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Posted on March 25, 2016First Data Announces Lenders' Affirmative Responses to Refinance Its Remaining US Dollar Term Loans Due March 2018
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 25, 2016-- First Data Corporation (“First Data”) (NYSE: FDC) today announced that it has received affirmative responses from new and existing lenders to provide approximately $3.7 billion of term loans due March 2021. This transaction and the expected prepayments from the proceeds of First Data’s previously announced and priced offering of $900 million of its 5.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 allows First Data to refinance the remaining approximately $4.6 billion of its U.S. dollar denominated term loans due March 2018. The successful completion of this transaction is subject to market and other...
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Posted on March 24, 2016First Data and First Tennessee Bank Form Strategic Relationship to Support Small Businesses
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 24, 2016-- First Data (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, has entered into a strategic agreement with First Tennessee Bank, the largest bank in Tennessee with nearly 200 retail and commercial banking locations. Under the new enterprise agreement, First Tennessee will provide its small business clients with First Data’s innovative products, including the Clover® family of business management solutions. First Tennessee will also join First Data’s STAR® Network and have access to an array of cutting-edge fraud protection tools. “Small busin...
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Posted on March 21, 2016First Data Announces Intent to Enter into Transactions to Extend the Maturity of Certain of Its Term Loans Due 2018
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 21, 2016-- First Data Corporation (“First Data”) (NYSE: FDC) today announced that it intends to seek to enter into one or more refinancing transactions to extend the maturity of a portion of its outstanding U.S. dollar denominated term loans due March 2018. Approximately $4.6 billion of First Data’s U.S. dollar denominated term loans due March 2018 are outstanding as of the date of this press release, with such outstanding amount expected to be reduced to approximately $3.7 billion after giving effect to expected prepayments from the proceeds of First Data’s previously announced and priced offering...
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View all news of Debit Success
Posted on February 29, 2016Customer service gems
When it comes to customer service, there are plenty of ‘do’s and don’t’s’ – so where do you start? We’ve put some key questions to Siala Uepa-Holmes, our Customer Service Manager to get her experience and some industry gems that could make a difference in your business:
Saving Money versus Customer Service
The way of the world today means increasing pressure to do things faster, more efficient and at a lower price – what would you say to a contact centre leader under pressure to cut costs but maintain customer service levels?
"Gather the facts through case studies on the effects of high occupancy which will lead to burnout, absence and negativity, resulting in bad customer service and the loss of revenue as clients leaving the business to a competitor."
Boosting productivity
Looking for that little something extra from your team? How do you improve front line productivity?
"Our Team Leaders are trained to constantly review their agents’ statistics and to push them to their limits without compromising customer service delivery."
Dealing with social media complaints
While social media offers a raft of opportunities for businesses, it can also cause some pain! How do you deal with negative complaints on social media?
"Get on to it straight away. Sort the complaint out and respond."
Scheduling staff
Scheduling shifts can be a real headache in some organisations. In your opinion what’s the best way to schedule staff for a contact centre? Should you allow them to select shifts themselves or should they be set for them?
Every centre is different. Shifts are set in our centre between 8.30am to 8pm. The day shifts are fixed and the night shifts which range from 10.30am to 8pm rotate every six months. For example an agent will work 10.30am to 7pm during the winter months (6) and then changes to 11.30am to 8pm for the summer months (6). The breaks are broken up as 2 x 30 minutes for each FTE which works for us."
Setting service levels
While there may be industry statistics, each contact centre is different - so how do you set service levels?
"We look at what we would personally want as a level of service - then step it up a notch. We have to be mindful of overservicing and related costs, however we have a good balance here. The team feel they're delivering quality service and like to be challenged, especially if you tell them you believe in them and you know they can do it."
At Debitsuccess, we pride ourselves on our exceptional customer service and, with leaders like Siala, it’s no wonder our team is an award-winning industry leader.
Debitsuccess is part of the Transaction Services Group (TSG), a leading global payment solutions provider with a presence in Australasia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
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Posted on February 21, 201610 payment plan tips
Cashflow is essential to any organisation’s success. Here are some things to consider when deciding to offer a payment plan option:
1. Frequency pays off so give options
The simple psychology of the subscription model equation is that a customer feels more comfortable with paying a small amount than they do a large amount. The more frequent the payment, the smaller the amount will be.
Statistics from payment solutions provider Debitsuccess show that weekly payments are the most popular with customers, and also the least likely to default. Clearly, paying a smaller amount – be it weekly or fortnightly – is more achievable, so make sure you have these options available.
2. Flexible timing is key – fit in with your customers’ lifestyles
Flexibility around timing of payments also goes a long way toward making customers feel comfortable about paying for a subscription service.
More sampling of statistics show that Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays are the most preferred days for customers to pay. So, if your business can be set up for payments on the day of the week that a member chooses, you’ll be able to attract more members. Ensuring people can pay when they want and how they want will build better relationships and help keep them coming back to pay you again and again.
