to keep its PCI fee as small as possible while still enabling us to recuperate the expenses we have incurred in order to comply with the PCI standards and it is important to note that our charges have been substantially less than most other processors.

6. If I pay the fee, am I 100% covered? No although the annual PCI assessment covers a substantial portion of the expense as described above, it is up to each and every merchant to ensure that best practices are being followed to maintain a completely secure payment environment

Some best practices to ensure that you remain PCI compliant:

1. Cardholder Privacy - Full credit card numbers should never be stored in plain text. Ensure that your terminal is truncating card numbers and only showing the last four digits on receipts. Additionally, Visa® and MasterCard® regulations prohibit merchants from recording personal information on the sales receipt/draft. This information in conjunction with the account numbers listed on the sales draft could be used to commit fraud. Keep cardholder account and personal information separate and under tight security. Release of this information is only permitted to our processing partners or authorized law enforcement officials. It is extremely critical that CVV2 card validation numbers are not written, recorded or stored electronically nor manually under any circumstances. Also, credit card numbers or cardholder account information should never be transmitted via email or unsecured gateways.

2. Complete Self Assessment Questionnaires - The Self Assessment Questionnaires offered on our processing partners' sites should be completed on a regular basis.

3. Ensure Your Website Is Secure - If you have an e-Commerce website, IP terminal or POS system, complete a system scan as soon as possible.

4. Use Compliant Equipment - If you are using an older credit card terminal, check with CCNJ to make sure it is compliant with the new regulations. Any terminals recently deployed from CCNJ should be fully compliant.

5. Do Not Log PIN Blocks - Although PINs are protected in an encrypted or enciphered form within a transaction message, they must not be retained in transaction journals or logs subsequent to PIN transaction processing. Many processing environments have programs that actively overwrite or mask PIN blocks; however, any processor of PIN-based transactions must evaluate all inbound and outbound PIN-based messages to ensure there is no systematic logging of PIN blocks within any systems. In addition, any temporary logging function for transaction research or troubleshooting must include the active removal of PIN blocks. This requirement helps prevent harvesting and subsequent attacking of any large repository of logged encrypted PINs.

6. Always Maintain Secure Key Loading Procedures - When POS PEDs and host security modules are first initialized, they must be securely loaded with encryption keys. Regardless of the type of tamper-resistant security modules being initialized, the principals of split knowledge and dual control must be in place at all times to maintain the secrecy of the key being entered. In addition, merchants must have established procedures that prohibit any one person from having access to all components of a single encryption key.

7. Only Use Keys for a Single Purpose – To limit the magnitude of exposure should any key be compromised, encryption keys must be used only for their intended purpose. This applies to all keys used in POS PED and network processor links. Production keys must never be shared or substituted within an entity’s test system. All master keys or hierarchy keys used in any production or test environment must be unique and separate for each environment. Use of any production key in a test system is a high-risk violation. Any production key exposed in the test system or any key that has been encrypted using such exposed keys should be considered compromised and be replaced.

8. Ensure All Devices Have Unique Keys – Cryptographic keys resident within a PED must be unique to that device. This includes initialization keys (often called A and B keys), key-exchange keys (often called communication keys), and PIN-encryption keys. By ensuring that these keys are unique to each device, a merchant can make sure their PEDs are unattractive targets for an attack. This is because a unique key that has been “cracked” exposes only those PINs that were actually entered at the particular device attacked. Conversely, compromise of a key used for a large number of devices could expose all PINs entered at all of those devices. When validating compliance with this requirement, technical staff should also look for weak keys (known as default, predictable, or simple keys).

With a little education and some good fashioned elbow grease, we should be able to see a tremendous success and stop the thieves in their tracks. Here's to some good security and Good Selling.

Some portions of this post are made available courtesy of United Bank Card.

Happy Holidays!

2009-11-24T17:31:00.002-05:00

At this time of year, we find so many reasons to be thankful. We are thankful that all of our customers have continued to stick with us through this tough year; that our loyal readers have continued to return to the blog (even though we haven't updated it in several months :( ) and most of all for the great group of people that are employed by CCNJ.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very enjoyable Holiday Season.

CCNJ

Guaranteed Savings!

