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Should you be accepting alternative card brands?
Is it worth it to accept non-Visa/MasterCard credit cards? Visa and MasterCard are the two largest companies in the credit card processing industry, and it’s not even close. In 2013, Visa and MasterCard accounted for over 87% of all card transactions worldwide. The third-most common transaction type by card brand was China UnionPay with 7.7% […]
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How to spot and report slamming scams
What is a merchant account slamming scam? The term “slamming” refers to a deceptive sales practice intended to switch a customer’s service provider without his or her knowledge or consent. This ripoff tactic first popped up in the telecommunications industry in the 1980s, when unethical telecom providers would notify AT&T of a customer’s intention to […]
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Are gift and loyalty programs worth it?
Why should I offer a gift card or loyalty program to my customers? Customer reward programs can benefit your business by expanding your marketing reach and distinguishing your business from its competitors. Customers who sign up for a loyalty program are expecting the arrangement to pay off; therefore, they are more likely to monitor your […]
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What is Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 interchange?
Interchange rates can be complicated. In an industry as competitive as merchant services, the company that can quote the lowest transaction rate usually has an advantage over its competitors. You’ve probably seen some of these “teaser” rates before—advertisements that promote “rates as low as 0.39% per swipe” or “fees starting at 1.09%”—but what you may […]
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Are merchant cash advances a ripoff? It depends.
What do I need to know about merchant cash advances? Merchant cash advances have been gaining in popularity ever since the 2008 financial crisis, when banks tightened up their small business loan restrictions and business owners had to look elsewhere for funding. They’ve only recently become a mainstream issue, though, thanks to increased media coverage […]
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Braintree Payments Reviews
Braintree Payments (braintreepayments.com) is an online merchant account provider owned by PayPal. See Braintree reviews and ratings from real users here.