Establishing a Good Reputation as an Online Seller

Hi AlertPay sellers and business folks,

Do you want to earn your customers' trust and sell more? Making your customers happy and meeting their needs is a great way to do just that.

Here are 6 Top AlertPay Recommendations for enhancing your relationship with your customers:

1. Get “Verified”. Getting verified will greatly enhance your reputation as a reliable and lawful seller. Because buyers know that we know who you are, they will be more likely to buy from you.

2. Let them know that you accept and encourage feedback. This tells your customer that you care about what they want and that you are willing to mould your business to their needs.

3. Provide up-to-date contact details. Make sure that your customer support phone numbers and email addresses are posted on your website and are easy to find.

4. No surprises, no hidden fees. Not everyone likes surprises, especially where money and online security are involved. Be open and honest about what your customers should expect.

5. Always deliver the goods and good service. Word will get around that you put your customers first and that you are trustworthy. They will appreciate this.

6. Develop a concise Refund/Return/Exchange Policy. If your customers are not satisfied with their purchase, you should make it easy for them to return it and get a refund/exchange. This will greatly enhance your reputation.

Did you know that you can grant an instant refund to any of your customers within 14 days of purchase? Now you do!

There you have it — 6 steps in the right direction. Happy selling!

Please beware of fraudulent Haiti charities: tips on how to stay vigilant

Hi everyone,

In times of disaster, it is unfortunate that people with criminal agendas come out in full force to prey on the vulnerabilities of those who just want to help. It is honourable to donate food, clothing, medical supplies and money to a charitable cause, but you must beware of fraudsters and the numerous tactics they use to tug at your heart strings and take your money.

As you know, Haiti is suffering from the catastrophic effects of an earthquake that leveled their capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. Although many people, charities and nations have risen to help the Haitian people in their time of great need, so too have criminals — except they only want to help themselves.

Before giving any of your money to a charitable cause, be it for Haiti or any other issue, please consider these tips offered by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

• Beware of appeals that evoke sympathy.
• Ask for I.D. if a solicitor is asking for donations in person. They should have a registered tax number of the charity if they are legitimate.
• Research the charity online or call them to inquire about any solicitors.
• Watch out for fraudulent charities with names that sound similar to legitimate charities.
• Avoid giving cash gifts to a charity.
• Do not respond to unsolicited incoming emails and social networking messages.
• Do not open any attachments in email, even if they are photos of a disaster. They may contain viruses which can compromise your security.
• Do not give your personal details to anyone who solicits donations as you could be targeted for identity theft.

In a nutshell, do your due diligence and always think critically about any solicitations, especially when a disaster, such as the Haiti earthquake, has taken place.

Please read more here:

Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert

National Center for Disaster Fraud to Coordinate Haitian Fraud Complaints

Watch our for Haiti charity scams (RCMP press release)

Information on Identity Theft:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

United States Department of Justice

We urge people, members and non-members alike, to give what they can to the Haitian cause, but please give only to registered, legitimate and well-known charities. Take care!

Guess what? There's an AlertPay website re-design in the works!

Attention AlertPay members,

In an attempt to streamline our website and enhance usability and your understanding of our services, we are re-designing our website. This has been in the works for quite a while and we are almost done! We're hoping to launch the new site, in English and French, by the end of February.

We will be optimizing some existing content to be more explanatory, and will also be including loads of new, exciting and useful content. The site will be very similar to the existing one, but we will be focusing on our two main audiences: sellers and buyers.

We will be including two fun tutorials on how you can use AlertPay to shop online and to sell online. Among many other things, we are also creating some documentation for sellers and shoppers on how to do some very specific things with your accounts, like how to add a bank account, how to cancel a subscription and how to grant a refund. All that fun stuff!

We want to make our services as easy as possible by giving you the tools and resources you need to do what you have to do online.

Although we have a very comprehensive knowledgebase, we know that even more knowledge is power and so is more useful content!

There is so much more to tell, but we have to keep a few surprises. However, you will agree that the new site will be the best AlertPay has ever had.

More details to come soon and have a great week!

The AlertPay Story: A Tale of Adventure... and E-commerce

Hi folks,

Disclaimer: Creative license was generously used in the creation of this story, but aside from the medieval timbre, the details are accurate.

A lot of you have been using AlertPay for a while now, some of you haven't, but what do you really know about the company, its founders and how it came to be? Well, you're in luck today! So, get nice and cozy, make yourself a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or an invigorating herbal infusion and have a listen...

Once upon a time, there lived two young brothers named Firoz and Ferhan Patel who were born and raised in the lovely city of Montreal, nestled in the heart of Canada's only French province — Quebec. They grew up watching their parents run two successful businesses: one a grocery store and the other a home-based needle-trade business. Adopting their family's entrepreneurial spirit, both young men knew that they were destined for great things.

