Signature Card Services Makes EMV Migration Easy and Affordable

Industry-leading payment processing services provider, Signature Card Services, is offering free EMV-enabled terminals to its merchants in the U.S. to make their transition to the EMV standard as economical and effortless as possible. The company has chosen Ingenico’s EMV terminals to be installed for interested merchants starting June 15, 2013. Ingenico (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) is a global leading provider of payment solutions with more than 20 million terminals deployed in 125 countries and deep experience in EMV migration.

EMV, a chip-based payment standard, reduces counterfeit fraud and increases security by providing card authentication protocol. With all major card brands supporting the US migration to EMV, Signature Card Services is preparing its merchants for an easy and affordable transition. In addition to free terminals, they are providing support and education to help merchants embrace the change.

Signature Card Services has chosen Ingenico’s Telium2 series payment devices for its EMV terminals. The company partners with Ingenico for its high-quality products and services, as well as the knowledge and expertise that Ingenico brings, having supported EMV transactions in Europe and Canada for over two decades.

Signature Card Services recognizes that the migration to EMV is a significant undertaking. By facilitating early conversion to the EMV system with training and support, the company is committed to making the shift much easier for its merchants.

“Partnering with Ingenico offers tremendous advantages to our merchants,” says Anthony Urquidez, VP of Operations for Signature Card Services. “We are committed to helping merchants embrace the change and will continue to spearhead education and support. It is great to have a partner who shares our vision and provides an unparalleled product.”

“We are excited to be collaborating with Signature Card Services to provide EMV-enabled devices for its entire merchant network,” says Rhonda Boardman, Vice President for U.S. Acquiring Sales for Ingenico North America. “Through our partnership, we can empower merchants to be EMV ready and we are dedicated to supporting them every step of the oil painting reproduction.”

The legal team representing dealers fighting the Wynn Resorts Ltd. tip pooling policy ran into skeptical questioning as the long-running dispute came before the Nevada Supreme on Wednesday.

The company and the employees that fall under the class action lawsuit have been clashing with each other since the policy went into effect in September 2006 — just more than a year after Wynn Las Vegas opened — requiring dealers to share their tips with box persons at the craps tables and what are called customer service team leaders, who track players, help with lines of credit, take care of disputes on the casino floor and act as a concierge.

Tip pooling has long been legal as long as the company does not tap into the money for its “direct benefit.”

Wynn had won most of the most the battles, including a 2010 ruling by then Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek that validated the tip pooling system. Last year, however, Clark County District Judge Kenneth Cory sided with the dealers in holding that Wynn improperly benefited from the tip pooling essentially by giving them a raise using the tips.

In court papers appealing the decision, Wynn said the tip pooling, backed by the commissioner’s opinion, did not provided a financial boost to the company or allow them to cut pay for the two groups of employees in return for tips.

The case drew unusually high interest, with about a dozen pro-dealer picketers carrying Transport Workers Union Local 721 signs, with which Wynn has signed a collective bargaining agreement, standing outside the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. Company Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn attended arguments but did not comment afterward.

Justice Michael Cherry cited papers filed by the Culinary Workers Union that predicted tip pooling cases “will become big business” for the courts if judges start to jump into interpreting them. In this instance, replied dealers attorney Leon Greenberg, Culinary was just taking its position on behalf of Wynn.

Justice Nancy Sitta noted that she was “admittedly having a hard time” seeing how the Wynn company benefited from tip pooling.

The answer, said Greenberg, was that tip pooling raised the pay of the supervisory positions from about $60,000 a year. By contrast, Wynn dealer make about $90,000 a year including tips.

In court papers, Wynn cited the gap between supervisors and dealers as a reason to institute the tip pool, which continues in effect today. In addition, the company said people have resisted moving into supervisory roles due to the pay cut.

However, Greenberg proposed that tip pooling be based on the concept that “the economic benefit remaining with the people who provide the service for which the customer gave the tip.” That would mean dealers that players liked, while a tip to a customer service person who landed show tickets would fall in a separate bucket.