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Portable Credit Card Machine Accept Credit Card Payments On The Go

Portable Terminals, A Brief History

A credit card machine is an instrument a machine or a terminal used to process credit card transactions at point of sale. The machine empowers you the merchant to swipe credit cards of your customers capturing the necessary data for transaction approval and funding.

A number of solutions exist, ranging from integrated registers to wired terminals, but portable options allow merchants to carry the capability to make a sale wherever they go.

Of the portable solutions available, you might want to consider a mobile or wireless processor that integrates with your smartphone. These phone systems are fast becoming the portable standard due to their convenience, easy setup and integration easy access.

For more professional or high volume needs, merchant account providers offer portable terminals for operation in the field so to speak, enabling your sales staff to meet and greet with customers, confident and capable of being able to close a sale on location.

With a portable machine you can offer your products or services on their doorsteps, and receive payment from them right away.

Incredibly convenient.

With portability in mind these credit card machines have been designed to be lightweight and easy to bring along. A number of terminals are being offered currently that you can carry in your pocket as unobtrusively as your cell phone.

Going Beyond Simply Accepting Payments

Basic functions of credit card processing machines include:

Accepting credit cards, debit cards, and other types of charge cards as a means to pay for the products or services purchased.
Secure transmission and processing of the data from the cards, allowing for instant payment verification.
Portable hand-held machines perform the two basic functions above wherever and whenever the merchants need the same.
Terminal Types

Portable credit card transaction processing machine are available that offer:

Wireless machines that can sit stationary on your location but are easily movable and transportable as the need arises.
Mobile phone processors perform the same functions as the wireless credit card machines except that these processors are hand held devices that can easily fit into the pocket and carry anywhere you need integrating with your current smartphone
Features

Basic features you can find in portable or mobile solutions are:

Magnetic strip readers that reads the data contained in the card
Key pad to input data for manual transaction processing
Receipt printer that prints out the transaction automatically
Screens, color, digital and touch that serves to provide instructions or can be used for point of sale signatures
There are certain models with additional features to extend or enhance the basic functions of the machine.

Relevance

In todays competitive world of business, merchants who want to grow their business and increase their profitability should have the ability to go mobile should the need arise.

To accommodate mobile or offsite credit card transactions, portability offers you flexibility and sale closing capability to seize the moment.

Benefits

Here are some of the most important benefits and how you can get the most from your machine:

Portability It would not earn its name if such machines were not portable. Portability is in fact the most obvious benefit you can enjoy. Just as you need to be mobile, you can easily carry the machine and enjoy its lightness and compactness.
Convenience Because the mobile credit card machine can always be with you, you are ever ready to make an important sale.
Perceived Value to Customer Your customers and clients will appreciate the ease of completing the purchase without unnecessary steps.
Cost Saving Being able to avoid manual processing after the fact of a sale or because of a phone sale will qualify you for lower discount rates with most merchant account providers, meaning less of your charge amount is deducted. The savings can be significant..
Portability opens up opportunities to expand your operations to cover off-site transactions resulting in sales growth and increased profitability.

Increase in Privacy and Security You no longer have to document the credit card transaction manually, reducing the risk to security breaches and privacy problems. With manual documentation and processing of the transaction, you write the credit card and all necessary information on a prescribed form, which carries the risk of getting lost, stolen, or misappropriated.
The above risks make customers hesitant to give their credit card information when you require manually processing the transaction off-site. With credit card swiping with a portable device you increase your customers trust and increase the odds of their willingness to do business with you.

Strengthens customer relations You increase customer satisfaction when you make it convenient for them to do business with you. Your customers will enjoy the convenience of carrying and using their credit cards instead of cash.
Especially with large purchases, a portable solution makes it convenient and secure for your customers, as they do not have to worry about bringing hefty sum of money.

They benefit from the convenience and security; your business gets to enjoy an increase in sales volume.

In the conduct of todays businesses, the capability of being mobile or on the go is an advantage that every merchant can benefit from. Using a portable credit card machine opens up new markets that you could not otherwise reach.

Decide to use a mobile solution for your processing needs and you might surprise yourself with the expanded options and flexibility your business can enjoy.

How to Save Yourself From Drowning in Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt has been widely recognized as the primary reason why people are suffering from low credit scores in the country. The most likely reason why many people suffer from this vicious cycle of debt is that it is difficult to keep a track of all the points of expenditure through credit cards. This is especially true when a person is struck with some form of a medical or even non medical emergency. In such situations, it is impossible to think of the consequences of expenditure because expenses like medical bills cannot be avoided at the cost of life or fitness. Therefore, most people in a medical emergency end up getting trapped in debt. Fortunately, while it takes some doing, it is not very difficult to get rid of the problem. All it takes is a little bit of common sense and diligence. Consider the following steps through which you can get rid of your credit card debt, if you are stuck in one.

