Most business owners have heard that PCI Compliance is important. They know they may pay a fee if compliance is not completed annually. But, do you know what is really at stake?

It is cardholder data (credit card data) that is at stake. Not just your customers data, but your data as well. Just as you want to protect your customers’ data, the hope is that the places you use your credit card are equally vigilant. This is a group effort.

Have you had your card information compromised and had to cancel your card and be sent a new one. It is not just the hassle of setting up your reoccurring transactions again. It is the knowledge that your data was stolen, probably to a  completely unaware and NON PCI compliant merchant.

What can you do? Most processing companies work with a third party company to validate PCI Compliance with each of their customers. When you are validating your compliance you are showing that you have taken all of the necessary precautions to keep your customers credit card data secure. With your payments partner, you should be looking at how transactions are completed, the systems you are using, and the security measures you have with staff.

Using a Certified Payments Professional (ETA CPP) when setting up your merchant account is a way for you to know that you are working with an expert in the Payments Industry. These individuals are certified through the Electronic Transaction Association (ETA). They are familiar with PCI Compliance and what it means to your business.

The ETA CPP program sets the standard for professional performance in the payments industry and is a symbol of excellence. It signifies that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to perform competently in today’s complex electronic payments environment.

Discovering whether or not your sales agent is certified is as simple as vising ETA CPP Registry and inserting the sales agent’s name (I did find that some names needed to be entered in all caps).

Electronic Merchant Services is structured so that all accounts are managed by a Certified Payments Professional. If you are looking for a new merchant account or would like to have someone help you navigate the complexities of what you currently have in place you can reach us at info@emspayments.com or 208-273-5575.