Friday, July 17, 2009

UK Article Says Time To PIN Down Banks in Fraud Battle

It's time to PIN down the banks in the prolonged battle against card fraud

Despite chip and pin technology becoming compulsory in 2006, figures released by the UK payments association Apacs show that last year, phone, internet and mail order card fraud increased to £300m and counterfeit fraud to £170m. However, banks often take a hard line when customers try to obtain refunds for fraudulent transactions.

Typically, banks claim the customer acted irresponsibly and so is not entitled to a refund. For example, in a case I recently dealt with, a bank refused to accept a customer had reported her card stolen until she produced mobile phone records proving she had placed the call. In light of this attitude, how can you get your money back?

First, you should trigger the bank's formal complaints procedure. Point out that under paragraph 12.12 of The Banking Code, banks must refund all funds withdrawn fraudulently where the customer retains the card, and all but £50 where a card is lost or stolen. You can access The Banking Code at http://www.bankingcode.org.uk/pdfdocs/PERSONAL_CODE_2008.PDF

There is one exception: where a customer has acted fraudulently or without reasonable care. So make sure you do not write down your pin or tell anyone what it is. Also, be quick to report lost or stolen cards or fraudulent transactions. Build up a paper trail – keep copies of letters and emails, and write down details of telephone calls. The more accurate the detail you can provide to the bank, the better.

If this doesn't work, you have six months to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service for an independent adjudication. This is a free service utilised by filling out a simple form. It can result in a negotiated settlement, or a decision by the ombudsman to which the bank will adhere but which does not bind you. For guidance on how the ombudsman may approach your case, see http://tinyurl.com/ ombudsmancashmachine

Finally, you can go to court. If your claim is for £5,000 or less, use the small claims process. It is designed to be used without the need for lawyers and results in a county court judgment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/jul/18/credit-card-fraud-refund-stolen-citizens-advice

Billeo Study on Online Bill Payment Behavior

Billeo study reveals consumer online bill payment behavior

Santa Clara, Calif., July 17, 2009 -- In an effort to retain some financial control in uncertain economic times, consumers are using tools to stay on top of bill payments. Billeo, Inc., the company that gives consumers unprecedented choice, control and convenience when paying bills online, conducted a 2008 customer behavior study focusing on online bill payment trends. The results show that consumers are utilizing free online tools to track, manage and organize their transactions. Three quarters of those who pay bills and shop online save electronic receipts of their transactions and identified ease of “tracking online purchases and payments” as a top motivator.

“The most important thing we glean from this study is that a growing number of consumers are not only more comfortable doing a variety of transactions online, but they prefer it,” said Murali Subbarao, founder & CEO of Billeo, Inc. “We believe that the new economic situation will make them more savvy about how and when they spend their money and how they manage and store their online shopping and bill payment information. In uncertain times, they have the ability to exercise more control over how and when they pay bills, as well as how they track and evaluate expenses. To stay in control, consumers simply need to have some very basic online tools.”

Billeo’s survey revealed that more than half of people who transact online never pay late fees.

The study found that more than 31 percent of those who transact online are baby boomers, and more than 58 percent are over the age of 45. The study also showed that more than 56 percent of those who transact online have attended college with more than half acquiring a graduate degree. In terms of credit cards, 90 percent have credit cards and 47 percent carry no debt on their cards.

“Currently, more than two-thirds of online consumers pay at least one of their monthly bills with a credit or debit card. As the growth rate for non-card based online bill payment slows, Aite Group believes that banks will find their highest rate of growth in online bill pay from card-based payers,” said Ron Shevlin, Senior Analyst for Aite Group. “There is an opportunity for banks and billers to acquire an attractive set of consumers - consumers that are relatively affluent, are a low credit risk and actively engaged and loyal to the firms with which they do business.”

In other research, Billeo found that credit card bills are the most popular bill paid online by consumers in terms of number of bills paid. Other categories in order of number of bills paid online were: Utilities, Telephone, Cable/Satellite Television, Wireless, and Insurance. In terms of average transaction amount, credit card bills were the highest with $602 per bill. Other categories in order of transaction amount include: Insurance (with $319), Utilities (with $217), Cable/Satellite Television (with $162), Wireless (with $159) and Telephone (with $143).