1. Find some good refinancers and pay each of them a visit

The first step of your strategy to get rid of credit card debt is to find and visit good refinancers in the region. The loan refinancing industry has grown significantly as the number of people getting trapped by different types of debts is increasing. Therefore, it would not be difficult for you to find some good refinancers in your region. You should shortlist the best ones and arrange an appointment with each one of them. During your meetings with these refinancing professionals, your job will be to try and get as much information about the kind of credit card debt settlement plan that they think would be good for you.

2. Analyze the credit card debt settlement plans that they have set out for you

After you have met with all the refinancing firms, you would have rough information on the credit card debt settlement plans that they had devised for you. If you are smart, you can get a lot of very useful information from a refinancing firm’s representative. You should analyze all the information that you have gathered in terms of different instruments, different schedules and, in a nutshell, the whole settlement plans’ structure.

3. Combine the positives of all the plans strategies and create your own

Finally, you should combine the good aspects of all these strategies that you think fit your specific situation and formulate your own customized settlement plan. Ideally, the best way to get rid of credit card debt would be to pay the debt. However, sometimes the debt is so large that it requires some manipulation through refinancing loans and other credit cards. Your own settlement plan would consist of this kind of information. Furthermore, since you took the positives and most suitable aspects from all the restructuring and refinancing plans offered to you, you would find that your customized plan would be better than all of them because it is designed to your specific needs by you.

How Can I get Credit Card Debt Relief

Two thirds of American citizens own one or more credit cards and many citizens are suffering from credit card debt. Collectively, Americans owe credit card companies a whopping $917 billion and $69 billion of that amount is past due. While many Americans use their credit cards sparingly and pay off their balances each month, others rely on their line of credit to pay their bills and, as a result, accrue an ever-increasing amount of debt. A recent Consumer Reports study states that almost one third of Americans carry a credit card balance over $10,000, an amount that grows every day due to high interest rates and the inability to pay off principle.

For many Americans, credit card debt relief seems impossible. Even if they are able to make their monthly payments, credit card users are not able to make a big enough dent in their credit card debt to be able to anticipate freedom from debt anytime soon. Help exists, however, in the form of debt consolidation and credit card debt relief companies that work with consumers and their creditors to get debt under control. Many customers of debt relief companies opt for credit card debt consolidation which removes the hassle of having to make many separate monthly payments and allows individuals to make one payment each month which is often lower than what they had previously been paying.

Credit card debt relief through debt consolidation helps families to stop wasting money by making multiple high monthly payments. Once a credit card balance passes a certain point, it often seems that a major portion of each monthly payment goes toward interest and the principle balance does not get any lower. By consolidating credit card debt, however, consumers can lower interest rates and make one payment each month that will help them to actually eliminate their debt in a shorter amount of time. There is also the added bonus that the debt settlement company will pay the customers creditors for him so that he never has to deal with them again!

Another advantage to credit card debt solution is the ability consumers will have to save the money they are no longer spending on multiple monthly payments. By saving money each month and consistently making their lowered monthly payments, consumers can avoid future debt and slowly rebuild their credit scores. If credit card debt relief procedures are followed consistently, an individual can find himself realistically debt free in the future and more knowledgeable about responsible financial practices.

There are many ways for an individual or a family to fall into credit card debt. A lost job or sudden illness can leave a person with no option but to turn to credit cards in order to cover unexpected costs. As time goes by, the amount of debt only increases, but it no longer has to. By being proactive in seeking out methods of credit card debt relief anyone can take control of their financial situation and achieve freedom from debt. There is no need to wait – debt settlement and consolidation is the solution many Americans have been looking for to help them get back on a positive financial track toward a more secure future.

Skye Bank Customer Alert – Beware Of Hackers

One of the features of online/Mobile banking is SMS banking services which are operated using both push and pull messages. Push messages are those that the bank chooses to send out to a customer’s mobile phone without the customer initiating a request for the information. For example push messages could be either Mobile marketing messages or messages alerting an event which happens in the customer’s bank account, such as a withdrawal of funds from the ATM or a payment using the customer’s credit card, etc.

Pull messages are those that are initiated by the customer, using a mobile phone, for obtaining information or performing a transaction in the bank account. Examples of pull messages for information include an account balance enquiry, or requests for current information like currency exchange rates and deposit interest rates, as published and updated by the bank.

