Merchant Link SecurityCents

A blog that comments on the latest developments in the world of payments, payment data security and technology, PCI compliance, and more.

Posts Tagged ‘ Payment Gateway ’

At Merchant Link, we never forget that we began as a service company. Our highly knowledgeable technicians, installers and support agents are empowered to do whatever it takes to take care of our merchants. We invest in our people through training and mentoring. We proactively monitor merchant sites. We seek feedback on improvements to our services and support. We continually strive to create a culture of superior service.

As Director of Service Delivery for Merchant Link, I invite you to learn more about the teams that make up our Service Delivery Group and the range of services they provide in this new brochure.

And, whether you’re already using Merchant Link or will be soon, check out this presentation for tips on how to get the most out of our services.

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 23, 2012) – Merchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions, today announced it has been designated by AmericInn International, LLC as the preferred provider of payment and data security services for its franchisees. AmericInn® is one of the fastest growing limited service lodging chains with over 260 locations in 27 states. Locations utilizing an integrated property management system for payments are now required to install the Merchant Link solution.

“As credit card data breaches continue to make headlines, and as we continue to grow our business, we knew we had to do everything possible to secure the personal data of our guests,” shared Mark Nicpon, CIO, of AmericInn International, LLC. “Merchant Link’s hosted solution secures cardholder data from the moment of capture and ensures data is not stored anywhere on premise. The solution also helps ease PCI compliance effort and cost for our franchisees.”

The comprehensive solution incorporates the Merchant Link Payment Gateway, TransactionVault tokenization and TransactionShield point-to-point encryption technology. The Merchant Link Payment Gateway provides connectivity to all major processors and sends payments quickly, while detecting and correcting errors along the way. TransactionVault removes guest credit card data from hoteliers’ systems and stores it in a secure, hosted “vault” – away from the business and safe from hackers. TransactionShield encrypts data at the point of interaction and protects it as it travels through the hotel’s IT environment. Decryption occurs within Merchant Link’s cloud-based payment gateway, reducing the risk of comprise.

“AmericInn understands the importance of processing payment transactions securely as well as the value of the support services we provide their franchisees to access information and immediately remediate problems,” said Dan Lane, Merchant Link’s President and CEO. “We are proud that AmericInn has selected Merchant Link as the brand standard for its franchisees and we look forward to working with them.”

Installations are already underway and adoption across the entire chain is expected to be complete over the next 12 months.

About AmericInn
AmericInn® is a leading mid-scale lodging chain with over 260 locations currently open or under development in 27 states. The brand is dedicated to providing an exceptional lodging value for its guests by offering great rates and amenities such as free, hot, home-style AmericInn Perk breakfast, free hotel-wide wireless high-speed Internet, inviting swimming pools and Easy Rewards. AmericInn is part of Northcott Hospitality, owner and developer of successful franchised hospitality brands for more than 50 years. For more information on AmericInn development opportunities visit www.AmericInnDREAM.com or call 1-866-220-7140. For AmericInn reservations visit www.AmericInn.com or call 1-800-634-3444.

Webcast #4 in our payments education series is up!

In this video, we take a look at merchant services, pricing, and what you can do to better manage your processing costs. For high risk payment processing costs, will be significantly higher. See info on high risk www.highriskpaymentprocessors.com

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Combined gateway, tokenization and point-to-point encryption solution to be integrated into another major point-of-sale system

SILVER SPRING, MD (March 26, 2012) – Merchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions, and XPIENT Solutions, a leading provider of point-of-sale, back office, and enterprise management technologies for restaurants, today announced a partnership that allows restaurant operators to increase the security of their payment transactions and cardholder data and benefit from the flexibility and support of a payment gateway service.
 
“We know restaurateurs are looking for ways to address the ongoing threat of theft and fraud, and we were impressed with Merchant Link’s solution that secures both data in-flight and at rest,” said Christopher Sebes, XPIENT’s President and CEO. “Our customers will also value the flexibility of Merchant Link’s processor-neutral gateway as well as the ability to bolster loyalty programs using Merchant Link’s card-based tokens.”
 
The integration pairs XPIENT’s innovative point-of-sale (POS) system with Merchant Link’s Payment Gateway, TransactionVault tokenization and TransactionShield point-to-point encryption solutions. Certification is complete and the first beta site is expected to be live within a few weeks.
 
“XPIENT is a recognized leader in the industry, working with some of the biggest brands and specializing in the quick service restaurant (QSR) segment where we are expanding,” said Dan Lane, Merchant Link’s President and CEO. “This partnership makes sense for both companies to be able to offer more options in the increasingly complex and varied world of payments today.”

Webcast #3 in our payments education series is up!

In this video, we take a closer look at interchange and at the various ways you can keep costs as low as possible.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Last week, we introduced a unique educational series focused on the fundamentals of credit card processing.

Today, we bring you webcast #2!  “Understanding Transaction Fees” provides insight on the different types of transactions fees and how are they calculated and collected.