Billeo is a popular, secure web-based tool that streamlines the online transaction process by helping consumers pay their bills and shop online using their checking account, credit cards and several alternative methods. Billeo offers one-step password log-on to one-click completion of online shopping and bill pay forms. With Billeo, payments are directed to billing company and shopping websites, payments are instantaneous, and electronic receipts are automatically captured, saved and filed. Additionally, the Billeo Biller Directory provides links to over 7,000 companies that accept online bill payment across 26 categories, including utility, cable and credit card companies. It is the largest Biller Directory and defacto industry standard.

Splendid Search, a tool developed by Billeo to automatically save and categorize electronic copies of bill payment and shopping receipts, is available now to consumers. Splendid Search allows the search of financial transaction records by the retail store or company name, amount paid, credit card used, or even by date. Whether you want to save all of the records around the online booking of an airline ticket, hotel or car, are looking at all online transactions for a month, want to print a receipt for a rebate or in-store return, or want to file a warranty claim, Billeo automatically saves the full receipt, categorizes it and allows you to locate the right record in seconds. It takes all the work, frustration and clutter out of paying bills and shopping online.

Billeo’s award-winning toolbar for managing and tracking bill payments and online purchases recently received the Editor’s Choice award and a Four Star rating from PC Magazine, and is available at no charge at http://www.billeo.com/page/homepage.jsp?sitename=Billeo .

Billeo has a close working relationship with Visa and Discover Network and the service is featured at over 40 of the top US based card issuers, including: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, Chase, and Target.

About Billeo, Inc.

Billeo gives consumers a fast, easy and intelligent way to exercise choice and control over their online purchases and payments. Billeo functions as the catalyst to make online purchases and bill paying as easy and financially rewarding as possible. Billeo was founded by experts from the EBPP, card issuer, banking, ecommerce and technology industries. Over 40 banks, 6 of the top ten card issuers and over 7,000 companies across 26 categories are part of the trusted Billeo network.

Source: Company press release.

APAX Expanding to Latin America

APAX Global Payment expanding services to Latin America & Caribbean

Panama City, July 17, 2009 -- After servicing the Latin American and Caribbean market from its London office for several years, on the 1st of July, APAX opened up an office in Panama City to facilitate the huge demand for its credit card processing and electronic payment products from merchants in that area. The Panama office is specialized in offering card processing and electronic payment solutions to merchants selling mostly digital goods online in that region of the world.

APAX CEO Peter Arnold states, "APAX has a worldwide credit card processing network that operates through our processing banks to provide merchants with reliable credit card processing services. We have become one of the most competitive card processing companies in the industry without compromising quality. Our organization is also a leading provider of electronic payment processing services (e.g., checks, EFT) to corporations and fulfillment companies. Within the last five years we have seen a steadily increasing demand for our products especially from online merchants of various industries. Panama and Costa Rica have become a hub for those merchants. It is a logical step for APAX to open an office in that region in order to better service our customers."

APAX Global Payment & Technologies AG is one of the leading international providers of electronic payment and risk management solutions. APAX is dedicated to serving cardholders and their merchants by facilitating payment anywhere and anytime. Worldwide, we support processing for more than 100,000 cardholders and their merchants from various industries a day. APAX provides accounts and credit card services both for business and private customers. For further information, please contact www.e-apax.com .

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visithttp://www.24-7pressrelease.com .

Source: Company press release.

Euronet Rebrands as ePay

Euronet launches new name, brand identity for prepaid division

London, July 17, 2009 -- Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (“Euronet”) (NASDAQ: EEFT), a leading electronic payments distributor, today announced the rebranding of its global Prepaid Division under the name epay. Previously operating under six different names worldwide, the change reinforces the distinct, but related strength of Euronet’s Prepaid subsidiaries across all regions. The new identity will provide the Division with a worldwide retail brand that is known for quality service and consistent products.

