My Articles | About Us | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Search   
 
News, Tips & Offers delivered to your inbox

ABOUT US | VIEW ALL FEATURED ARTICLES | VIEW ALL TOPICS | VIEW ALL REGIONS | DM MOBILE | DM BLOG

How to Avoid Downgrades Georgia

Whether you are currently accepting credit cards, or plan on doing so, it is important to know how to save money by avoiding downgrades whenever possible.

Local Companies

Cardservice One of Georgia
(770) 993-1131
19 Forest Ridge Ct
Atlanta, GA
Credit Card Systems Incorporated
(770) 993-1131
19 Forest Ridge Ct
Atlanta, GA
Debit Design Technologies
(770) 394-3370
5425 Dunwoody Mill Ct
Atlanta, GA
Guaranty Business Credit Corp
(770) 642-5200
400 Northridge Rd
Atlanta, GA
Wise Payment Systems-Ind Sales Agent
404-202-2321
910 Tamarron Parkeway
Atlanta, GA
Wise Payment Systems-Ind Sales Agent
404-202-2321
910 Tamarron Parkeway
Atlanta, GA
Merchant Warehouse
866-599-3217
Augusta, GA
CompuPay
770-390-9055
1455 Lincoln Parkway East
Atlanta, GA
Merchant Warehouse
866-599-3217
Savannah, GA
First Data McDonough
(877) 841-9172
155 Westridge Parkway
McDonough, GA

Written By: Lisah, Merchant Warehouse Customer Service

Whether you are currently accepting credit cards, or plan on doing so, it is important to know how to save money by avoiding downgrades whenever possible.

A downgrade simply means that you are being charged a rate increase because the type of card your customer is using has a higher processing cost or because a transaction was processed incorrectly by you, the merchant.

You can't always prevent downgrades from happening, but this article will show you what you can do to keep your transaction costs as low as possible.

As an example, for a Retail or "Swiped" Account where the customer is handing over their card for processing, a transaction will get the Qualified Discount Rate (lowest rate possible) only if the card is swiped, the cardholder is present, and the card is a standard consumer credit card. If any of these criteria are changed, the account will "downgrade" to either the "Mid" or "Non" qualified level. These levels are each associated with a greater cost of processing.

Here is a more detailed description of what can be done to avoid many downgrades, and also what happens if certain criteria are not met.

Retail/Card Swiped Accounts

Qualified Rate

The Qualified Discount Rate is charged when all of the following occur:

  • Standard consumer credit card is used
  • Card is swiped accurately and data properly obtained
  • The customer's signature is captured
  • The transaction is "Batched" or "Settled" within 24 hours

    Mid-Qualified

    The Partial/Mid Qualified rate will be applied when any of the following occur:
  • The card info is manually entered, or "keyed" & all AVS info is entered
  • The consumer uses a Rewards card
  • Transactions are not settled/batched within 24 hours

    Non-Qualified

    If any of the following situations occur, a Non-Qualified rate will be applied to the transaction.
  • Card is manually entered with no AVS info entered
  • The consumer uses a Corporate, Government or International card
  • Authorization code is manually keyed in to your processing terminal.
  • Transactions are not settled/batched within 48 hours

    Keyed "MOTO" or Internet Accounts

    For these types of accounts, the merchant manually enters credit card information into a credit card terminal or software after the order is placed or is collected through an online payment gateway.

    Qualified Rate

    The Qualified Discount Rate is charged when all of the following occur:
  • Standard consumer credit cards are used
  • All required Credit Card information is entered including AVS (address verification) for VISAr transactions.
  • The transactions are "Batched" or "Settled" within 24 hours
  • The order/invoice Number entered

    Mid-Qualified

    For MOTO/Internet Accounts, rates usually fall directly to Non-Qualified, not mid-qualify, but these are the possible reasons why a merchant may be charged a Mid-Qualified Rate
  • AVS information is not entered
  • Transaction/Batch is not settled within 24 hours
  • Card is a Rewards or Business card

    Non-Qualified

    If any of the following situations occur, a Non-Qualified rate will be applied to the transaction.
  • Any of the required card or transaction information is not entered
  • The consumer uses a Corporate, Government or International card
  • Authorization code is manually keyed in to your processing terminal.
  • Transactions are not settled/batched within 48 hours