2009-02-25T11:00:00.003-05:00

You might be asking yourself how Credit Cards, NJ can guarantee me savings. It's really simple - we do!

CCNJ has several tools in our arsenal to help you save money. For starters, we work with you to determine where you're overspending and will then create a new account (most likely at a different processor) for you to help you pay the right amount every time. We will also work with you down the line to ensure that you are still paying the right amount and that you are not overpaying. We're only more than happy to sit down and do a statement analysis with you on an annual basis to show you we're still saving you money. To utilize this analysis service, please feel free to contact your sales agent either through our Credit Cards, NJ site or by contacting your rep directly.

We also have a tool in our arsenal for those merchants who may have recently signed up for a processing program with another provider and to whom an early termination fee would apply should you leave. This program will work with our clients and negotiate on your behalf with your current provider. The process is a really easy one - it consists of completing a two page form giving us the authority to act on your behalf and then speaking with your provider. Should we save you any money, we split the savings - you've got nothing to lose by giving us a shout!

We hope that this posting will be able to help all businesses start putting more money into their respective pockets and thereby boosting our sagging economy - call it CCNJ's economic stimulus plan!

New Year's Greetings

2008-12-31T13:49:00.001-05:00

To all our friends and clients,

Credit Cards, NJ would like to take a moment to thank you for all that you have done for us over the last year and wants you to know how much we appreciate your business and continued support of our operations. Without you, CCNJ would not be the same.

Thank you, and best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful, healthy and prosperous 2009.

Joseph Glass
President, Credit Cards, NJ

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T13:47:00.001-05:00

CCNJ would like to take this moment to wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and the very best to you in 2009!

New Benefits added!

2008-11-07T15:30:00.001-05:00

One of the things that we've been hearing during the election this year was all about some 40+million Americans lacking medical insurance. This fact is not necessarily due to these individual's own fault, but maybe the costs involved or certain other issues that may have come into play prevented them from being insured.

Credit Cards, NJ is doing its part to make America a little better by offering a complementary medical savings card. Simply click here to access the card, print it out and present it to one of 54,000+ pharmacies around our great country and get an average of 34% savings on your medication! It may not be much, but it is certainly a start.

May God bless our great country and all of our readers.

Do you offer free terminals?

2008-11-04T13:59:00.005-05:00

Many times we hear the question "Do you offer free terminals?" For those of you who may not be familiar with the idea behind free terminals, it may sound like a great idea - who wouldn't want to keep their up-front costs as low as possible?

I'd bet you also heard of the old adage, "there's no such thing as a free lunch!" That saying is certainly true here. If you think about it, there is a clear cost to the piece of equipment a sales force is giving away - from a small PINpad to a full Point-of-Sale (POS) system, the costs range between $100-$5,000 and more based on the configuration of the equipment. How can someone afford to give away that much money without getting something in return? The answer becomes clear now - YOU are paying for that free equipment, be it through high annual fees, higher downgrades (the rewards, and mid-qualified/non-qualified surcharges) and many other fees that can appear on your application. For all the extra expenses you'll be taking on during the life of your account with the processor who gave you free equipment, don't you think it's probably better just to buy a terminal now? Plus, the added benefit is that you will own your machine, and should you ever need to switch providers, you can take your terminal with you - don't put yourself and your business at risk.

If you have any questions on free equipment, please feel free to contact the sales people at Credit Cards, NJ - they'll be more than happy to give you all the information you need and show you why it's still better to own your equipment outright, plus with our low cost equipment, you really cannot go wrong!

Security Alert

2008-08-25T12:21:00.003-05:00

Visa Security Alert, 8/25/2008: 'Packet Sniffing Vulnerability'

Visa released a data security alert yesterday on packet sniffers.

Computer hackers are using packet sniffers to breach data security and obtain cardholder data.

Packet sniffers are malicious software or “malware” and may be referred to as a network or protocol analyzer. The sniffers seize a stream or block of data (a packet) being transmitted or passed on a network.

Sniffers are often used for legitimate business purposes such as network analysis, monitoring of network usage or firewall testing. An increase in data security breaches from packet sniffers has prompted the alert. Investigations have shown packet sniffers capturing cardholder data on transactions passed on the compromised businesses’ computer networks.