Currently, Euronet’s Prepaid Division is one of the largest international distributors of prepaid mobile airtime. The establishment of a single brand signifies the division’s transformation from a prepaid mobile top-up distributor to a leading provider of payment services and technology. The credibility and success of Euronet’s individual brands provide a strong platform for the newly created global brand to ensure the Division remains an exciting and rewarding partner for service providers and retailers worldwide.

The new epay logo design embraces existing strong elements from the logos of its parent company and sister subsidiaries to create one distinct, yet synergistic brand that stands for professional, innovative and spirited values. The design is channeled toward creating a visual impact in a crowded retail space.

“Our new name, epay, now unites all of our best-in-class companies under one brand to further promote our position as the leading worldwide payment and cash collection network provider,” said Gareth Gumbley, Euronet senior vice president and managing director, epay Division. “Just as our business strategy has evolved over the years to meet the needs of our customers, so must our brands. The new brand identity is a reflection of that evolution to deliver brand leadership and enhanced value to our customers. It brings together our successful elements — local market knowledge, operational expertise and international distribution reach — required by multinational retailers and global consumer brands."

Several Euronet prepaid subsidiaries already carry the epay name. The remaining companies: PaySpot, Telerecarga, Movilcarga, Brodos and Transact will now adopt the new branding. Working with some of the world’s largest retailers and consumer brands, Euronet’s prepaid division has experienced tremendous success within the prepaid industry. The new identity affirms the company's commitment to leading innovation in the ‘e’ payment market while providing a platform for further growth and expansion.

About epay

epay, a Division of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: EEFT), is a global business with a retail network of approximately 227,000 locations across a number of international markets including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Poland, Romania, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. epay enables service providers to deliver electronic payment products and services to consumers through an extensive worldwide retail network. epay’s proprietary payment technology is backed by a cash collection service that manages the payment of funds back to the service providers and a range of marketing solutions to assist both the retailer and service provider to maximize their sales opportunities.

In 2008 epay processed over 700 million payment transactions with a total face value of $11 billion. epay’s product portfolio includes top-up or recharge services for prepaid mobile airtime, prepaid debit cards and e-wallets; payment services for bills, road tolls and money transfer; and marketing and distribution services for gift cards, digital content and transport tickets. epay’s commitment to customers is supported by a strong roadmap of innovative new e-payment products to bring to market. epay’s corporate headquarters is located in London, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site www.epayworldwide.com .

About Euronet Worldwide, Inc.

Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in processing secure electronic financial transactions. The Company offers payment and transaction processing solutions to financial institutions, mobile operators and retailers which include comprehensive ATM, POS and card outsourcing services; card issuing and merchant acquiring services; software solutions; consumer money transfer and bill payment services; and electronic distribution for prepaid mobile airtime and other prepaid products. Euronet operates and processes transactions from 42 countries.

Euronet's global payment network is extensive — including 9,205 ATMs, approximately 56,000 EFT POS terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 24 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 421,000 point-of-sale terminals across approximately 227,000 retailer locations in 20 countries; and a consumer-to-consumer money transfer network of approximately 77,100 locations serving more than 100 countries. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 35 worldwide offices, Euronet serves clients in approximately 140 countries. For more information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.euronetworldwide.com .

Source: Company press release.

Merchant Solutions and JCB Sign Aquiring Agreement

Merchant Solutions Signs Acquiring Agreement with JCB International

Friday, July 17, 2009

SINGAPORE. - Merchant Solutions, the acquiring joint venture between global electronic payments processor First Data and Standard Chartered Bank, has signed an agreement to initiate merchant acquiring for JCB, a major global payment brand originated in Japan.

The agreement spans eight markets in Asia and will enable JCB card members to use their cards at thousands of purchase points in Hong Kong, Macau, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Merchant Solutions already enables merchants to accept Visa, MasterCard and China UnionPay branded cards in many of these markets today, and they will now be able to capture more business as JCB cardholders travel across Asia.

