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Saturday, February 21, 2009

What Does 'Verified by VISA' Exactly Mean?

Online merchants and shoppers constantly have to be alert to the dangers of identity theft and fraud. It is simply too easy for someone to grab an unsuspecting individual's credit card information and reek havoc before anything can be done to stop them. Those who use Visa cards, whether credit or debit cards, have the option to add a layer of protection to their card with the Verified by Visa program. Understanding this program is important to both retailers and shoppers, as it has implications for both parties.

How Verified by Visa Works for Consumers 
Consumers who wish to use the Verified by Visa program start by activating their cards. Then, when they are shopping online with a participating retailer, a special Verified by Visa window will pop up automatically. This is where the additional security comes into play, because the credit card user will create a special password to enter into this screen. The screen will also have a Personal Message, something that the cardholder chooses at activation, and this helps the consumer verity that the box is the actual Verified by Visa box and not a scam.

How does this add protection? Well, if you are a Verified by Visa member, it will be harder for someone else to make purchases online using your stolen credit card information. If someone knows your credit card number, chances are fairly remote he will also know your password, so he will be unable to use your card and the payment will be denied.

There is no cost for the Verified by Visa program. Any Visa card can be enrolled in the program, with a few exceptions. The official Visa website has a form cardholders can use to see if their card is eligible for the program. However, do not enroll in this program unless you are on the actual Visa website. There are many scams out there looking to steal your credit card number by posing as the Verified by Visa program.

When you wish to use the Verified by Visa program to add security to your online shopping, simply look for retailers that offer the Verified by Visa program. You do not have to do anything special, as the Verified by Visa window will pop up automatically as you check out. You will know the retailer is a participating retailer by looking for the Verified by Visa logo on the website.

How Verified by Visa Works for Merchants 
If you are an online merchant you may wish to consider adding the Verified by Visa option to your website. The most obvious reason to do this is to give your customers added protection from fraud, which can increase your sales among Visa cardholders. However, there are other benefits for merchants who participate.

The Verified by Visa program actually protects merchants just as it does consumers. All Visa card transactions handled by participating merchants are protected from fraud-related charge backs, even if the cardholder does not participate in the program. Also, transactions that are made using the Verified by Visa program are charged a discounted transaction fee in most situations, although this can vary depending on the arrangements that the merchant and the bank have.

Implementing the program is easy. All you have to do is install the software onto your server, and then all of your consumers will be protected if they participate in the program. The software also gives you the Verified by Visa logo to add to your site, showing your consumers that you have the program.

Whether you are a merchant or a consumer, the Verified by Visa program adds security and peace of mind to the online shopping experience. As with any similar program, there are scams out there that mimic the program but are looking to take your personal information. To avoid these problems, work directly with Visa or your bank when activating your card or implementing this program onto your website.
North America's leading offline and online payment processor for debit and credit card processing offering merchant account services, and payment gateway. Accept Credit Card and Debit Card Payments with our POS equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

Visa Credit Card Application - 5 Tips For Getting Approved

Getting a visa card, whether your first or your fifth, is an exciting prospect. Filling out the application can be just as nerve-wracking as getting the card is exciting. Several things can improve your chances of getting that all important visa card credit application approved including complete and truthful information, knowing what cards are out of your credit range and applying for a secured card if you can't get an unsecured one. What follows is a look at the things you should pay attention to when filling out your visa application.

1. Know the requirements before applying for a card. Know the criteria for getting a credit card at all. First you must be eighteen. Next you must have a steady income or be a full-time student who has some dependable source of income.

2. Don't apply for cards out of your league. Many of the online directories for credit cards will show you straight out what type of credit you need in order to qualify for that card. If you know your credit is less than perfect, don't apply for a visa card that requires excellent credit. By concentrating your efforts on visa cards that match your current level of credit rating, you have a better chance of getting your visa credit card application approved.

3. Fill out all of the information required. Many times applicants will skip over questions they don't know or don't want to ask. Don't try to hide anything by leaving a section blank since that will only result in you getting declined for credit. If a question is asked that you don't know off-hand, hunt up the information rather than risking a rejection from the credit company.

4. Be Honest. Some people think credit card companies ask question on the application and then don't check whether the answers are true. Nothing could be further from the truth. Know that every application is followed up with a complete credit history check and income verification process. You won't be able to fool anyone so don't bother trying.

5. If all else fails, apply for a secured visa card. A secured visa card is an excellent way to build up credit when your credit score is so low you can't get an unsecured visa card credit application approved. A secured card will require a small monetary deposit to back up the credit limit on the card, but it will get your foot in the door.
Receive more information and great tips on how to choose the Visa Credit Cards that best suit your financial needs, including assistance with Visa Credit Card Applications.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Spend Wisely With a Visa Debit Card

The economic recession in the U.S. continues to cause damage to the financial condition not only of Americans but also those from other countries. The gloom may eventually deepen in the next quarter but households are becoming wise in spending their money.