Visa recommends the following best practices to mitigate your vulnerability to a packet sniffer attack in their alert:

“Although packet sniffing is difficult to detect, you can utilize tactics to mitigate the risk of exposure to critical systems, such as point-of-sale (POS) systems, payment processing servers, database servers or other servers where cardholder data resides. To get started, follow these best practices:

• Utilize host-based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
• Monitor firewalls for suspicious traffic, particularly outbound traffic to unknown addresses
• Implement file integrity monitoring
• Secure workstations so packet sniffers or other malware cannot be installed
• Utilize encrypted protocols or encryption to protect sensitive data
• Use packet sniffers legitimately to detect network intrusion attempts or suspicious activity on a network
• Ensure that anti-virus and anti-spyware software programs are up-to-date
• Routinely examine systems and networks for newly-added hardware devices”

More information on packet sniffing is available at www.visa.com/cisp or netsecurity.about.com/cs/hackertools/a/aa121403.htm

The economy and your business

2008-07-02T14:58:00.003-05:00

It seems lately that all we are hearing about is how bad the economy is doing, and that everything from the price of milk to airline tickets are going up what seems like every other week.

So, we'd like to ask you, our clients and readers, what you are seeing - how has the economy been impacting your business? Have you been seeing a drop-off in sales or has your business improved? Are you seeing fewer customers, or are you seeing the same customers you normally would just purchasing less?

Let us know - we'd love to hear from you.

CCNJHost.com

2008-06-04T13:50:00.003-05:00

Do you find yourself fighting with your web hosting provider on your bandwidth, levels of service or price? How about everything else?

If you don't want to have the hassles, check out our new web hosting solution, CCNJHost.com. With plans starting at only $1.50 per month, how can you possibly go wrong? Check us out today.

Compliance issues

2008-06-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

Attention all Merchant Partners customers:

Did you receive a notice in the mail stating that some of your equipment or software might not be in compliance with Visa & MasterCard regulations? As long as you are going straight to www.onlinemerchantcenter.com to handle your credit card processing, and NOT using any other intermediary piece of software, you have nothing to fear. You're in compliance and can ignore the notice.

In case you require any backup, please see our Visa CISP page.

A new business credit card?

2008-03-06T16:31:00.002-05:00

Have you been thinking about getting a new credit card for your business? Or maybe, getting your business' first card?

What better way is there than to separate your business expenses from your personal expenses than by having two different credit card accounts? Credit Cards, NJ is proud to announce that we are offering a business credit card to our clients that not only has a rewards program enabling you to earn points toward merchandise or miles but also has a cash-back option as well!

Contact CCNJ today for more information about how you too can benefit!

And are you taking my first born too?

2007-10-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

One of the many issues that all of us are constantly faced with is the question of who we can trust, and what information we can trust those individuals/companies with. And, with all of the news stories constantly appearing, it makes our information that much more of an area that we need to be careful with.

Of course, the most private of all information - our identity, consisting of social security number, date of birth and other such pieces of information, we like keeping to ourselves. We know we have to provide that information to a bank when opening an account; on an insurance policy if we want to be insured; and on our tax related forms, etc.

Most would usually believe that we would never need to give our personal information to anyone else, and normally that is true. However, there are a few instances where that kind of information may not seem on the surface to be necessary, but is in fact very much so. I am referring to the merchant services (credit card processing) applications. Let me first tell you that the information provided to a honest representative is ONLY going to be used and seen by those that have a need to see it. That would include the CCNJ data entry reps and credit officers to review an application. Your data is then securely stored or destroyed.

One might ask why it is necessary for a merchant to divulge such information. Remember the last time you went into the bank to open an account (especially after Sept. 11)? You had to provide the bank with all sorts of information, including your social security number. That requirement has been further strengthened under the US Patriot Act. In basic terms, the Patriot Act requires all financial institutions to know their customers, and to ensure they are not related to any terror related groups. When you, as a merchant, are applying to accept credit cards, you are entering into a financial relationship with a bank, and are therefore subject to the same rules and requirements. Additionally, there are other areas of concern which include but are not limited to:

Fraud protection: Are you really who you say you are?
Financial Risk: Are you or your business financially solvent, and how do we know that?So how do you know we are who we say we are?