According to the Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO), in 2007 overseas visitors to other parts of Asia exceeded 13 million. More than half of that number traveled to countries covered by the new arrangement between Merchant Solutions and JCB International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., a brand holder of JCB, and a major issuer and acquirer in Japan. According to the JNTO, 1.3 million Japanese visitors traveled to Hong Kong during 2008, and according to the Hong Kong Tourism board, they spent 3.5 billion Hong Kong dollars.

"Merchant Solutions is very pleased to expand its acquiring network to include JCB cards" said Sean Hesh, CEO and managing director of Merchant Solutions. "JCB is a major global payment brand with a solid card member base in Asia. This arrangement delivers improved merchant coverage for JCB card members and increases payment options for our merchants, helping to drive their sales volumes"

"Our arrangement with Merchant Solutions is very exciting and will enhance JCB’s acceptance network further across Asia" said Kubo Masayuki, managing director, JCB International (Asia) Ltd. "With Merchant Solutions, our card members travelling across these Asian markets will be able to enjoy greater convenience than ever before"

Forbes: Visa Puts Another $700M into Litigation Fund

Visa puts another $700 million in litigation fund
Associated Press, 07.17.09, 06:20 AM EDT

SANFRANCISCO -- Visa Inc., the world's largest credit and debit cardprocessor, said it has deposited $700 million into an account earmarkedfor litigation costs, a move that essentially acts as the repurchase ofclass B shares.Visaset aside $3 billion of proceeds from its March 2008 initial publicoffering to cover potential liabilities in lawsuits alleging Visaconspired to stifle competition and fix prices. The account providescoverage and potential payments for judgments or settlements in U.S.legal cases against Visa, and acts to protect Visa's commonshareholders from direct losses.

In December the company deposited $1.1 billion into the litigation escrow account. U.S.financial institutions are the sole holders of class B shares. Underthe plan, when Visa funds the account, only class B shareholders bearthe expense. Thus, as Visa funds the account, it reduces the conversionprice for class B shares into class A shares.

Continue Reading at Forbes

Bank Highway Robbery

Bank Robbery

Overdraft Fees Total $38,000,000,000 Billion

By Ashish Rajan, CardTrak.com

Bigbanks are making big increases in overdraft fees for debit cards andchecking accounts. The increases come amidst the growing cries to reignin the fees as well as limit bank policies such as hitting customersfor each transaction on a debit card and "big check first" policies. Anew survey has found that big banks charged a median price of $35 peroverdraft vs. all financial institutions with a median OD fee of $26.Overall, the national median for overdraft fees on consumer checkingaccounts, debit cards and ATMs increased 4%to $26 per incident in 2009 from $25 per incident in 2008. The Southled all US regions with a median charge per overdraft of $29.00 vs.$25.00 elsewhere. The Moebs Services research also shows 35% of allfinancial institutions allow consumers to overdraw their accounts at anATM or with a debit card for which a mediancharge of $26 is assessed and less than 20% of all financialinstitutions pay overdrawn checks in the order from large to small.

MasterCard's Priceless Picks iPhone Application

MasterCard Launches Priceless Picks iPhone Application

MasterCard has announced the availability of the MasterCard Priceless Picks iPhone application which it says "gives consumers a location-based utility to find and share their favorite picks with friends and family. Leveraging the iPhone’s GPS technology, users can instantly find shopping deals, entertainment options, dining venues and special experiences just steps away from where they are or where they’re traveling to, for business or for pleasure. Priceless Picks is available for free download at the iPhone App Store."

Unique features of the MasterCard Priceless Picks app include:

User-generated content and partner generated offers
Priceless Picks separated into five categories including Priceless, Dining, Shopping, Entertainment and Other
Pinpoints Priceless Picks in your selected location
Add your own Priceless Pick by simply inputting the name,description and location along with your first name and a PricelessPick category
“Send to a Friend” allows you to share your Priceless Picks with others via email
“MasterCard continues to connect with consumers, enabling what is Priceless to them – be it a special experience, moment in time, place, or deal - and now we’re providing a forum for consumers to share their Priceless Picks,” said Chris Jogis, Senior Vice President, US Marketing, MasterCard Worldwide. “With the capabilities of the iPhone, we’ve taken Priceless Picks to a new level, taking advantage of the portability of the device and enabling users to quickly and easily identify and share unique experiences in a chosen locale.”