    As you can see, there are many factors involved in determining which rates are assessed to your transactions. Follow the tips above, and you will keep your processing rates as low as possible. A Merchant Warehouse representative is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

    • Featured Local Company

    Cardservice One of Georgia

    (770) 993-1131
    19 Forest Ridge Ct
    Atlanta, GA
    Read more about How to Avoid Downgrades

    Related Articles
    - Mortgage Shopping Mistakes to Avoid Georgia
    Buying a home or refinancing one is perhaps the largest financial transaction you will ever make in your life, so you want to be sure to avoid any mistakes that may cost you in the long run.
    - Getting Rid Of Debts Georgia
    - How To Avoid Damaging Credit Georgia
    - After-Bankruptcy Loan Application Georgia
    - How To Avoid Bankruptcy Georgia
    - How to Request a State Tax Extension Georgia
    - Avoid Bankruptcy Georgia
    - Car Insurance Problems Georgia
    - How To Avoid Filing Bankruptcy Georgia
    - Avoiding Private Mortgage Insurance Georgia
    Regional Articles
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Acworth GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Albany GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Alpharetta GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Americus GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Athens GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Atlanta GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Augusta GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Austell GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Baxley GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Blairsville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Brunswick GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Buford GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Calhoun GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Canton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Carrollton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Cartersville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Cedartown GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Chatsworth GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Columbus GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Conyers GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Cordele GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Covington GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Cumming GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dacula GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dahlonega GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dallas GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dalton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dawsonville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Decatur GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Douglas GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Douglasville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Dublin GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Duluth GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Eatonton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Elberton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Ellenwood GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Ellijay GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Evans GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Fairburn GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Fayetteville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Fitzgerald GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Flowery Branch GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Forest Park GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Fort Benning GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Fort Valley GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Gainesville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Griffin GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Grovetown GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Hartwell GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Hephzibah GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Hinesville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Jesup GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Jonesboro GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Kennesaw GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Kingsland GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades La Fayette GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Lagrange GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Lawrenceville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Lilburn GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Lithia Springs GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Lithonia GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Loganville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Mableton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Macon GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Marietta GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Mcdonough GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Milledgeville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Monroe GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Morrow GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Moultrie GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Newnan GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Norcross GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Peachtree City GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Powder Springs GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Ringgold GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Riverdale GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Rockmart GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Rome GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Rossville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Roswell GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Saint Simons Island GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Savannah GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Sharpsburg GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Smyrna GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Snellville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Statesboro GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Stockbridge GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Stone Mountain GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Suwanee GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Thomaston GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Thomasville GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Thomson GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Tifton GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Toccoa GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Tucker GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Valdosta GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Vidalia GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Villa Rica GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Warner Robins GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Waycross GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Winder GA
    - How to Avoid Downgrades Woodstock GA
    Related Local Events
    (Ce Credit Option) Hud Sales Training: Successfully Selling Hud Homes In Georgia
    Dates: 11/12/2009 - 11/12/2009
    Location: Empire Board of REALTISTS
    Atlanta, GA
    View Details
    (Ce Credit Option) Hud Sales Training: Successfully Selling Hud Homes In Georgia
    Dates: 9/24/2009 - 9/24/2009
    Location: Empire Board of REALTISTS
    Atlanta, GA
    View Details
    Rss   Delicious   Digg   Add To My Yahoo   Add To My Google   Bookmark   Search Plugin
    Topics:
    Advertising Family Home Services Real Estate Resources
    Business Services Fashion Industrial Goods & Services Retail & Consumer Services
    Career Financial Services Insurance Software
    Cars Food & Beverage Internet Technology
    Computer Hardware Franchise Legal Telecommunications
    Construction Health Miscellaneous Trade Shows
    Education Holidays Nightlife Travel
    Entertainment Home Appliances Online Database Weddings
    Environmental Home Electronics Pets World History
    Articles.DirectoryM.com | Search | About Us | Contact Us | Mobile | Blog | En Español
    Copyright © BET Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.