Visa VAMP: The New Chargeback Rules No One Explained to You
Visa is keeping a scorecard on your business. Every chargeback counts against it. So does every time a customer tells their bank “I did not make that charge,” even if you refund them, and even if it never becomes an official chargeback. Most business owners have never heard of this program. In one 2026 survey, […]
How to Read Your Merchant Statement (Without a Decoder Ring)
Your merchant statement arrives every month, and most business owners do one of two things with it. They glance at the total and file it, or they open it, see four pages of codes and abbreviations, and close it again. I do not blame anyone for the second one. Processing statements are not written to […]
How Long Can Square Hold Your Money? Longer Than You Think
You logged in to move your money and it was not there. Instead there is a message about a review, a hold, or a deactivated account, and a balance sitting on your screen that you cannot touch. The first question every business owner asks me is the same one. How long is this going to […]
Stripe Froze My Account: What Is Actually Happening and What to Do Next
Your money is not gone. It is frozen, you cannot move it, and the reason is usually structural rather than personal. I am Julie Franke, a Certified Payments Professional. I have worked in payments since 2009, and this is one of the most common calls we get. A business is running fine, volume picks up, […]
What Is ACH? How ACH Payments Work (And When Your Business Should Use Them)
You have probably used ACH this week without ever seeing the name. If your paycheck lands in your account by direct deposit, that is ACH. If your mortgage or gym membership pulls automatically from your bank account, that is ACH too. I am Julie Franke, a Certified Payments Professional, and payments are what I do […]
The 4 major factors in preventing business fraud
Business fraud is often hidden from plain sight. But the longer it goes on, the more damage it will do. Here are four important factors that will help you prevent and uncover business fraud. Transaction processing systems: Review fraud settings Most modern payment systems offer fraud protection. Either built-in or through a second- or […]
More About Electronic Merchant Services – High Risk Merchant Services
Electronic Merchant Services has been helping merchants with their credit card processing for over 20 years. For the past 7 years they have shifted the focus of business to High Risk Merchant Services. EMS understands the process better than most sales offices and agents out in the field. Communication The one thing that really sets […]
4 Tips for Preventing Chargebacks on Reoccurring and Subscription Payments.
Having a membership or subscription model business has been a trend in the way that businesses structure how products and services are sold. It is a great way to ensure future income and know how much labor will be needed. However, this business model does come with the likelihood of an increased risk of chargebacks. […]
Top 4 Challenges Today’s Business Owners Face
Conducting business through a pandemic will have some definite repercussions. Do you know what challenges to address, especially ones that can cost you your bottom line? challenges that business owners today will face These have been identified as the top four challenges that business owners today will face. Increased disputes Increased fraud attempts Lost sales […]
Are You Thinking about Converting Your Business to Cashless?
Many businesses today are finding it easier to go cashless. Most businesses already no longer accept checks. Businesses often take cash and credit for goods and services, but most online businesses only accept digital payments. Have you wondered if going cashless is right for you? Here are some things to consider before making the change: […]