With the current global financial crisis, first world countries such as Australia is in danger of economic recession. A report has already shown a declining trend in the U.S. dollar and as well as a national budget deficit.

Unemployment rate will also rise to a depressing seven percent in early 2010. People who are already expecting a crisis decrease spending by turning to Visa debit cards and cutting credit card transactions off.

Using a Visa debit card rather than a credit card offers significant gains. A prepaid Visa debit card can actually reduce the amount consumers spend whenever they shop. Even those have difficulties in managing their accounts can cut back on their expenses choosing Visa debit cards over credit cards.

It should not be misconstrued that credit cards deliver no benefits. As matter of fact, credit cards allow flexible spending options as compared to even the best debit card. Unlike using prepaid debit cards, it allows you to buy items or receive cash advances on credit. This option affords more convenience in buying items in bulk especially when you are bit short of money.

The perils involved in managing credit card, rather than using debit cards, are virtually riskier since the interest rates can be extremely high. Most credit cards do not allow interest grace period as well that paying the outstanding by the due date is the only option you have to avoid paying interest rates.

Major banks in the country such Australian and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and as well as other financial companies are now starting to include debit cards in their lineup of payment solutions to consumers.

The ever-increasing switch to Visa debit cards can be directly associated to the fact that more people are now literally tearing up their credit cards in an attempt to minimize unnecessary spending.

Visa debit cards in Australia continues to grow in number as consumers realize that debit cards can help them manage their finances without fear of paying off monthly billing statements.

With the help of ANZ Everyday Visa Debit card, consumers can now do transactions worldwide and can even make purchases online, and through the phone. Applying for an ANZ Everyday Visa Debit card does not require credit application.

Visa debit cards are ideal for students' use. A lot of banks offer discounts for student application, which makes it a good choice for those who wish to control their allowance.
Andrew is a writer of finance topics who live and breathes the world of finance everyday and writes for various blogs and websites. For further information on how to get a debit card in Australia just visit here

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_J._Hillman

Great Benefits of Having a Credit Card

If you are not a credit card holder, possibly you must have wondered, what's the use of having a credit card except that you overspend, take credits and eventually end up carrying a burden of credit on your head. But, there's more to the story.

With a credit card in your hand, you don't have to carry cash in your hand all the time, so you don't have to worry about large sums being lost or stolen; you get discounts and cash backs over your purchases, so you can be assured that everytime you spend some money you do save some percentage of money spent; you get privileges like special air lounges and beauty and spa packages which again puts you on a better edge than others...

There are also other benefits of getting a credit card especially with the ones which are customized as per your needs. Like the small business cards for the businessman, womens' credit cards for the homemakers, mileage card for those who run a lot of fuel, cash back cards for the shopaholics, corporate credit cards for big organizations and so on. You can apply for one as per your requirements. You can apply for either a Master Card or a Visa Card. However, due to wider acceptability of Visa Cards, Visa Credit Cards are more preferred. Still, the choice is your. Before taking the Credit Card do check in the details about the benefits and the interest rates they charge. Be a wise customer and get the benefit out of the credit card you are about to take.

Keeping in view the number of credit cards revolving in the market. Kotak Bank has launched its Indias' first Vertical Credit cards - Fortune Gold Card, Trump Gold Card, League Platinum Card and Royale Credit Card. These cards have been predesigned keeping in view the requirements of the prospective customers. With the present scenario, these cards offer the best deals and the best returns, you can choose from. Know more about them on Kotaks' website, read about the Kotak Credit Cards, compare them, analyze them and apply for them online. After all, it takes just two minutes to fill the application form...
For more information on kotak credit cards and royale credit cards, please visit at kotakcards.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heena_Vasvani

Visa Gift Card is Just Right For Anyone

You may have someone that you want to give a little gift to, but you have no idea what to buy him or her. The Visa gift cards are the ideal gift to give. The reason these cards are so popular is because the recipient can use the cards anywhere Visa is accepted. You can shop for gas, clothes, toys or even electronics. The person will not have to carry cash around, so the security and protection is there. It is easy to get the gift card after you decide how much money you want to give. Most of the Visa gift cards are not rechargeable.

Giving the Gift Card

After you apply for the Visa gift card, give the card and all paperwork you receive to the recipient. This will eliminate any problems or questions about the card. The paperwork will include terms of service and materials on how to use the cards and where you can use them. The nice thing about the gift card is that you do not have to give money or send money in the mail. You can order the gift card and hand it or send it to the person with no worries. If the card is stolen or lost, you simply contact the company that issues the card and follow there instructions.

Using the Visa Gift Card

When you receive the gift card, you can activate by following the instructions that are included. Some will activate when you use it and some may need to be activated on the phone. This is up to the company issuing the card. You must also sign the back of the gift card when you receive it.