The bank’s customer is empowered with the capability to select the list of activities (or alerts) that he/she needs to be informed. This functionality to choose activities can be done either by integrating to the internet banking channel or through the bank’s customer service call centre.
It is however sad to note that fraudsters and internet hackers have capitalized on this laudable innovation to rip people off their money. So it is important that as a bank account holder or intending holder you should be aware of this trend and choose the right bank to bank with where your money will be properly secured through adequate online security tips.

Skye bank as a customer friendly bank knows about the activities of these fraudstars and has developed security measures to protect its customers finances. If you are a Skye bank account holder, you might receive emails that seem to emanate from the bank.The mail might even carry the names of Skye bank top Management staff or Director. Some of them may require you to send in information on your Bank details, Pin codes and even your personal information as contained in the bank’s database of you. They might also claim to have access to large sums of ($)US dollars for you domiciled with the bank. Please note that these are scam mails and you should be very careful to avoid being a victim to fraudsters.

As part of its commitment to online security, Skye bank has developed some security tips for all its customers to recognize when they receive emails or letters from potential fraudsters.

Please note that Skye Bank would never ask you to disclose your account number or Pin code on the internet. Also Skye Bank would never ask you to disclose personal information on the internet.

You should also note that Skye Bank site would always carry a security certificate which would be visible on access to the bank’s site and be sure that the site you are on is a genuine Skye Bank site.

In addition Customers should not open attachments or follow Web links in unsolicited emails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.

The official Skye Bank web address is www.skyebankng.com. If you are still in doubt, please get in touch with your nearest branch or call us on (000 234 1) 8531655, 8948103, 07028390633-5

Smart Strategies to Eliminate Your Credit Card Debt

The excitement of making just the minimum payment on your credit card balance only lasts a while. Millions of Brits, who carry a balance, discover the danger of minimum payments after they feel the sting of the accompanying rotating charge. According the latest statistics, the average UK household owes 6,020 in debt. Such a debt would take 291 months to pay off and cost 8,453.00 in interest if you paid only the minimum payment.

Even if you had a legitimate reason for accumulating high-interest debt, your top priority must be to pay it off. Start with a solid debt reduction plan and stick with it until you’re debt free. Here are five strategies for eliminating credit card debt.

Target one card at a time

If you owe money on multiple cards, it will take a while to wipe out all the debt. It’s hard to see the horizon and stay motivated when you have years of credit card payments ahead of you. Give yourself a boost by paying off one card. Target the card with the lowest balance and put as much money into your payments as you can afford until you’ve cleared the balance.

Alternatively, you can target the card with the highest utilization rate (your balance/card’s limit) and pay it off. Clearing the balance will give your spirits and your credit score an instant boost since credit utilization directly impacts your score.

Negotiate a lower interest rate with your creditors

Although lenders are usually reluctant to negotiate reduced interest rates, it’s still worth a try. If you have a decent credit score and have been responsible with your payments and card use, the lender might consider your request. Reducing your interest by one or two percentage points can lead to hundreds of pounds saved every year. Compare rates and get offers from competing lenders to bring to the negotiation. Your lender might the willing to match the offer.

Take note: Your creditor will need to review your credit report before they make a decision, and they could reduce your card’s credit limit if they don’t like what they see.

Transfer your balance

A growing number of consumers are surfing their credit card balances from one card to another in order to get the best interest rates. While that could potentially lead to hundreds of pounds in savings, there are risks involved if you don’t plan ahead.

Balance transfers are only effective if you commit to repaying the transferred balance within the introductory low rate period. That will give you 12-30 months, depending on the card. After that, the rates will go up, and you’ll be forced, once again, to pay high interest rates.

Important: Balance transfer cards should only be used for paying off debt, not making new purchases. So don’t use the card for shopping, as the low interest rates may not apply to new purchases. Also, most lenders charge a balance transfer fee, so factor that into your costs when you’re comparing cards.

Get a loan

If you’re falling under the burden of high interest rates, consider borrowing money to pay off your cards. Your friends and family may be willing to help. But if not, banks and peer-to-peer lenders offer loans with fixed interest rates that are 20-30 times lower than credit cards. That means you could save hundreds in interest on your debt. If you have excellent credit and a stable salary, you could qualify for loans with competitive interest rates.

Pay the minimum

If you’re cash strapped, you can always pay the minimum, but try to make two minimum payments within the month. Interest is accrued on a daily basis, so earlier payments will reduce your average daily balance and your interest charges. Keep up with the minimum payments twice a month until your debt is paid off.

Spiraling interest rates make it a challenge to pay off debt. Ideally, you should not incur it in the first place, but life is all about learning from your mistakes. The tried-and-true methods listed above should help you to develop your battle plan for tackling your debt. Remember, the most valuable instrument in this battle is your commitment to your financial goals.