Marketing Campaign -- Priceless

MasterCard Priceless Picks will be supported by an advertising campaign that includes three new 15 second Priceless® television spots breaking next week, produced by McCann Erickson NY. The spots showcase a variety of real life situations where people share their special experiences by posting them to Priceless Picks on their iPhone – the best seat in the stadium to catch a foul ball, family-friendly restaurants and a great spot for a kiss.

The Priceless Picks app was conceived, developed and built by McCann Erickson, New York, the advertising agency of record for MasterCard, with technical support from MRM Worldwide and Ubermind.

MasterCard Priceless Picks marks the second in a series of iPhone applications that MasterCard is bringing consumers to make life a little easier every day. Priceless Picks joins the popular MasterCard ATM Hunter, which lets iPhone users easily locate the nearest ATM no matter where in the world they are.

Zong and Gaia Go After Web Teens

Zong, Gaia Online partner to bring new payment method to Web teens

Palo Alto, Calif., July, 2009 -- Zong (www.Zong.com ), the most frictionless payment service for gaming and social media publishers, today announced that it has partnered with Gaia Online, the leading hangout for teens and young adults on the Web. Gaia’s more than eight million unique monthly visitors now have the option to purchase Gaia Cash, Gaia’s virtual currency, with their mobile phone number, via the Zong mobile payment platform. Gaia Cash can then be used to obtain digital goods on the site.

“With more than eight million members conducting in excess of 100,000 transactions daily, Gaia Online represents one of the world’s most vibrant online virtual economies,” said David Marcus, Founder and CEO, Zong. “We’re confident that Gaia Online’s teen-based membership community will find Zong to be even easier than a traditional credit or debit card-based payment, and this partnership underscores the tremendous economic potential of the high-growth virtual goods industry.”

With over nine years of operating experience, Zong has high-scale connectivity with more than 100 mobile carriers worldwide. The Zong mobile payments platform features the most extensive network of direct carrier connections across the globe. Given the financial, operational and security risks inherent with aggregated carrier relationships, direct relationships with carriers are a central consideration for virtual goods, social networking and gaming companies evaluating revenue-enhancing transaction platforms.

Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is on online community that provides a fun, social environment for its members to make friends, play games, and even watch movies in Gaia's virtual theaters. Gaia also offers a broad variety of multiplayer Flash games, has its own virtual currency and an active forum and message board community.

“As one of the most active online communities and economies, we believe strongly in giving our members a wide variety of payment options available across multiple technology platforms,” said Joe Hyrkin, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Gaia Online. “Extending the Zong frictionless mobile payment platform as a mechanism for purchasing Gaia Cash is a great opportunity for us to help members more easily and creatively express themselves via purchases.”

About Zong

Zong is the leading mobile payment service used for monetizing Web audiences in the social media and gaming industries. Noted for its frictionless user experience, Zong converts "shoppers" into "buyers" at rates up to 10 times greater than traditional payment methods, like credit cards. Zong is featured in hundreds of top applications on popular social networks like Facebook and MySpace as well as leading virtual worlds and other online gaming sites. Founded in 2000, the company leverages direct connections with leading mobile network operators around the world to provide unrivaled connectivity to mobile subscribers. For more information, please visit http://www.zong.com .

About Gaia

Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading hangout on the web. More than eight million visitors come to Gaia every month to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas, Gaia's virtual theaters, and participate in the world's most active online community. Gaia provides a fun, social environment that inspires individuality and creativity. With everything from art contests to discussion forums on poetry, politics, celebrities and more, to fully customizable profiles, digital characters and cars, Gaia is a place where teens can create their own space and express their individual style. For more information, visit www.gaiaonline.com .

Source: Company press release.

Accertify Co-Founder Appointed as Merchant Risk Council Board Advisor

Chicago, Ill., Accertify www.accertify.com, a provider of leading-edge credit card fraud prevention solutions to online merchants, today announced that Gary Doernhoefer, Accertify co-founder and General Counsel, was appointed as a Merchant Risk Counsel Board Advisor.

