Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year!

Bankcard Processors, LLC

850-228-5571

jphaire@bankcardprocessors.biz

Holiday Chargebacks

What They Are & How to Protect Your Business

The holiday season brings more sales — but it also brings more chargebacks. With increased shopping, online orders, fraud attempts, and shipping delays, disputes tend to spike this time of year. Here’s what every business should know:

What Is a Chargeback?

A chargeback happens when a customer disputes a transaction with their bank. The bank pulls the funds back while they investigate, often before you’re aware of the issue.

Why Chargebacks Increase During the Holidays:

• More online and card-not-present transactions
• Gift purchases customers don’t recognize
• Shipping delays
• Higher fraud activity
• “Friendly fraud” — disputing legitimate purchases

How to Protect Your Business:

• Use AVS and CVV for card-not-present sales
• Keep clear business names on statements
• Provide tracking and delivery confirmation
• Document receipts, invoices, and service records
• Make refund/return policies clear
• Train staff to watch for red flags

If a Chargeback Happens:

Respond quickly with strong documentation — delivery proof, signed work orders, receipts, or communication logs. A fast, organized response increases your chance of winning the dispute.

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Lets make it happen in the year 2026! New year New goals!

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Digital Wallets, Mobile Commerce, and Your Business

Mobile wallets are mobile device apps that allow people to store and use digital versions of their credit and debit cards. They eliminate the need to carry around a bulky wallet, or worry about a physical credit card or cash getting stolen. If a smartphone does happen to fall into the wrong hands, the mobile wallet would still be protected by the fingerprint ID, facial recognition, or passcode the owner has set to authenticate and open it. With more and more consumers using mobile payment technology, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, merchants are accommodating them with NFC credit card terminals.

All it takes is a tap on the terminal for a customer to make a payment using their smartphone. Through Near Field Communication (NFC), the terminal is able to accept the transaction. Not only do mobile payments speed up your checkout line, they also help drive revenue by catering to customer preference.

How Does NFC Work?

Mobile wallet payments are called contactless because they don’t require physical contact between credit card and terminal, and instead get transaction data from the former to the latter through NFC.

NFC powers credit card terminals to create an electromagnetic radio field with other NFC-compatible devices, such as smartphones, smart watches, etc.

The radio field makes a safe channel for close-range contactless payments. The customer simply waves their device over the terminal to make what’s known as a “tap and go” payment. Physical credit cards can also be contactless, so not all contactless payments refer to mobile wallets.

Mobile Payment Security

Mobile payments are backed by leading-edge security. Take Apple Pay for example. When an iPhone user uploads their credit card information to a digital wallet, the card data is instantly tokenized and stored on a secure NFC chip in the phone.

The token is a random substitute that can’t be decrypted, so it’s worthless to credit card thieves. The token holds the place of the real card information, so nothing sensitive is ever stored on Apple’s servers, on the smartphone, or at businesses where the card is used.

Only the highly secure payment processor has access to the “token vault,” which holds the keys to match up tokens to the real card info they represent. To all other parties involved in the transaction, the token is meaningless.

Thanks to tokenization, NFC technology, and biometric authentication (fingerprint or face ID), mobile payments are considered even safer than traditional card-present transactions.

What About Online?

You can use a mobile wallet on your smart device and conveniently make payments in stores, or you can store a digital wallet on a computer to make online transactions with a simple click instead of keying in your payment information every time. For a big task, like Christmas shopping online, this is a major time-saver.

Digital wallets help reduce cart abandonment at your online store because payment occurs in one fell swoop, rather than requiring the customer to enter their information.

A mobile wallet typically refers to one that is stored on a handheld or wearable mobile device, like a smartphone, Apple Watch or Fitbit. A digital wallet securely stores payment data in the same way, but is typically stored on a computer and used for online purchases. Sometimes, the terms are used interchangeably or called e-wallets.

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Hello!

Its been a while so I figured I'd reintroduce myself before the new year...

Hi, I’m John P. Haire. I’ve been a Floridian most of my life, a proud Florida State grad (Go Noles!) with a degree in Business Administration, and a certified pilot with over 1,500 hours in the sky. I used to race offshore sailboats too—because apparently, I thought both the air and the ocean needed conquering.

In 2015, I dove into the world of Business Services with Bankcard Processing, helping small businesses find smart, affordable ways to handle payments. In 2017, I made the biggest leap yet: I moved to Lincoln, California—land of horses, wine, and my future wife. Boats and planes got swapped for barns and pastures… and honestly, I haven’t looked back (much).

As a broker for merchant services, I help business owners—coast to coast—find the best payment solutions for their needs. From simple phone swipers to high-tech POS systems, from cash and checks to crypto, I’ve got you covered. I work with U.S.-based providers who offer 24/7 support, flexible contracts, and real people who answer the phone. Imagine that!

Every client gets treated like a friend—because that’s how I like to do business.

When I’m not helping businesses get paid faster, I’m lending a hand at my wife’s nonprofit: Warriors Soul. It’s a therapeutic ranch where over 35 horses help youth, adults, and veterans heal from trauma—especially those dealing with PTSD. We serve clients each week with riding programs tailored to all levels and needs. It’s a place full of heart, hay, and healing.

So, whether you need help with your payment systems or just want to support some four-legged therapists, I’d love to connect.

“From Bankcards to Barnyards—I’ve Got You Covered”

Please support us at www.WarriorsSoul.org. and Bankcard Processors.biz

How to Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams

 

Scammers are working overtime to get your money during the holiday season so the FBI has tips on how to avoid cybercriminals and fraudsters. Crooks use fake sale emails, AI‑polished phishing messages, and bogus charities to trick people into handing over credit card numbers and personal information. The FBI also warns that this is a prime season for romance scams. 