3. Reversals are inevitable so don’t stress if you get a few
In data tracked from a year’s worth of subscription billing, it is expected that a small percentage of recurring payments will bounce initially for various reasons, such as insufficient funds. That’s no reason to avoid such instalment payment plans – the important thing is having a method for following this up.
4. Avoid credit control at your peril
Not having a robust process in place to manage credit control will mean less cash flow now, and ultimately more expense in administration costs. So it’s critical to have clear processes in place to manage credit control.
Outsourcing your billing to a third party provider can easily solve this issue, and means that your organisation can focus on maintaining a great service, while your billing company manages the task of dealing with the reversals.
5. Ensure you’re secure
As with a number of industries, data security is integral to our business. Being secure and compliant with all industry regulations gives people peace of mind.
Debitsuccess is an externally audited Level 1 compliant company under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) – so has the policies, procedures, physical structures and technology to ensure data and credit card information is protected.
6. Save time and money
Following up on missed payments can be a huge administrative burden. And what if someone wants to change their payment schedule? Needs to advise a new address? Or has an account related query? All these aspects of managing payment plans take time. That’s why it may be appropriate to outsource a payment solution to save time and administration costs so you can focus on your business.
7. Options, options, options
Technology allows a diverse range of options for your customers to pay. It’s all about making it easy for people and maximising collections.
8. Increase retention
It’s simple – once a customer has an established form of payment that they have to re-establish if they shift to a competitor, they’re less likely to move. Payment plans increase retention due to their reliability, ease of use and security guarantees.
9. Working with others
Most businesses have existing business management software and, to make life easier, it’s important these systems can talk to each other. Application program interface (API) integration enables tools, products and applications to work together, providing customers with greater options and scope.
10. Consistent cashflow
A steady and reliable cashflow is vital to any business. Relying on large one-off payments could make your business vulnerable should these slow down for whatever reason. With an effective payment plan, businesses can rest assured that you have regular and reliable cashflow, putting an end to chasing payments and late fees.
Helping you to help your customers
Having a recurring payment solutions provider on board can help businesses to help their customers. It means greater flexibility, consistent cashflow and a full credit control system, saving time and money so organisations can focus on what’s really important – your customers and exceptional service.
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Posted on February 15, 2016Take your conversion revenue to the top with our Win a Salary For a Year Promotion!
Increase your conversions and revenue by giving your customers the chance to win $2000 per month (tax free) for 12 months and a number of prizes including iPads and Cash!
The promotion starts in Feb 15 and ends in 13 March 2016. Promote this fantastic offer by using our exclusive banners on your website during this period and boost NETELLER signups and conversion.
What your referrals need to do
- Have a NETELLER account registered through your Affiliate link
- Transfer money to any NETELLER merchant during the Promotion Period and gain entries to the prize draw
- They can also boost entries by sending money from their NETELLER account to NETELLER members during every boost period to gain 5 extra entries.
- Daily entry maximum is 10 entries. Boost entries will be added on top of the daily entries.
Members must transact at least once each week to be in with a chance of winning the corresponding prizes that week. The headline prize winner will be drawn in the 4th weekly draw.
The more your referrals transact the greater their chance to win, and the higher your affiliate revenue!
How to promote this promotion
- Login to your affiliate account
- We have created a special new suite of banners for this promotion, available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
- Grab the banners in the Promotion Section and put it up on your site and start earning!
We also have unique content available for you to help promote in your social channels.
If you have any questions about this promotion or require the content please contact us at: affiliate@neteller.com
Click Here to Login to Your Affiliate Account
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Posted on January 27, 2016Spotlight on CasinoTopplisten
This week we go to catch up with one of our newest affiliate, CasinoTopplisten.com, Who have kindly taken out the time to share some tips and advice about the industry and promoting digital wallets.
CasinoTopplisten.com has for the last 4 years dominated the Google search engine results for gambling related terms. Providing users with state of the art tools, and unique, well-written, localised content, it has grown a dedicated fan base and loyal crowd of users throughout the years. Now, going into it's 5th year of exsistence, it's more stronger then ever before and has an authority like no other affiliate website in Norway. CasinoTopplisten.com are regulary quoted in Norwegian media, and a go-to source for journalits covering subjects relevant for the iGaming industry.
- What sets your site apart from other affiliates in this sector?
As one of the top 3 gambling sites in Norway, we are in it for the long run. Most gambling affiliates in Norway run CPA-campaigns, and leverage dirty SEO-tactics to gain temporary traction. Where others build PBN's, we build content. This does not only benefit our rankings, but also our users, which again is reflected in our rankings.
- What should someone new to your site, or new to playing online look for
There are five important trust signals to look for:
- License: Is it licensed in Europe or elsewhere? It's no secret that non-EU casino's tend to have a tighter liquidity than those who hold one or more licenses from European regulatory authorities.
- Casinomeister: What does other users say about the casino?
- Check reviews: And maybe more importantly; the number of reviews. Few mentions on affiliate sites may indicate the casino is either very tightly run money-wise, or are shafting affiliates. Neither are good signs for the users.
