You may have heard about Playboy Magazine’s recent announcement regarding their transition away from featuring nude photos. While the news may initially come as a surprise at first, it is easy to see why the long-standing risqué publication has decided to change they way they do things; adult entertainment in print form has been in…
Category: Industry News
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: The New Reality
Every day Instabill copywriters receive more than 25 newsletters, blogs and journals to stay updated on payments industry issues and what is trending. Other than the recent EMV liability shift, one other issue has stood above the rest: the war between lending and collections merchants and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). It is safe…
PayPal Shows New Interest in Online Gambling Merchants
In a recent move, PayPal has re-entered the online gambling space in the United States. The payment processing giant recently confirmed that it is working with several real-money gaming operators to provide a solution for customers submitting money on gambling sites. With eGambling legal in Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, could PayPal’s continued involvement spark…
E-Cigarettes Surge in Popularity, Showcased On Screen
The two detectives cruise the streets of Greater Los Angeles at night. The air is stiff, the tension palpable. They trade barbed points regarding the case they’re working on as they struggle to make it through the rest of their shift together. There is a break in the conversation–the detective behind the wheel pulls her…
Good News for Bitcoin: Digital Currency is Here to Stay
If you’ve been paying attention to bitcoin news recently, you probably know that the digital currency is getting increasingly popular. Recent numbers show that bitcoin ($283 as of 10 a.m. Monday) usage has doubled over the past two years, with millions of dollars in transactions to show for its growth. Consumers, investors, merchants, financial institutions,…
Longer Lines, Confusion to Accompany EMV Credit Cards
There is going to be a slight learning curve as US consumers adapt to EMV credit cards. It is going to result in longer wait times at the point-of-sale. It is also going to cause a degree of confusion and frustration among consumers – and a good deal of patience is going to be required.…
E-Cigarette Merchant Accounts Still in High Demand
Are e-cigarettes a healthier alternative than traditional cigarettes? Are they worse? It’s going to be a while before there is concrete evidence leaning one way or the other. Most e-cigarette users who have converted from traditional cigarettes attest their electronic counterparts are healthier. Perhaps that is the chief reason that electronic cigarette merchant accounts continue…
Report: Retail Industry Suffers the Most Data Breaches
Recent reports show that most data breaches occur within the retail industry, revealing a major trend in cybercrime and credit card fraud. Other industries often targeted by hackers and cybercriminals include hospitality and food, but the retail industry accounts for nearly half of all global data breaches. Troubling Numbers for the Retail Industry The Trustwave report revealed that 43%…
What is Going On With Debt Collection?
Debt collection has become the new redheaded stepchild of the payments industry. Wendy Jacques, sales manager at Instabill, is very astute when a banking shift has occurred in certain industries. That’s when the leads from particular merchants come rolling in. As a payment processor for high risk industries, Instabill prides itself on offering credit card…
Missing the EMV Liability Shift Could Cost Merchants
The October 2015 EMV liability shift deadline is just four months away. As the country prepares to integrate EMV credit card processing, merchants are responsible for providing means to accept EMV payments at their locations. While the liability shift is voluntary, any fraud that occurs through a merchant’s systems could prove to be costly. About…