As a consumer, there are ways to protect yourself. If you are unsure about the person you are speaking with, hang up, and use the Internet, telephone book, or Directory Assistance to find the official phone number for the company you are dealing with, and call back directly. You can also ask for references or look up the business in the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

Governments making it simple to pay our taxes

2007-10-17T15:02:00.000-05:00

In a recent report issued by the Council of State Governments called “Acceptance and Use of Electronic Payments for State Taxes and Fees,” state governments are increasingly using electronic payments, such as credit card and ACH processing, as a method to collect taxes and fees. Of the 33 states that replied, 91% of the respondents said they were using an electronic payment program and most said they were even planning on expanding their existing programs.

The following benefits were the most commonly cited and considered the most important:

Decreased processing costs
Reduced processing time
Lower delinquency rates
Faster transaction verification
Increased security and accuracy
Added convenience for taxpayers

To see the complete report: http://www.csg.org/pubs/Documents/e-PaymentsReport.pdf

Just as regular businesses are realizing the importance of collecting payments more efficiently, so are governmental institutions. Whether you’re collecting a local tourist tax, driver’s license fee, or state income tax, government offices will reap the benefits of increased efficiencies and taxpayers will appreciate the convenience and expediency.

Credit Cards, NJ (CCNJ) has a perfect solution for all entities, even governments! Contact a CCNJ sales rep today for more information.

New service offering: Business Cash Advance

2007-10-16T18:13:00.000-05:00

If you are in need of a source for funding, where would you typically go? Most people would go to their bank or their own pocket for financing. What happens though if you can't go to your bank, and you simply don't have enough to finance your business' expansion needs with your personal funds? You would need to either forget about expanding, or look for another alternative.

Let us introduce you to a brand new service offering by Credit Cards, NJ (CCNJ) known as Business Cash Advance. With this program, CCNJ can front you up to $2,000,000 to allow your business to grow and finance all of your expansion needs. With that kind of financing available, CCNJ is truly your smart choice for merchant services! Contact a CCNJ representative today for more information!

New service offering: Corporate Credit Cards

2007-09-10T18:07:00.000-05:00

Are you a business owner in need of a new credit card? Maybe the one you have now is just not working out for you for any number of reasons.

Credit Cards, NJ (CCNJ) is pleased to announce a brand new service offering available to all our customers and friends. Beginning this month, you can sign up for a new business credit card. We are able to offer a Visa card to all businesses, and an American Express card to those businesses who sign up with CCNJ and UBC as the processor. Contact us today for more information!

Gift cards

2007-09-07T13:55:00.000-05:00

Do you want more sales? Do you want to make more money? I think the answer is going to be yes! Who would ever pass up making more money or completing more sales... One would have to be at maximum capacity, and then some to ever say they would not want more business.

Let me introduce to you Credit Cards, NJ's gift card program. Using our gift card program, you will be driving more customers into your store, and many of those customers will be new ones - people who would have never stopped into your business before. Our gift card program comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, and is perfect for just about every retail business - don't pass up any more sales.

Especially at this time of year, when people will be getting ready to begin their holiday shopping, what better way of giving yourself a bonus is there? Contact Credit Cards, NJ or go to our Gift & Loyalty Card program page today for more information on our gift card program.

Business Resources

2007-08-22T12:40:00.001-05:00

In today's crazy world, one really does not have time to search for a separate provider of services for every possible product one requires. That is why Credit Cards, NJ is proud to announce our business resources page. On this page, you will find information on many of the top companies, including a link for telecommunications services and even Amazon.com! Now you can simply link directly from our page to theirs and complete your purchase on the spot. No more figuring out who to go to, and how to get to them. Check out CCNJ's Business Resources page today.

Also, in an effort to enable everyone to network, and find various providers of services, you might be interested in checking out the 5&Dime group, founded by Credit Cards, NJ. On this site, you can list your company and what you do, and allow the other members of the group to know who you are, and what you do. What better way to network informally than this?

Good luck, and we hope to hear from you soon!
Credit Cards, NJ

Accept Credit Cards Online!

