Tag Archives: first data

First Data Delisted Certifications for Sage and 3Delta

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First Data regularly publishes a list of certified integrated partner solutions as well as delisted certifications. ERP and other product developers involving payments should monitor this list to ensure compliance for their merchants.

Reasons for delisting include the version is no longer PCI Compliant or doesn’t meet some other processing requirement; a replacement certified version may be available, but that is not always the case, nor are merchants always current with the latest vendor software that has the certified payment gateway connection.

First Data Integrated Partner Solution delisting details:

•    3Delta Systems product EC-Suite Gateway is no longer boarding new merchants. 3Delta has replaced the EC-Suite with Payment Works Suite.
•    Sage Payment Gateway – delisted May 2015, see notes for details. No corresponding certified product is listed under the company name Sage.
•    Fiscal Systems, Inc. products Travstar1 and Travstar1/NEDOS v 9.1.0 are no longer available for boarding new clients. Travstar1/NEDOS v 10.00.01 is certified.

Other products with versions delisted this year include Counterpoint, USAePay, Retail.net, and Aloha EDC. Merchants using Saas product solutions continually have the latest integrated version and can avoid issues related to expired gateway certifications, which may not be readily shared with the parties that need to know.

Another tab on the document lists certified partner solutions, including who’s EMV certified today and for what equipment.

First Data Delisted Integrated Partner Solutions link to First Data download page for a list current certified solutions as well as delisted certifications.  Bookmark 3D merchant security links here for this and other security links.

Editor note:

Prospective CenPOS customers and developer partners often ask how is CenPOS different than the existing integrated gateways. The First Data certifications list is a simple way to compare some technical items. For example, 3Delta is certified for level III processing, but not international or retail.

The list for certifications may be imperfect, though the EMV certifications is likely accurate as this is a hot button that developers are needing current data for. This post has been updated to remove links since First Data removed the related published document.

Call Christine Speedy, PCI Council QIR certified, for simple solutions to complex payment transaction problems, 954-942-0483, 9-5 ET.

ICVerify Software End of Life & Replacement Options

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ic verify replacement alternativeFirst Data announced today the end of life for ICVerify® Software, also known as First Data Payment Software for Windows®. Following a similar announcement by Verifone for PCCharge in May 2015, It was inevitable that ICVERIFY Software, another PC based payment software solution would also be deemed obsolete. What will software companies and merchant users replace it with?

What does ICVERIFY Software end of life mean?

Product development has ended. First Data has a timeline to stop selling and stop supporting ICVERIFY. The product owner does not have to immediately change, but should review the timeline and consequences for future business decisions.

ICVERIFY KEY DATES:

  • June 17, 2015 End of Development Date: Effective immediately, there will be no new development for the ICVerify product. This includes development work requested as a result of a support issue.
  • July 31, 2015 Final Order/Shipment Date: No new orders or licenses. No new MID/TIDs or adding users to existing licenses.
  • June 30, 2016, End of Support Date: First Data support discontinued. Up until that date, both level 1 and level 2 telephone support for existing users.

First Data will honor valid ICVerify support contracts for customers that have purchased annual support, prior to June 17, 2015, through the end of their annual term. Effective immediately support contracts will not be renewed. This includes contracts for Level 2 integration support for First Data clients as well as Level 1 support agreements for non-First Data clients. Level 1 support for First Data clients will remain free until June 30, 2016.

“This is an ideal time to examine long term omnichannel payment needs to avoid transitioning to other outdated technology,” according to Christine Speedy, a cloud payments expert. “At their core, all payment gateways enable merchants to process web based transactions securely with cloud solutions. Beyond that, there are many differences, and even bleeding edge solutions could lead to further disruption, if the new technology disappears when ideas don’t catch on or venture capital dries up.”

What solutions can replace IC Verify? The days of Windows based payment solutions have been replaced with cloud or internet based payment gateways. What’s the difference between ICVerify and a Payment Gateway?

  1. The most obvious is there’s no software to install. Users process payments via a virtual terminal (login in to a secure web page), or via payment gateway integration. This alleviates many problems related to maintaining current desktop based software, but not all of them, as merchants are still expected to maintain firewalls, update Windows, web browsers etc. for PCI Compliance.
  2. Transaction fees are standard. However, these fees can be offset by efficiency gains, reduced PCI Compliance burden, and even reduced merchant fees through better interchange rate qualification.
  3. More features,  user accessibility, and reporting capabilities.