The Merchant Risk Council is the pre-eminent trade association focused on electronic commerce risk and payments in the U.S. and globally. The merchant-led council sponsors industry networking, education and advocacy programs to make electronic commerce more efficient, safe and profitable.

“The MRC has a deep understanding of the fraud challenge facing e-commerce and has been a leader in bringing merchants together,” Doernhoefer said. “I look forward to helping the organization in addressing fraud and risk issues to improve the security and profitability of doing business online.”

“Gary has been helping merchants successfully fight online fraud for nearly a decade,” said Tom Donlea, MRC Executive Director. “His business and legal expertise will add tremendous value to our organization in dealing with the increasingly complex world of Internet crime.”

More on Monnet, the EU Challenger to V/MC

July 17, 2009

EU card takes on Visa-MasterCard duopoly

A new EU-wide payments card is set to take on the duopoly of MasterCard and Visa.

Currently at concept stage, and expected to launch in October, the card will simplify credit and debit payments within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Payments on the card will not be charged cross-border fees.

French and German banks, including Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and BNP Paribas are working on plans for the card, which will be called Monnet after French economist Jean Monnet who strove for a united Europe.

Speaking at the European Banking Conference, Wiebe Ruttenberg, head of market infrastructure division at the European Central Bank (ECB), endorsed the proposals.

“We need at least one alternative card scheme in Europe to become a credible challenge to the duopoly,” Ruttenberg said.

Although all 27 EU member states are expected to adopt the cards, British payments specialist, the UK Cards Association, anticipates that it will have little impact in the UK.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Given that UK debit cards are all either Visa or MasterCard branded, and can be used overseas wherever those brands are accepted, the impact on UK consumers is likely to be limited.”

Story link: EU card takes on Visa-MasterCard duopoly

77% of All UK Card Fraud Involves Internet/CNP Transactions

Rise of the online credit card sharks: Annual crime figures reveal fraud soaring to £610m

By Matthew Hickley Last updated at 11:23 AM on 17th July 2009 (excerpt)

The cost of card fraud in Britain is spiralling out of control...

Card fraud cost the UK £610million last year - up by 43 per cent in just two years - and more than three quarters (77%) of all offenses now involve Internet, telephone or mail order shopping where chip-and-pin technology offers no protection. (all Card NOT Present environments)

The British Crime Survey - based on interviews with 40,000 householders - shows there were 2.8million fraudulent card transactions last year, up 4 per cent year-on-year, and the proportion of cardholders who are victims has risen from 3.7 to 6.4 per cent in the past three years.

Card-not-present fraud accounts for 77 per cent of all incidents - almost 2.2million last year - and losses rose by 13 per cent to £328million.

A spokesman for the UK Cards Association trade body said the figureswere 'not good', but insisted they should be seen in the context of ahuge rise in online shopping.

Between 2001 and 2008, card-not-present fraud soared by 243 per centfrom £95.7million to £ 328.4million. But over the same period the totalvalue of online shopping in the UK leapt by 524 per cent, from£6.6billion to £41.2billion.

Interac Teams with Inside Contactless

Interac Connects With Contactless Debit Payments

According to Digital Transaction News, Canada’s Interac Association debit network is teaming with France-based semiconductor manufacturer Inside Contactless in a partnership that will include a test next year that will pair PIN-based debit cards with contactless payments. But to keep transactions moving quickly, cardholders will not need to enter a PIN.

The test will be yet another as card networks, processors, banks and vendors try to find a winning formula for the much-ballyhooed contactless card that uses radio technology to pass data between the card and payment terminal at close range. Issuers have pumped out millions of contactless cards, but there are fewer than 200,000 locations worldwide that accept them.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Bank Robbery var addthis_pub = 'cardtrak';

MasterCard Launches Priceless Picks iPhone Application

EU card takes on Visa-MasterCard duopoly

Rise of the online credit card sharks: Annual crime figures reveal fraud soaring to £610m

Disqus for ePayment News

Bank Robbery