What is A Payment Processor? 5 Important Terms to Know

Most businesses take credit card payments from their customers on a daily basis, but few think much about it. But as a business owner, if you don’t know what’s involved in payment processing, you can run into trouble when an issue comes up. You may even wonder what is a payment processor? 

Here, we’ll answer that very question and look at four other payments processing terms to know;

1. What is a payment processor?

A payment processor manages the credit card transaction process by acting as the mediator between the merchant and the financial institutions involved. A processor can authorize credit card transactions and works to ensure merchants get paid on time by facilitating the transfer of funds. Some payment processing services provide equipment for card acceptance, security solutions, PCI compliance assistance, customer support and other value-added payment processing services.

Different from a payment processor, a payment gateway is an encrypted application that authorizes credit card or direct payments processing for online sales other card-not-present transactions.

2. What is an acquirer?

The acquirer, also known as the acquiring or merchant bank, is the financial institution that maintains a merchant’s account in order to accept credit cards. The acquirer settles card transactions for a merchant into their account. Sometimes the payment processor and the acquirer are one and the same.

3. What is an issuer?

The issuer, or issuing bank, is the cardholder’s bank, which is responsible for paying the acquirer (and subsequently the merchant) for approved credit card transactions and collecting payment from cardholders.

4. What is PCI compliance?

PCI compliance refers to compliance with the PCI DSS, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. PCI DSS is an information security standard that applies to all entities involved in processing, storing and/or transmitting payment card information. Any merchant who accepts card payments must comply with PCI mandates. Failure to achieve and maintain PCI compliance can leave a merchant vulnerable to a data breach and the ensuing negative fallout including fines, fees and lost business.

PCI compliance is complex and depends on various factors. Some payment processors offer PCI compliance tools and assistance to their merchants. The type of offerings can include security checklists, hands-on help, breach coverage and more. Because PCI mandates are updated regularly, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced payment processor that offers a complete PCI compliance assistance program.

5. What are EMV chip credit cards?

EMV chip cards have become more commonplace since the fraud chargeback liability shift that took place in October 2015. The liability shift placed new responsibilities on merchants for card-present fraud. Basically, if a business processes a chip card without using an EMV-enabled terminal, it could be held responsible for any fraud that results.

EMV is not a mandate like PCI (e.g., merchants will not be fined for not using an EMV-enabled device). But it is a necessity for merchants in reducing their fraud and chargeback rates for card-present transactions. It’s important to note, however, that EMV does not protect against a data breach – that’s where PCI comes in. So be sure to ask your payment processor about both EMV and PCI compliance solutions. Now that you know a few of the important payment processing terms, it’s time to be sure you’re working with the right payment processor for your business. A trustworthy and experienced payments processor will provide the information, tools, and guidance you need to securely accept card payments.

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Key Participants in Credit Card Processing

A good first step in understanding the process is to review industry terms for the key participants:

• Cardholder. A cardholder is the customer, or consumer, who is using the card for payment. The cardholder could be either the owner of the card or an authorized user.

• Issuing bank. An issuing bank is the entity that issued the credit card to the cardholder and is responsible for authorizing the transaction. If a transaction is approved, the issuing bank sends funds to the merchant bank, which in turn bills the card owner through a monthly credit card statement.

• Merchant. A merchant is a business that accepts credit card payments from customers for its goods or services. These include in-person, online or phone payments.

• Merchant bank. A merchant bank, also known as an acquiring bank, maintains the merchant account where the funds from credit card transactions are deposited. Some merchant banks act as payment processors in the card transaction. Others rely on third-party payment processors to manage the payment details.

• Payment processors. A payment processor, or merchant services company, helps manage the transaction process with the merchants, banks and card networks. In addition to helping authorize transactions and ensuring the transfer of funds, some payment processors also offer the hardware and software required to accept card transactions.

• Card networks. Credit card networks such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are responsible for the infrastructure that allows the transmission of credit card details between the merchant bank and the issuing bank. Credit card networks have rules for the use of their networks and set interchange fees for their services. Source

Protecting Your Business  From Holiday Payment Fraud

Smart Tips from John Haire at Bankcard Processors...

The holiday rush is a wonderful time for business — but it’s also when fraudsters work overtime. With more transactions, online orders, and busy staff, scammers see opportunity. That’s why this time of year is the most important for merchants to stay alert and take simple steps to protect both your business and your customers.

Here are a few ways to keep your payment processing safe this holiday season:

1. Stay Alert to Suspicious Transactions

Watch for unusual orders — large purchases from new customers, mismatched billing and shipping addresses, or multiple cards used by the same person in a short period. When in doubt, verify before you process.

2. Keep Your Equipment Secure and Updated

Make sure your credit card terminals, POS systems, and online gateways are running the latest software updates. Outdated equipment can leave your business vulnerable to breaches or data theft.

3. Train Your Team

Your staff is your first line of defense. Remind employees not to override fraud alerts, skip signature checks, or process transactions when something feels “off.” Encourage them to trust their instincts.

4. Watch Out for Phishing and Account Takeovers

During the holidays, scammers often pose as your processor, bank, or even a familiar vendor. Never share login information, passwords, or account details over email or text — and contact your processor directly if something looks suspicious.

5. Reconcile Daily and Review Chargebacks Quickly

Catching discrepancies early can prevent larger issues later. Daily reconciliations help you spot unauthorized transactions, and timely responses to chargebacks protect your revenue.

At Bankcard Processors, we take your security seriously — from PCI compliance to fraud monitoring and data protection. If you’d like help reviewing your setup or tightening your fraud prevention measures before the holidays, I’m here to help.

This season, let’s keep your business merry, bright, and secure.