Credit Cards
Credit Cards provides electronic draft capture (EDC) capabilities by allowing you to swipe a credit card through a magnetic stripe reader, automatically authorize a credit card sale, verify an address, electronically capture the customer's signature, and settle funds to your bank. Electronic check authorization and debit card processing are also provided.

Full support is provided for multiple industry classifications, including Retail, Mail-order/Telephone-order (MOTO), and Ecommerce. CounterPoint supports AVS, CVV2/CVC2, and Purchase Cards Level II.

Transactions may be authorized using a standard dial-up telephone line. Two-second Internet authorizations are available using the optional CPGateway service.

CounterPoint's Base System includes credit card processing under the Synchronics Merchant Program (SMP).

Additional processors are available with the Credit Cards Option and ensure that CounterPoint is compatible with the vast majority of U.S. banks.

Benefits
The benefits of integrated credit card processing include:

• Rapid, automatic charge authorizations
• Faster checkout times
• Reduced customer frustration
• Fewer errors and fewer chargebacks
• Reduced cost of accepting credit cards
• No hand-recording of card information
• No paper slips to deposit at the bank
• No rekeying of card information
• No separate credit card terminal

Check Authorizations
CounterPoint includes electronic check authorization compatible with TeleCheck and Certegy (formerly Equifax, formerly Telecredit). MICR check readers are optional, but are quicker and more accurate than manual data entry.

NOTE: CounterPoint supports check processing with SMP, First Data North, and Vital (First Data North and Vital require the Credit Cards Option).

Debit Card Processing
Complete debit card processing is provided (with DUKPT Support) and requires the use of PIN pads and magnetic stripe card readers.

Purchase Cards
CounterPoint supports Level II Purchase cards, Corporate cards, Business cards, and Commercial cards.

Purchase cards are Visa and MasterCard cards that look like normal credit cards, but are processed in a special way so that the cardholder (typically a large business or government agency) will receive additional information on the monthly statement regarding the type of goods or services purchased.

Hardware Requirements
Requirements for credit card processing are a modem and phone line (or Internet connection), and typically a magnetic stripe card reader. The card processor determines the modem speed and the card reader requirements. CounterPoint is compatible with any Windows-compatible modem and either Track 1 or Track 2 card readers. Card processors typically require a 1200 baud modem (minimum) and a Track 2 card reader.

One modem and phone line is typically shared by multiple workstations.

You can use a dial-up server as your primary processing method, or as a backup for CPGateway. CPGateway is an optional service that authorizes credit cards over the Internet in less than two seconds. CPGateway service requires an Internet connection.

Functional Description
During Ticket Entry, the credit card is swiped through the magnetic stripe card reader. Card information is read, and the amount is authorized over a dial-up or Internet connection. The processor returns an authorization number or a decline. Capabilities are provided for call retry and for a backup phone number. Any number of credit cards can be used on one ticket, and multiple cards of the same type are also allowed.

Authorization only commits the cardholder's credit line. Funds are not actually transferred until the transactions are settled, typically at the end of the day.

Invoices and receipts print the credit card information required by the processor. Receipts can support one- or two-part paper with a signature line, as well as an abbreviated sales draft (that doesn't list the merchandise sold). You may print just the last four digits of the card number on invoices and receipts.

The Pre-Settlement List allows you to review the day's activities prior to settling the transactions.

Funds may be settled (electronically transferred) with the credit card processor daily. For most card types, settled funds are transferred via ACH to your local bank within two business days.

Other Costs
Typically, the costs associated with credit card processing include a telephone line installation and monthly usage, modems, magnetic stripe card readers, cabling, and the services of a qualified technical person to install the equipment and test the configuration.

The optional CPGateway service requires Internet access and has startup and monthly transactional fees.

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