2007-08-15T13:02:00.000-05:00

Do you have an online business? Do you have a need to accept credit cards online? If you do, look no further - CCNJ has your answer.

With Credit Cards, NJ's e-commerce program, you'll be able to integrate your website into our online virtual terminal to process all of your credit cards directly through your website. Alternatively, if you only need to process cards without a website, the same virtual terminal can be used for that as well. You can even add a recurring billing module to your account, so that you can charge your customers their monthly subscription fees - all from the same service!

Try us out today - surf on over to Credit Cards, NJ - Your Smart Choice for Merchant Services and check out our e-commerce programs.

Accepting credit cards

2007-07-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

Over the years, I have encountered many questions when it comes to accepting credit cards and setting up merchant accounts for small and large business.

When researching the idea of accepting credit cards you should not just look for information on the various rates and fees that will be applicable to the account. Sure, the cost is one important component, but the most important piece of your decision should be based on the reliability of the particular merchant provider (and sales office) you will be using, since after all, this is your money and your business at risk.

What is a Merchant Account anyway?
A merchant account is a special type of account that is setup to allow businesses to accept funds from credit card holders using an e-commerce storefront or a retail POS device. This account is not to be confused with a traditional business banking account.

The merchant account provider acts as the business's gateway between Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express and allows the money to be transferred into the merchant’s bank account.

In order to get setup to accept credit cards the business must supply the merchant provider with a few important documents that the bank requires during the underwriting process, which can include prior processing statements (if applicable), personal information (i.e. social security #, date of birth, etc.), driver's license and other pertinent information requested by the various underwriters.

A common question is what the normal cost for a merchant account is. Like every other provider, CCNJ can offer a base rate; however, based upon the business's (and owner's) credit score and the particular industry type (among other items) will allow us to better understand your business and estimate a rate to best fit your needs. To give you a range:

Retail store doing $25,000 per month on Visa & MasterCard, with an average transaction of $25: 1.59%+ $0.25 to 1.95% + $0.25 per swiped transaction (Qualified level only. Keyed transactions, business cards, etc will raise the rate).
Online storefront doing $25,000 per month on Visa & MasterCard, with an average transaction of $25: 1.99% + $0.30 to 2.75% + $0.30 per transaction. (Mid-Qualified level only. Business cards, etc will raise the rate).

What's the Next Step - How Do I Setup a Merchant Account?

1. Please Complete this Small Questionaire and a Merchant Account Consultant will be in contact to discuss your business's needs.

2. Please fax the following information to 201-490-5451, attn: New Accounts

Completed Application
2-3 months of prior processing statements (if applicable)
Business License
Driver's License
Voided Check

Most people looking for a merchant account just go out onto the internet and find the lowest credit card processing rates and signup without understanding all that goes into the process. I have had many customers that have been burned by not knowing all of the details up-front. Ask questions, don't expect the sales rep to come straight out and give you all the fees, etc on the account. If you do not feel comfortable with the deal, walk away.

Accepting credit cards also has it's risks for the fact when it comes to chargebacks. You need to make sure that your merchant provider can help you when these issues arise because you do not want your business to be listed on the "TMF List." The Terminated Merchant File is essentially a BLACKLIST from which it is almost impossible to be removed, and will force you to pay higher rates for processing, should you be approved in the future. Note - chargebacks are only one way to end up on the TMF List; other factors can land you on this list as well.

Get a FREE Rate REVIEW
Talk to a merchant account consultant at Credit Cards, NJ to analyze your current rates to see if there is anything they can do to help you reduce your monthly fees. Since CCNJ guarantees that they will meet or beat your current processing rates based on your current statements, what have you got to lose? You can either complete our brief form, or call us at 201-645-0132 and ask to speak to someone in sales today!

Telecom Services

2007-07-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

With all of the stories about the telecom industry, in particular, the Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, and some companies closing down, now is definitely the time to ensure you have the right company behind you. Credit Cards, NJ is proud to announce that we have entered into a relationship with many of the country's top providers for telecom services, including VoIP business-class services.

Check out CCNJ's telecom services page for more details.

Update...

2007-07-26T10:27:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since our last post, but we wanted to update everyone on some of the latest happenings at Credit Cards, NJ. A brand new site just launched - check it out at the home of the Low Rate Credit Card Processing & Complete E-Commerce Solution.