"I can't wait to get started!" said Firoz, right before he started his own comic book business in high school. This endeavor was so successful that he went on to study Business Administration in college to prepare for all of the industrious ideas he planned on executing upon graduation.

After showing limitless potential in the realm of commerce, Firoz was auspiciously dubbed Technology Officer for a company that developed business expense reporting software. After establishing himself and gaining the skills he needed to move to the next level and pursue his dreams, he opened a company specializing in offline sales processing — a choice that would change the course of his life forever.

His younger brother Ferhan also felt the winds of change and progress and went on to study Computer Science and Project Management in hopes of also pursuing a successful online career at some point in his life. The high kings of Montreal's leading consulting company recognized his potential and took him under their wings, giving him the lofty title of IT consultant.

After developing the potential that the high kings so valued, Ferhan left on a quest to fulfill his destiny, like his brother, and later joined a start-up company developing affiliate marketing software. His time at this company gave him the courage and the know-how to go off on his own. Not long after, he started his own e-commerce chocolate business to test out the software which turned into quite the lucrative venture.

One day, Firoz and Ferhan had a meeting of the minds and got to talking. "You know, I think it would be way more efficient if we used a payment processing solution for our businesses. What say you?" Asked Firoz. "That's a brilliant idea! Let's do it! We can create the solution ourselves!" Exclaimed Ferhan in a flurry of excitement. Right after, he sold his chocolate company, joined forces with his brother and brought AlertPay to the world's fingertips... literally.

They started off with a little over a handful of employees: 6, including themselves. The team often sat around the round table, discussing ways to gain some authority over their land and eventually take over the world... of payment processing.

Slowly but surely, the round table grew to include more than 50 new knights and ladies, including Lady Shannerella of Customer Support, Sir Ogsworth of Resolutions, Lady Elizabeth of Business Analysis, Sir Jaywyn of Banking, Sir Olivier of Software Development and so many others with the power to bring AlertPay to the next level and help fight off the competing kingdoms known for bribing sheriffs and destroying trade routes.

Still in the company of the original team and countless other new additions, Firoz keeps an eye on the far reaches of the e-commerce realm and works on building alliances with like-minded folk, while Ferhan presides over the more immediate kingdom and his fleet of gifted knights and ladies. They are now finally propelling their empire to the myriad corners of the online world in hopes of offering their three plus million citizens of the realm the ability to securely send and receive money online from the comfort of their own home or office.

We challenge you to sign up for an account or try one of our many great services, like Send Money, and help us propel our empire into a bright, hopeful future where we can all live happily ever after!

Thank you for choosing AlertPay!

A tutorial on SSL Encryption and how it keeps you safe online

Hi everyone,

If you shop or sell online, you've probably heard a little bit about SSL or Secure Sockets Layer, or maybe the name sounds a little familiar. We would like to teach you a bit about what it is and how it can make online shopping and selling a much safer and secure activity.

How it works

There are a few steps involved in the process, but you won't even know they're happening:

1. First, the SSL Certificate encrypts sensitive personal and financial information during online transactions.

2. Secondly, every SSL Certificate includes authenticated details on the certificate owner.

3. And lastly, a "Certificate Authority" validates the certificate owner's identity when the certificate is issued.

Who needs SSL encryption?

Lots of people do, in fact every online business or organization should take advantage of this great tool! If you do any of the following, you need SSL encryption right away:

• You have an online store and accept credit card payments.
• You allow people to login or sign up on your site.
• You process sensitive personal and financial information.
• You must comply with privacy and security requirements.
• You value privacy and want others to see you as credible and trust-worthy.

How does Encryption and Authentication work?

Please visit the VeriSign website for more information on encryption and authentication.

So why does this all matter?

In as few words as possible, it matters because the privacy of your personal and financial details matters... a lot. Without efficient privacy and security measures and general common sense, the online world would be a pond full of sitting ducks for those pesky online troublemakers, like fraudsters and hackers.

Lastly, did you know that we use SSL encryption?

Of course we do! You can see the logo at the bottom right-hand corner of our website. You can even click on it to read some details on the status of our certificate. We wouldn't be able to operate in good conscience without VeriSign's SSL Encryption. Every time you do a transaction online through AlertPay, you can breathe easy knowing that your information is protected by us and VeriSign.

For more information on SSL Encryption, please visit the VeriSign website.

Thanks for choosing AlertPay!

Want to Sell Online and accept credit card payments? Here's your To-Do List!

Selling with a third-party payment solution like AlertPay makes online selling a heck of a lot easier than selling without one. How, you might ask? Well, it's really simple:

While you take care of your customers and provide your goods/services in a timely fashion, we take care of the authorization, billing, reporting, settlement and all of the risk.

