11. SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR MERCHANT ACCOUNT

Summer is tourist season for most areas of the world, and is usually marked by a large change in consumer spending habits. It's time for travel and sightseer spending, and you as a merchant need to be prepared. The sooner the better is always true, whether it's getting questions about your account answered or ordering new equipment. To get the ball rolling, here are a couple "spring cleaning" tips to make sure your merchant account is in tip-top shape.

#1: High Ticket Limits
For fraud prevention reasons, a high ticket amount is placed on your account to prevent transactions over a certain amount from being processed. For example, if a customer gains access to your credit card machine and runs a return for $1,000 on their personal card but you sell shoes at an average of $100.00, the EMG Loss Prevention team will flag the transaction and notify you of the concern. Contact one of our experienced customer service representatives to find out where your limit is set and what you need to do if it is not the correct amount for your business needs.

#2: Tip Lines
For merchants using tip lines, adjusting the tip amount on a transaction just became cheaper! Before, if you were a business like a bar/tavern, hair/nail salon, or even a professional limo driver, you would be charged a higher discount rate if you attempted to add a tip to a transaction after you authorized the customer’s credit card. Now, with Visa and MasterCard updates, you are able to accept tips without this unnecessary penalty. If you are one of these business types and would like to accept tips, contact EMG today.

#3: Seasonal Merchant Accounts
If you are a seasonal merchant and need your account activated, contact the customer service number and advise them of the dates your account will be active. EMG has started implementing an automated system, so if you are not sure whether your merchant account will be active in time for the summer season, contact the customer service center.

Also, if you are not set up as a seasonal merchant account but are only open during certain times of the year, you may qualify for a seasonal account. Contact EMG today to find out more.

#4: Stock Up on Terminal Supplies
The last thing that you want to do is run out of paper in the middle of a big sale, so you will want to check your inventory and stock up on some supplies. Click here to be connected to EMG's online terminal supplies matrix. Whether you call the customer service line or go to your local office supply store, make sure you have enough terminal supplies for the busy season!

#5: Terminal Performance
While processing with EMG, you have a free warranty on your terminal in case of any mishaps or other problems that you may encounter. Unfortunately, even with the free warranty, every terminal will eventually run its useful life and need to be updated with a newer model. If that is the case, just call your local office for pricing information. If you want to do some research to see what terminal best fits your needs, click here.

These spring cleaning tips will help ensure a great summer for your business through premium merchant processing. For more tips and advice regarding your merchant account, check out all the features of our merchant support website.