Check it out and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Here on the SecurityCents blog, we talk a lot about strategies to secure cardholder data, and what’s happening in the world of payments in general. As part of our ongoing commitment to empower merchants with tools and information to better manage their payments, we’re kicking off a webinar program today, starting with a series on the fundamentals of credit card processing.

This unique series will begin with four recorded webcasts, and will answer questions such as:

  • How do credit card transactions flow through the network and who are the players involved?
  • What are the different types of transaction fees and how are they calculated?
  • What can merchants do to reduce their processing costs?

Then, we’ll host a couple of live webinars April 4-5 where we’ll outline valuable best practices to help you run a more efficient and profitable business. Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit questions to be answered live by our panel of experts.

View our first webcast and sign up for the live webinar by clicking here or on the EDUCATION tab above. And let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

New Partnership Allows Ski Resorts to Manage All Payment Transactions from Any Point-of-Sale Across the Resort

SILVER SPRING, MD (February 28, 2012) — Merchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions, and Transaction Resources, Inc. (TRI), a provider of innovative payment processing solutions, have announced a partnership that allows ski resorts and other hospitality providers to obtain enhanced security and support for their payment transactions – from lift ticket sales, to food and beverage transactions, to hotel bookings, spa services and more.

Eight ski resorts throughout the U.S. have already implemented this integrated solution, which includes the Merchant Link Payment Gateway™ and TransactionVault™, Merchant Link’s tokenization solution that replaces each card number with tokens. TRI and their clients will have the ability to add TransactionShield™, Merchant Link’s point-to-point encryption solution. Four additional implementations are expected to be complete by Q2.

“We are very pleased with how smoothly all of the accounts are being boarded and with all the positive feedback we are receiving about the Merchant Link service,” said David Frick, President TRI. “Thanks to this partnership, we can offer a solution that streamlines and secures payments across multiple channels, easing the administrative burden for our hospitality customers. We looked at other solutions and partners, and did not find the same level of flexibility and personalized support offered by Merchant Link.”

Merchant Link’s Payment Gateway provides significant advantages over premised-based or direct connect systems. These benefits include better reliability, flexibility and control, as well as real-time reporting and easy implementation. From a security perspective, the cloud-based gateway solution and added tokenization technology removes all cardholder data from the merchant’s IT environment – dramatically reducing the risk of a data breach while reducing PCI scope.

“TRI is an ideal partner for Merchant Link,” said Dan Lane, CEO of Merchant Link. “We both have a   passion for customer service and innovation. Together, we hope to help ski resorts and other untapped markets realize the benefits a robust payment gateway and security solution can provide in the ever-evolving, complex world of payments today.”

About Transaction Resources, Inc.

Transaction Resources, Inc. (TRI) offers innovative payment processing solutions by combining the latest technologies and a passion for customer service. Since 1993, the company’s key markets have grown to include retail, restaurant, lodging and resort industries. Its employees bring years of experience from hardware & software providers, network processors, banks and merchants. CardDog, a dynamic gift and loyalty system, is the latest product in the company’s committed growth as a leading payments provider. For more information on TRI and CardDog, visit www.transactionresources.com and www.carddog.com.

These days, merchants are being told they can save money by using a client-to-processor connection or “direct driver” vs. a hosted payment gateway in the cloud. Are these claims really true? What do merchants stand to lose by sending transaction data directly from their point-of-sale system to a processor?

A hosted payment gateway facilitates the secure transfer of information between a point of payment (your POS) and the payment processor or bank. The gateway acts as a translator, traffic cop and bodyguard – interpreting and directing data streams through a secure route to the appropriate destination, quickly and accurately.

Merchants considering both options should keep in mind:

  1. Choice: A gateway connects merchants to a variety of processors and often offers the flexibility to switch payment providers quickly and efficiently, enabling a merchant to best manage its payment acceptance fees. Merchants with franchisees can offer them the choice of processors and maintain a secure and consistent payments acceptance process across their brand.  Merchants can also use the gateway to route different card types to specified hosts, saving them money by reducing processor’s switching fees.  A quality gateway assures that a merchant is not locked in to a particular processor’s technology that is hard to “unravel” if they decide to change.
  2. Support: A quality gateway provider has the unique ability to track down and efficiently resolve problems no matter where an issue occurs within the life cycle of a transaction; saving merchant’s time and money by eliminating “finger pointing” between POS providers and payment processors.  The more complex the merchant environment, the more a gateway is needed.  A gateway can help a merchant quickly resolve payments hassles and get back to managing their business.
  3. Cost: While most gateway providers charge a subscription or per-transaction fee, merchants should take into account the ongoing investment they will have to make in new software and/or a POS upgrades when considering a client-to-processor connection. The merchant is then locked in to technology that will soon be dated.  In contrast, a cloud-based payment gateway is easily implemented and maintained.  Configuration changes are usually performed at the gateway without interrupting business at the site when software and payment scheme updates are required.

Savvy business owners know that the only way to separate claims from reality and determine what’s best for their business is to educate themselves, talk to other merchants who are utilizing similar solutions, and ask a whole lot of questions. Check out this informative presentation and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

The Value of a Payment Gateway
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