- eCogra-membership: While not a key factor, it's never a bad sign to see that the casino holds a membership in eCogra.
- GWPA.org discussions: Again, if the affiliates get shafted, so does the players.
- What will NETELLER members learn by visiting your site?
All of the listed casino's on our site is vetted thoroughly and trusted by us. We requier an up front fee, as well as a continues listing fee, as most gambling sites does these days, in addition to the ordinary rev-share cut. This allows us to do a more thorughly job vetting new sites and producing the content our users have learned to appreciate and love over the years.
- Why do you promote digital wallets as a means of secure deposit and withdrawals to your customers?
Digital wallets are excellent for several reasons. Firstly, it's a way of protecting one's winnings, be it from the tax man, a greedy spouse or a nagging creditor. With a digital wallet, you are in control of how, when and to whom you'll report your winnings. Secondly, it's a question of privacy. We have had several cases in Norway where players has been confronted with their habits when applying for a housing loan at their local bank. "We see you are gambling quiet regulary, do we have any reason to be concerned?" It's an uncomfortable question, and definetly not something you'd want to come up when in need for a housing loan.
- You are a newly joined NETELLER affiliate, why would you advise other affiliates to promote digital wallets on their site? What is the benefit to your business?
Well, it's a vital part of the industry. More and more users are moving over to use digital wallets instead of credit cards, so why not be the one who introduce them to it and pick up the extra cash? More so, our data indicates that new players who are immediately introduced to digital wallets, tend to be better players in the long run. A theory here, is that while the bar for making a withdraw lowers for the players, it will also lowers for making deposits.
- Any last words of advice to other affiliates looking to enter the iGaming market, what can they benefit from learning from your experience?
GWPA.org is a gold mine. Be also aware of the costs involved, and how search engine marketing works (it's a zero sum game and so on). You either make bank, or you make shit. It's no sliding scale to speak of here. Try to milk the casino's as much as possible; squeez until there's nothing left. But be nice to everybody. It's a small industry, and pissing off people is not good for business. However, this is business and everyone knows it. You don't owe anybody free money.
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Posted on January 19, 2016Reversal rates review
Latest data around reversal rates provides interesting reading. Recurring payments from bank accounts are 2.4 times more successful than from credit cards, and weekly payments are 1.9 times more successful than monthly payments.
Unsurprisingly smaller instalment amounts are up to 7 times more successful than larger amounts – however, one interesting point that got our team talking is that reversal rates of payments made by males are 3% higher than payments made by females!
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Posted on January 18, 2016Looking for a membership payment solution?
If you offer annual memberships, chances are you’re aware that people often indicate cost as a barrier to joining. In fact, around a quarter of individuals surveyed* indicate upfront cost as a significant hurdle.
Statistics also show that 15-20% of annual memberships are cancelled after 12 months, with two thirds of survey participants stating they would purchase an annual membership if there was more flexibility around payments.
So what makes a successful payment plan? Firstly, a simple and easy sign up process is key for all involved. This should outline the relevant terms and conditions and include details specific to that particular plan for that individual.
Customers today demand the flexibility of being able to pay on the day most convenient for them. Given this, a payment play should feature any day any frequency payment options to suit all members – whether it be weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
A flexible payment approach helps improve the chances of successful collection and provides consistent cash flow; important for any business. In addition, it supports the automatic renewal of memberships and is shown to increase customer retention.
It goes without saying that there will inevitably be some failed payments – and administration required to address these can take up precious business time. As billing specialists, we employ methods including emails, letters, phone calls, interactive voice response, website payments, catch-up payments and double debits. These responses are all tailored to follow our clients’ instructions.
With our award winning customer service team, we’re well placed to offer a complete payment plan solution that supports businesses and their current and prospective members.
*Increasing Nationwide Golf Club Membership & Participation, March 2008 Survey, NZ Golf
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Posted on December 7, 2015The service improvement toolbox
When it comes to improving service, it’s a never ending quest. An ongoing journey. A constant challenge. That’s why, as part of our service improvement adventure, we’ve introduced some new tools.
Our recently completed series of training videos support the documented training processes; all focused on how to use our systems. We now have around 80 processes detailed, each with an accompanying video of the process, as well as an assessment document to measure understanding.
This is on top of our use of Learning Planet, which has a large number of online pieces available around how to deal and speak with customers.
In addition, we have initiated a customer feedback loop to assess the quality of the interactions we have via email and over the phone. All email responses now feature a link to a customer satisfaction survey so customers can rate the quality of the interaction, providing valuable feedback for our team.
We also select 50 calls each day for our Customer Service Manager and Credit Control Manager to invite feedback by sending a personal email invitation to customers who have called. This initiative is still in the early days, however feedback to date has been very useful. As a result we have initiated workshops on email responses to further improve our quality in this area and have planned small group training for customer discussions.
We see ourselves in the Debitsuccess Contact Centre as a retention team and we believe quality interactions are key to retaining customers for longer – benefitting both our clients and ourselves. For this reason, we’re continuously reviewing and evolving the tools in our service improvement toolbox.
