No one wants their credit card information stolen. Unfortunately, credit card fraud is one of the most common types of fraud, with Experian noting there were over 214,000 reports of credit card fraud in the first half of 2024 alone. Little wonder that shoppers are cautious when it comes to sharing their credit card details – and will avoid doing so on unsecured websites or with vendors they don’t trust.
That’s where PCI compliance comes in. PCI DSS, short for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, refers to the security standards businesses must use when handling customers’ credit card information.
What’s Involved in PCI Compliance?
PCI standards are set and managed by the PCI Security Standard Council to keep payment data safe. To be compliant, providers need to ensure that their systems and networks are secure, implement firm access control, maintain data protection and security policies, and constantly test and monitor for potential breaches.
There Are Strict Penalties for Not Being PCI-Compliant
Staying PCI compliant matters. Not only is compliance crucial to customer perceptions of your business and their willingness to shop with you – but non-compliance is costly. Fines can range from $5000-$100,000 a month, and offenders may face additional penalties such as increased transaction fees, reimbursement requirements, loss of payment processing privileges, and even legal action. Note that PCI compliance standards are frequently updated, so ensure that your business is aligned with the latest version!
Why Engaging a PCI-Compliant Call Center Partner Matters
When you work with a PCI-compliant call center such as ACD, you can move forward with payment processing knowing that you’re safe from reputational damage – and that your loyal customers will continue to feel confident working with you. To confirm that a call center partner is PCI compliant, ask to see their Attestation of Compliance (AoC) or their Report on Compliance (RoC). You can also look them up on the PCI Security Standards Council website.
ACD Is at the Forefront of PCI Compliance
PCI compliance isn’t a “set and forget” approach. It’s something that must be continuously worked towards to ensure that staff, systems, and processes are all on the same page. At ACD, we know that ongoing testing and training are a must, and we work to ensure employees handling cardholder data understand the standards and protocols involved and why adherence is so important. We also undertake regular vulnerability scans and use firewalls, encryption, and strong passwords to keep data safe – and constantly update our safety protocols to ensure that we’re at the cutting edge of PCI compliance.
Want to Take Payments – Safely? Talk to ACD!
Ready to get PCI compliant and stay that way? Entrust ACD as your outsourced call center partner. We’re proud to be ahead of the curve when it comes to PCI compliance and ensure that both our technology and our trained, experienced call center staff remain up to date with current compliance protocols. Keep your customer data safe – and your reputation as well. Talk to ACD today!
