Retailers

China UnionPay is expanding where holders of its branded cards may shop to include more than 8 million online merchants based overseas, the card network announced Dec. 27.

The recent discovery of payment-terminal tampering at 24 outlets of California’s Lucky Supermarkets chain is raising fresh questions about the possible role of insiders in such highly coordinated crimes.

In a trend that gained strength the past year, payments and fraud-protection software and hardware providers continue to view Latin America as a land of opportunity.

Verizon Wireless plans next month to impose a $2 fee for every payment subscribers make over the phone or online with their credit cards, the telecommunication company announced Dec. 30.

Discovering at checkout that an online merchant does not accept a preferred payment method often prompts consumers to discontinue their purchase. To help retailers keep the transaction process intact, one vendor has launched a payments “hub” merchants may use that consolidates most of the available online-payment options.

Security managers guarding bank account, credit and debit card data should take protective measures up a notch in 2012, new research suggests. Perhaps even two notches.

China UnionPay has signed an agreement with BesTV Network Television Technology Development Co. Ltd. to support bill payments initiated on consumers’ televisions. But it faces a market that is becoming less reliant on TV for information.

Zil Bareisis knows all too well why the British government is considering a ban on credit card surcharges that shock consumers purchasing tickets or products online.

In the realm of payment card data security, 2011 qualifies as the year in which “more” became a key term on many levels.

Uncertainty, competition and even attacks. In 2012, independent sales organizations face a year of danger and opportunity.

Developing systems to help doctors expand patient-payment channels–including accepting more credit and debit card payments–is a big challenge. But educating medical office staff and patients on how such systems work may be the toughest part of introducing new health care payment technology.

A Chinese ministry wants to cap the fees associated with accepting credit cards now that card penetration and spending in the country has made it financially feasible for card issuers and the country’s card network to support the limits.

Can’t pay with a credit card online? Try charging the sale to an Internet service provider account, where the purchase will appear on the monthly broadband statement.

WASHINGTON – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking comments on whether and how to revise Regulation E, which governs implementation of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

A Canadian independent sales organization is offering its merchants a proprietary mobile-payment acceptance device that other Canadian ISOs also could sell.

Business owners no longer must scrawl their names and initials on paper when they sign up for merchant card-processing agreements.

EBay Inc. has acquired BillSafe, a provider of purchase-on-invoice technology in Germany, the online-auction provider announced Dec. 22.

VeriFone Systems Inc. has installed 1 million payment-acceptance systems in Russia, the company announced Dec. 21.

Coles Supermarkets is looking to get customers through its checkout lines faster through acceptance of contactless payments, Australia’s second-largest supermarket chain announced last week.

Accessories manufacturer Brighton Collectibles has equipped sales clerks in more than 150 of its stores nationwide with a VeriFone Systems Inc. mobile point-of-sale system, terminal-maker VeriFone announced Dec. 20.