TIPS FOR NEW PAYMENT GATEWAY VENDOR SELECTION:

Is 3-D Secure (Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure) for card not present transactions supported?
Are there any EMV certifications? If not, what is the roap map time frame? (note- EMV certified is not the same as EMV ready or capable)
Is the gateway processor neutral to provide maximum financial flexibility? (Critical for integrations.)
If business to business, for which sales channels does the gateway support level III processing? (mobile, retail, EBPP, kiosk, online payments, ecommerce, other) Can the user bypass submitting level III data on eligible transactions?
Is ACH supported? (If no, this is a red flag as lagging in innovation.)
What type of audit trail is available for PCI 3.0? How long is the data accessible?

ICVERIFY REPLACEMENT PAYMENT GATEWAY OPTIONS

I believe flexibility to choose your own credit card processor (acquirer) and change processors without disrupting business operations is critical for payment gateway vendor selection. For example, Payeezy is First Data’s gateway and it only works with First Data. The list below is payment gateways compatible with most existing merchant accounts, and capable of level 3 processing, critical to qualify for lower interchange fees for business to business; merchants can change acquirers and simply point gateway to the new merchant account.

  • CenPOS

    CenPOS is a robust, global payment gateway. EMV, 3-D Secure, ACH, credit card, level 3 processing, Electronic Bill Presentment & Payment (EBPP), audit trail for every touch to system by user, indefinite record retention, dynamic search online or download; robust custom reports, alerts and distribution. CenPOS does not publish rates online; contact us for a quick quote. For business to business, CenPOS far exceeds any competitors for ROI. Call 954-942-0483 for a quick CenPOS quote. 

  • Authorize.net – no EMV chip card options as of 4/11/2016

    Authorize.net is one of the oldest payment gateways. ACH, credit card, 24 month record retention and search; download reports only.  3-D Secure and level 3 processing typically not available,might be available for card not present depending on integration, “We currently expect the mPOS app and VPOS to support chip payments in the second quarter of 2016.” Link to authorize.net EMV schedule. Update July 2016- looks like they missed the first support date. Call 954-942-0483 for an authorize.net quote.

  • PayTrace- no EMV chip card options as of 4/11/2016

    ACH, credit card, 24 month record retention and search; download reports only. Level 3 processing might be available for card not present depending on integration. “PayTrace anticipated launching its virtual terminal EMV solution toward the end of 2015. Although significant advancements in the product development have been executed, we need more time to complete the certification process. As a result, our timeline has moved into 2016.” Link to Paytrace EMV schedule. Update July 2016- first support date has moved to second half of 2016.

  • eProcessing Network- no EMV chip card options as of 4/11/2016

    ACH, credit card, 24 month record retention and search; download reports only.Level 3 processing might be available for card not present depending on integration.

Do you need a new payment gateway to replace your ICVERIFY account? Payment gateway selection can significantly impact EBITDA, PCI Compliance, and efficiencies. Contact Christine Speedy at 954-942-0483 for standalone, integrated solutions and any new payment gateway accounts.

First Data EMV Certified Terminals For Chip Cards

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Which terminals are EMV certified to accept chip cards with First Data today?  There are terminals that are First Data only compatible and there are terminals that can be used with any processor, but need to be certified for each payment solution integrated to First Data.

EMV Capable vs EMV Certified

  • EMV Capable or Ready: A terminal that has the hardware, but has not been certified. EMV capable terminals have been distributed for years in hopes to convert to EMV later. Not all capable machines will ever be certified for EMV.
  • EMV Certified: A terminal that has been certified to a specific processor, including specific application, if applicable.
  • EMV Activated: A merchant with an EMV certified terminal, and merchant account updated to accept chip card transactions.

EMV Certified For First Data:  Requires the merchant to use the certifying partner and have a First Data merchant account either direct or through an independent service organization. The terminals can generally be used with multiple processors, but each will have to choose to certify.

For example, the terminal is compatible with Paywhere and other applications, but each application will need to certify to First Data and or other processors.

  • VeriFone MX915, requires CenPOS, a merchant centric enterprise payment engine; contact Christine Speedy, 954-942-0483 for CenPOS sales and integrations.

    verifone MX915 EMV terminal

    Verifone MX915 multilane signature capture terminal

  • VeriFone E315/E335 PINPAD, requires High-Line payment gateway and merchant account
verifone e315 EMV

Verifone e315 EMV requires Apple® iPhone® 5 or Apple iPod touch® 5 and Highline merchant account

First Data EMV Certified Terminals: These terminals usually require a First Data merchant account and are locked to prevent use with other payment processors.

