Field credit and collections have long presented many challenges for utilities. Personnel safety and security issues associated with accepting cash payments in the field can be overcome by field processing of credit card payments. With the advent of low cost communications and the increasing prevalence of field computing, credit card payment processing in the field is growing in popularity. While providing field technicians with the means of processing credit card payments in the field resolves certain issues, it creates many others. Before providing field technicians with the tools to accept credit card payments in the field, utilities must be aware of the full breadth of options available to them, as well as, the pros and cons associated with each options, especially in the areas of protecting consumer's rights and safe guard of information. This presentation will provide an objective assessment of a utility's options for allowing field technicians to accept credit card payments. For each option, the presentation will identify the hardware, software, communications, and security requirements, as well as, the associated process implications. The presentation will also provide a framework for selecting the most appropriate option. With the legislation of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard that comes into effect in the summer of 2007, utilities that do not deploy compliant credit card solutions will face not only potential embarrassment, but as well, fines of up to $500,000.
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