The Checklist

Before you can start selling online and collecting your payments, make sure to complete the following tasks (I know it seems like a lot, but if you get started now, you'll be accepting payments in no time at all):

1. Open an account and select your preferred account type ("Business" account highly recommended).
2. Create a confidential password (to login) and a Transaction PIN (to authorize transactions and account changes).
3. Validate your email address.
4. Submit your verification documents.
5. Complete a Website Review.
6. Add a bank account (if applicable).
7. Add a credit card (if necessary and applicable).
8. Enter secondary emails (if necessary).
9. Set up your Business profile(s) if you have a Business account.
10. Generate your payment or subscription buttons through integration (Standard or Advanced).
11. Integrate AlertPay web content into your checkout process (before AlertPay payment screen preferably, so the customer knows that they will be using us to pay for your product). For this content, please contact Customer Support and put "Content Request" in the subject field. Make sure to specifically ask for web content.
12. Become familiar with how to use your account (how to manage your businesses and payments; how to deposit and withdraw funds; how to grant refunds and resolve customer disputes; etc…)

Now that you know what to do, don't procrastinate — start cashing in today!

If you have any questions about selling online, contact Customer Support. If you need assistance with Integration, submit a ticket to Technical Support and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

You may also want to read this fascinating article on the merits of using a third-party payment solution for your business.

Have a great day!

Credit Cards: Issues and Solutions

Hi everyone,

Since a lot of you use credit cards through AlertPay, we would like to offer you some tips on how to use your credit card with AlertPayand how to troubleshoot various issues.

How to add a credit card

Before using a credit card, you must add one to your account. Please follow these simple steps to do so:

1. Login to your AlertPay account.
2. Click on "Profile".
3. Under “Financial”, click on "Credit Cards".
4. Enter credit card details and click on "Next".
5. Verify details and check box to agree to “AlertPay User Agreement”.
6. Click on "Finish".

If you do not have an AlertPay account, you can open one for free and add your card or just add it when making a payment at a seller's checkout counter.

Credit card usage guidelines

• You can spend up to $250 USD (or equivalent) a month with a single credit card; you can add another card to your account to increase your spending limit to $500 USD (or equivalent).
• You can have a total of three added and/or deleted cards in your AlertPay account, but only two of those cards can be actively used.
• You can only add a Visa , MasterCard or American Express to your AlertPay account. No other cards are supported.
• You can split a payment with your AlertPay balance and not with another credit card.
• You can only add a credit card to one account at a time.
• Some sellers do not accept credit cards, so you will have to pay with your AlertPay balance.
• You can use your credit card abroad, but you must add it first to your AlertPay account in the issuing country.
• You can also use your credit card with the Send Money and Request Money features, but not with Mass Pay.
• You can withdraw payments made to your AlertPay balance with a credit card. You can withdraw your money in USD, GBP or EUR.
• You can add a debit card for direct payments to sellers, but it must be issued by one of the accepted credit card companies and can only be used as a credit card.
• Some sellers cannot accept MasterCard payments so be prepared to use a Visa, American Express or AlertPay balance if need be.

Possible issues and how to solve them

Issue: Disabled credit card.
Diagnosis: The card may have been added abroad. Or the CVV and card number were entered incorrectly in the AlertPay account or are no longer valid.
Solution: Contact Customer Support immediately so we can investigate.

Issue: Cannot complete payment.
Diagnosis: You may be trying to make a payment that exceeds the allowable monthly amount. Furthermore, you may have to validate your email address if you've made more than two online payments through AlertPay. Lastly, the seller may not be verified or have completed a mandatory Website Review.
Solution: Ensure your payment is under $250 USD. Please check your email to see if you've received a validation email. If so, click on the link inside to activate your account, then try your payment again. You may contact Customer Support to inquire if the issue is on the seller's side.

Issue: Cannot add credit card.
Diagnosis: It may already be added to a previous account or added to someone else's account. You may also be adding it from a country without credit card support. Lastly, you may have exceeded the allowable number of credit cards you can add to your account.
Solution: If it is added to another account or if you have exceeded the allowable amount of cards you can add, please contact Customer Support. If you are trying to add it from a country without credit card support, please consider a Deposit option to make your payment, such as bank transfer, bank wire, certified check or money order.

Issue: Credit card appears to be double-charged.
Diagnosis: This may be just a temporary "hold" on your funds by your credit card issuer.
Solution: Contact your credit card issuer to confirm if the payment has gone through or not. If it has, contact Customer Support so we can look into it. Also, try waiting one minute in between multiple purchases to prevent this from happening again.

Issue: Seller does not accept credit cards or a specific credit card.
Diagnosis: The seller may have chosen not to accept credit cards or cannot accept them or certain kinds due to their industry type.
Solution: Deposit funds into your AlertPay balance by bank transfer, bank wire, certified check or money order. If the seller can accept certain types of credit card, add the appropriate card and complete your payment.

We hope we have covered some of the major issues you may encounter. If you experience any problems you cannot solve on your own, please submit a ticket to "Credit Card Support" and we will do whatever we can to help you.

Happy New Year and thank you for choosing AlertPay!