  • FD35 peripheral accepts EMV today. The FD35 must be paired with an FD50, FD50Ti, FD100, FD100Ti, FD200 or FD200Ti terminal.

    First Data FD35 EMV pin pad terminal

    First Data FD35 EMV PinPad

Additional Information:

 

Accept Payments Online Merchant Checklist

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accept payments onlineBe wary of sites that list the top 10 best solutions to accept payments online, 10 best payment gateways etc. These sites solicit payment gateway vendors to get on the list. Those who pay the fee get on the list, regardless of whether they’re the best of anything. The vendor checklist below will help businesses that process more than $500,000 annually across all sales channels.

First make a list of needs, then compare to vendor options listed. Because a payment gateway is required for online payments, all questions are specifically for the gateway, regardless of whether the vendor also offers merchant services or check processing.

Circle immediate needs and write F next to potential future needs.

Where does your business want to accept payments now and in the future?

Make a list of all sales channels. The merchant industry impacts complexity of solutions needed. For example, a distributor might payments online, at a distribution outlet, via ecommerce, and ebilling; a law firm might accept payments online, but not in person. A non-profit may need to accept payments online and at events.

  • online payments
  • retail swipe
  • mobile swipe
  • ecommerce
  • einvoice
  • kiosk

Do you need level III processing?

  • Yes
  • No

Qualified merchants with at least a portion of business to business (B2B) or business to government (B2G) customers should require level III processing across all sales channels where payments are accepted. Manufacturers, distributors, and services that are generally business to business usually qualify.

How will the solution help automate interchange management, the bulk of processing fees?

  • Yes, has ‘automated interchange management system’
  • No, does not have ‘automated interchange management system’

If a company offers it, they’ll advertise it because it’s a competitive edge. Probably fewer than 10% offer it. There are many complexities and comparing may be a challenge. For example, if the authorization and settlement amount differ, the transaction will result in additional fees, Unless the solution resolves this difference by obtaining a new authorization. This item can be difficult for merchants to compare from solution to solution, so ask open ended questions.

Do you need online payments for credit cards, ACH or both?

  • credit cards
  • ACH
  • both credit cards and ACH

I once had a software company tell me their vendor had promised for years to provide online ACH. They’re still waiting. Shortlist only providers that process what you need now. Custom online payment forms are easy; Certifications for check or credit card processing is not as simple.

How does merchant know when a payment is received?

  • Email
  • Integrate to accounting or other software (Quickbooks, ERP etc)
  • Online report
  • Other

How does merchant differentiate between online payments and payments key entered by employee or other source?

  • Each payment identifies user that made it
  • Multiple accounts or deposits
  • None
  • Other

Can customers store credit card data?

  • Yes
  • No

Can customers store ACH data?

  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

Are expiring cards managed proactively? Are customers notified in advance to self update?

  • Yes, proactive
  • No, no advance notice and ability to self update

Can tokens, which replace sensitive card data, be used across all sales channels and or company divisions needed?

  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

Does the transaction occur on merchant server does user click to hosted payment page?

  • Hosted pay page
  • Merchant web page with iframe
  • Both options

Does it support multi currency processing?

  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

 

What are customer service communication methods? circle all that apply

  • Phone 24/7 or limited hours
  • email 24/7 or limited hours
  • chat 24/7 or limited hours
  • Designated relationship manager

 

Other questions

  • What reports are available?
  • How long are they available?
  • Can reports be exported?
  • How can reports be shared?
  • How will solution help reduce PCI Compliance burden across all sales channels?

Online Payment Solutions:

  • CenPOS, a processor neutral omnichannel super payment gateway, available globally including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Latin America, South Africa, Asia Pacific, and more. Supports all merchant sales channels, multi currency processing, and level III processing all sales channels. Industry specialties: Automotive, manufacturer, distributor, private duty healthcare, non-profit, education. Free online pay page html5 available.

  • First Data Global Gateway e4, for First Data Merchants only.  Supports all merchant sales channels, level III processing in some sales channels. Industry specialties: Automotive, manufacturer, distributor, private duty healthcare, non-profit, education. Online pay page html available.

  • Authorize.net, a Cybersource/ Visa company, compatible with most processors. The gateway is available in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia. Online pay page html available.
  • PayPal Pro, requires Paypal payment processing. This is included because of the simplicity and longevity for online payments, however, Paypal differs significantly from all others; payments must be manually transferred to the bank, increasing time to deposit, and fees are netted from every transaction, making reconciliation more challenging.

This list does not include solutions from companies that are registered ISO of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., because those are First Data resellers. (The text is found on the bottom of many web sites.)