The gift card is just like using a credit card. When you get to the check out or at the gas pump, you simply use it as you would the regular credit card. Each time you use the card, the amount is deducted from the total amount that the card was purchased for. If you are buying something that will be more than what you have on the card, you can use the gift card first and a second method of payment for the remainder. The card will state on the front of it if it is only valid in the United States if you are receiving a Domestic Use Only card. Otherwise the card is valid anywhere. There are millions of places to use the Visa gift cards.

If you need a gift for someone, the Visa gift card is the perfect gift. You are not only giving the gift of money, you are giving protections and security, and a way to show younger teens how credit cards work. They do not have carry money around and will have the buying power they need when they are shopping. All you have to do is determine the amount and apply for the card online. Your card will arrive in the mail after it is processed. You will enjoy giving the Visa gift card instead of money.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Taylor

Green Card Visa - How Do I Apply For a Green Card Visa?

A green card visa is what you must obtain when you want to come to the United States. This will allow you to work and then eventually to become a permanent citizen. Once you are a permanent citizen you can later apply for citizenship.

The processing time for a green card visa can take a long time. Because of this many people take their chances with the Green Card Lottery. If they are able to win one of the lottery positions they receive their permanent citizen visa a lot faster.

The green card visa is received by 50,000 foreigners from all over the world. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has a certain amount of time to award recipients when they have applied through the Green Card Lottery.

This means that there are only a few months from the time an individual applies to the time they receive this status. An important thing to know is that people are picked randomly in this process until there are a total of 50,000 people and then the lottery stops.

The green card visa processing does not cost anything and the application process is quickly done on line. There is no fee for the application process. The U.S. Department of State has alerts to let people know that they are the only ones who grant the Green Card Lottery so people should be careful about some of the random sites on the Internet. Some say they can help you get a better place in line and this is not true. In most case they can only help you fill out your application.

Is There an Easier Way To Get a Green Card Visa?

The answer is "yes" to this question. The only challenge is that the other ways take more time than the Green Card Lottery. You can have a family member who lives in the U.S. sponsor you or you can have an employer do the same. If you are already staying in the U.S. for any reason you can bring proof of residency and start the process in this way.

What To Do If You Are Already In The United States

Every year there are many people who come to the U.S. on a travel visa or one for work and they decide they want to stay in the country to live. When this happens they have to make an application to the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to get the permission to stay as an immigrant. This action will start the process towards their green card visa.

When this happens it is a two step process. First you have to apply for a visa to stay as an immigrant, and then you have to apply to have your immigrant visa changed to permanent resident status.

There are many things that you can do to become a U.S. citizen that involve your family members. If you have been married to a U.S. Citizen for more than 2 years hen you can apply at that time. You can have other relatives help you but they must also be permanent residents and be able to sign an Affidavit that says they can support you.

If you are in anyway related to someone including a brother, sister, unmarried individual who is a part of a family, you can often get a visa a lot sooner when your family member is already a U.S. Citizen.

There are many ways to get a green card visa and although some take time if you can be patient you will see it happen.
If you would like more information on how to apply for a green card please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dale_Maxwell

Friday, February 20, 2009

Five Reasons to Use a Prepaid Visa Debit Card For Online Purchases

When it comes to online transactions, it pays to be vigilant about your personal information. Once you've made a purchase over the internet, it's hard to control where your information ends up - and who exactly has access to it. If you're uncomfortable when it comes to using your credit card or debit card for making those online transactions but don't want to totally avoid internet shopping, we've collected five reasons why you should use a prepaid Visa debit card for online purchases:

1. It's More Secure.

Using your credit or debit card to fund your next internet purchase or pay online bills can be dangerous, as your billing information could fall into the hands of internet hackers and thieves. So if you want to keep your financial information protected - and prevent your life from being turned upside down due to identity theft - use a prepaid Visa debit card for all of your online purchases.

With a prepaid debit card, you are not exposing your main accounts on the internet as you would if you used your regular credit or debit card. Additionally, if there are any unauthorized purchases on your card, Visa offers zero liability protection against any fraudulent charges!

2. You Can Control Your Spending.

We've all had those times when we've lost track of exactly how much we've spent. Perhaps it was during a fun vacation, or a night out with old friends - the same can happen with online purchases! Prepaid debit cards prevent you from exceeding your balance, as you can only spend your predetermined limit.

3. No Interest or Overdraft Fees.

No one likes having to fork over their hard-earned money to pay outrageous overdraft fees or interest high rates - which is why prepaid Visa debit cards are so great! You'll never have to pay overdraft fees, as your card won't work when you try to spend more than your balance. Additionally, there are no interest rates, so you won't ever have to pay those larger-than-life fees!

4. It's Accepted Everywhere.

You'll never have to worry about whether your favorite website will accept your payment again, as prepaid Visa debit cards are accepted wherever Visa debit cards are!

5. You Can Build Up Your Credit History.

Now you can use your web bill payments to enhance your credit score, as some prepaid Visa debit cards can lift your credit rating. By paying for your bills using online billpay, your automatic payments could count towards building your credit!