We also have a new promotion currently underway - sign up before July 31, 2007 and enter for your chance to win a brand new iPod Nano, courtesy of CCNJ.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Your friends at Credit Cards, NJ

Special referral bonus

2007-03-01T14:54:00.000-05:00

Special bonus available to businesses that refer new customers to CCNJ:

CCNJ values referrals. We value them so much that we'll pay you hard, cold cash to bring new accounts to us.* Simply fill out our referral form and if the person you are referring us becomes a customer, we'll pay you a handsome referral bonus. More details available on the site.

* Certain restrictions apply. New referrals must be expecting a call from CCNJ. No bonuses paid out for self-referrals.

What you really need to know about accepting credit cards!

2007-03-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

I have often heard people who say that accepting credit cards is just too expensive for me. I must say that when you look at the basic economics of it, by not accepting credit cards, you're actually costing yourself money - not saving!

If you are a business and not accepting credit cards, you are missing out on sales and free advertising. Those lost sales might make the difference between a good month and a REALLY good month or between making a profit or a loss during a particular reporting period. Merchant accounts are known to increase your business by 30-100% or more!

Let's look at an example, that can be applied to any level of sales or any type of business...
Monthly sales volume: $5,000
Assumed cost of goods sold (COGS): 50%
Gross profit: $2,500

Now, add a conservative 20% increase in sales (note - normally would expect 30-100% if not more) by accepting credit cards from your customers.

NEW Monthly sales volume: $6,000
Assumed cost of goods sold (COGS): 50%
Gross profit: $3,000
Less estimated credit card processing fees of approx. $100
NEW NET PROFIT before tax: $2,900 or additional $400 per month or $4,800 per year

By accepting credit cards in this case, you'd be making an additional $400 per month or $4,800 per year - how can you say no to that?

Let's look at another example: Let's keep some of the numbers from above, but say a 30% increase in sales.

Sales volume would be $6,500 per month
COGS would be $3,250
estimated credit card processing fees would be approx. $150.

NEW net profit before tax would now be $3,100 or an increase of $600 per month/$7,200 per year.

When you look at the math, you have to ask yourself - how did I not see this before? Why am I letting sales slip this way?

Don't beat yourself up anymore. Contact Credit Cards, NJ today and let us help you get setup to accept credit and debit cards right away.

Special for Non-Profit - 501(c)(3) Organizations

2007-02-26T16:53:00.000-05:00

Do you represent a non-profit organization?

Let's face it. It costs a lot of money to raise a dollar these days, and with more than 1 million 501(c)(3) certified organizations across the United States, it is now that much more difficult to raise money to fulfill your organization's mission. That is why CCNJ is proud to be a partner with the non-profit industry.

Sign up with Credit Cards, NJ and enjoy HUGE discounts on transaction fees, monthly service charges and much more, available ONLY to non-profit & educational organizations. Learn more about Credit Cards, NJ's program for the non-profit & educational industry.

Keep those hard raised dollars with the organization instead of with Visa & MasterCard! We make it easy and hassle free for you to join. So what are you waiting for? Contact CCNJ today.

Get money back for processing your credit cards with CCNJ!

2007-02-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

Special promotion available to new customers who sign with Credit Cards, NJ (CCNJ) before March 1, 2007...

Get up to $100 cash back on your credit card processing fees. Simply sign up with CCNJ and save on your processing fees, while even earning a chance to get money back! How much better can life get than this? Check out Credit Cards, NJ today to find out more.

Welcome to our blog - accept credit cards!

2007-02-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks for stopping by Credit Cards, NJ's home on Blogger.com.

As someone who might be a business owner, we're sure that you would want to keep as much of the profit from your business in your pocket, which is why CCNJ works with each business owner to lower the fees you pay to the credit card processing companies. Talk to us today to find out how we can help make you some cash too!

Not only do we work with you to help you save money, we also will work with you to help you make more of it! With our gift & loyalty programs, you can have your customers do the marketing work for you, giving out new gift cards to their friends and family, bringing you new customers!

Contact Credit Cards, NJ today to find out how you can become part of our family!