Author: Maria Sparagis

  • FTC Is Coming After “Made in USA” Claims

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    Labels like MUSA or Made in the USA can tank your business. You see them everywhere on Amazon, eBay, and Shopify stores, products that proudly sporting “Made in USA” badges. American flags plastered on product photos. Bold claims about supporting American workers. But many—if not most—of these products ship straight from overseas warehouses. If you’re…

    "MADE IN USA" label on a woven fabric
  • How to Avoid Friendly Fraud, a Growing Threat to Your Business

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    Friendly fraud is one of the most annoying yet seemingly avoidable types of fraud. Many merchants are left wondering what they’ve done wrong or why their customers are mistreating them. One day you’re in the black, and the next your chargeback ratio spikes beyond acceptable limits. Your payment processor flags your account. Your rolling reserves…

    Credit card security
  • Survival Guide: Stripe Account Suspended

    Payment processors and PSPs hold immense power over businesses, Stripe, despite its reputation as a developer-friendly platform, is no different. The payments giant regularly suspends accounts and holds funds, sometimes without clear justification. I recently received an email from a business owner whose experience illustrates the reality that many merchants face when dealing with account…

    Hundred Dollar Bills Hanging From Clothesline on Dark Background
  • The De Minimis Rollback Means More Chargebacks — How to Avoid

    The de minimis rollback changes how businesses handle international shipping costs. This change affects millions of online purchases every day. When customers don’t know about extra charges, they create chargebacks that hurt businesses. Here’s how to avoid the hassle. REDUCE CHARGEBACKS What Is the De Minimis Rollback? The de minimis threshold sets the limit for…

    Courier gives pen to the client to sign on delivery receipt. Receive a parcel from delivery service concept
  • 14 Reason Codes That Land Your Business on the MATCH List

    If you run a business that accepts credit card payments (so, every business), then you need to know about the MATCH list. This database tracks merchants who’ve had their payment processing accounts shut down. Getting MATCHed can destroy your business overnight. You’ll struggle to find any bank willing to process your payments again. The Member…

    Tired business man at workplace in office holding his head on hands. Sleepy worker early in the morning after late night work. Overworking, making mistake, stress, termination or depression concept