#refund sector

[refund-specialist-system]

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

1,000,000 stranded Southwest passengers deserved better from Pete Buttigieg

The catastrophic failure of Southwest Air over Christmas 2022 was the worst single-airline aviation failure in American history, stranding over 1,000,000 passengers. But while it was exceptional, it was also foreseeable: 2022 saw Southwest and the other carriers rack up record numbers of cancellations, leaving crews and fliers stranded.

It’s not like the carriers can’t afford to improve things. After pulling in $54 billion in covid relief, the airlines are swimming in cash, showering executives with record bonuses and paying titanic dividends to shareholders. Southwest has announced a $428m dividend.

This isn’t a new problem. Trump’s Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was a paragon of inaction and neglect, refusing even to meet with consumer advocacy groups. This is bad, because under US law, state attorneys general are not allowed to punish misbehaving airlines — that power vests solely and entirely with the Secretary of Transport.

It’s been two years since Biden appointed Pete Buttigieg to be the human race’s most powerful aviation regulator. Buttigieg started his tenure on a promising note, meeting with the same consumer groups that Chao had snubbed, but after that hopeful beginning, things ground to a halt.

As Corporate Crime Reporter details, William McGee of the American Economic Liberties Project was impressed by the Secretary: “He was intelligent, articulate, he had good questions for us, he was taking notes, he seemed concerned.” But 18 months later, McGee describes Buttigieg’s leadership as “lax.”

https://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/pete-buttigieg-and-the-southwest-airlines-meltdown/

Buttigieg likes to tout a single enforcement action as his signature achievement: fining six airlines and ordering them to issue refunds to US passengers. But only one of those airlines was a US carrier: Frontier, which only accounts for 2% of all US flights. The US monopoly carriers have gone unscathed.

The US carriers are in sore need of regulatory discipline. In 2020 alone, United racked up 10,000 consumer complaints, twice as many as any other carrier. Under Buttigieg, the DOT investigated these airlines and closed every one of these complaints without taking any against them.

This is part of a wider pattern. In Buttigieg’s 18 month tenure, not a single airline has been ordered to pay any fines as a result of cancellations. In the absence of oversight and accountability, the airlines have made a habit out of scheduling flights they know they don’t have the crew to fly (they used public covid funds to buy out senior crew contracts, retiring much of their workforce).

This gives the airlines the flexibility to offer many flights they know they can’t service, and to allocate crew to whichever runs will generate the most profit, stranding US passengers and holding onto their money for months or years before paying refunds — if they ever do.

Consumer groups weren’t alone in sounding the alarm over the deteriorating conditions in the airline sector. In 2022, dozens of state attorneys general — Democrats and Republicans — sent open letters to Buttigieg begging him to use his broad powers as Secretary of Transport to hold the airlines accountable.

What are those powers? Well, the big one is USC40 Section 41712(a), the “unfair and deceptive” authority modeled on Section 5 of the FTC Act. This authority allows the Secretary to act without further Congressional action, to order airlines to end practices that are “unfair and deceptive,” and to extract massive fines from companies that don’t comply.

As McGee told CCR, “the scheduling and canceling of flights is both unfair and deceptive.” In order to force the airlines to end this practice, Buttigieg would have to initiate an investigation into the practice. The American Economic Liberties Project called on Buttigieg to open an investigation months ago. There has not been such an investigation.

Even on refunds, Buttigieg’s much-touted signature achievement, the Secretary has left Americans in the cold. US law requires airlines to give cash refunds to passengers on cancelled flights. But to this day, passengers are sent unfair and deceptive messages by airlines offering them credit for cancellations, and fliers must fight their way through a bureaucratic quagmire to get cash refunds.

McGee and other advocates met with Buttigieg twelve times sking him to address this. When he finally took action, he ignored the domestic airlines — which racked up 5,700% more complaints in his first year on the job than in the previous year — except for tiny, largely irrelevant Frontier. If you are an American whose journey on an American airline was cancelled, there’s a 98% chance that Buttigieg let them off without a single dollar in fines.

McGee isn’t an armchair quarterback. He is an industry veteran, an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher: “I canceled flights. I rescheduled flights. I diverted flights. I delayed flights. I did that every day.”

Apologists for Buttigieg claim that he’s doing all he can: “Pete isn’t in charge of airline IT!” But while USC 40 doesn’t mention computer systems or staffing levels directly, it doesn’t have to: the “unfair and deceptive” standard is deliberately broad, to give regulators the powers they need to protect the American people.

In understanding whether the million fliers that Southwest stranded on the way to their Christmas vacations could have expected more from their DOT, it’s worth looking at how other regulators have used similar authority to protect the American people.

Exhibit A here has to be FTC Chair Lina Khan, whose powers under FTCA5 are nearly identical to Buttigieg’s power under 41712(a) (the DOT language was copied nearly verbatim from the FTCA). Two years ago, Khan began an in-depth investigation into the use of nonompete agreements in the US labor market.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2020/01/non-competes-workplace-examining-antitrust-consumer-protection-issues

This investigation created an extensive evidentiary record on the ways that workers are harmed by these agreements, and collected empirical observations about whether industries really needed noncompetes to thrive (for example, noncompetes are banned in California, home to the most profitable, most knowledge-intensive businesses in the world, undermining claims that these businesses need noncompetes to survive).

Then, right as Southwest was stranding a million Americans, Khan unveiled a rulemaking to ban noncompetes for every American worker, using her Section 5 powers. Khan’s rule is retroactive, undoing every existing noncompete as well as banning them into the future.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/10/the-courage-to-govern/#whos-in-charge

This is what a fully operational battle-station looks like! Khan and Buttigieg are among the most powerful people who have ever lived, with more and farther-reaching regulatory authority, more power to alter the lives of millions of people, than almost anyone who every drew breath.

And yet, when Secretary Buttigieg jawbones about the airlines, it’s all pleading, not threats. As McGee says, “If you have a Secretary of Transportation who does not punish the airlines when they act terribly, then we should not be surprised when they continue to behave terribly.”

State AGs from both parties are desperate for Buttigieg to back legislation that would return their right to punish airlines. So far, he has not voiced his support for this regulation. When the Secretary of Transport won’t act, and when he won’t support the right of other officials to act, the American traveler is truly stranded.

Image: Tomás Del Coro (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomasdelcoro/24575277589

Japanexperterna.se (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/japanexperterna/15251188384/

CC BY-SA 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

 — 

Tarcil (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Brea_Tar_Pits_Elephant_Statues_1990_right.jpg

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

[Image ID: The La Brea tar-pits. A Southwest jet is nose-down in the tar, next to a stranded mastodon. In the foreground are the three wise monkeys, their faces replaced with that of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.]

[franzis-frantic-thoughts]

Who’s Afraid of Alex J. Newall? by Newt Schottelkotte is definitely worth a read to everyone who’s a fan of Rusty Quill Productions.

I count myself amongst those. Which is why I want to add to something mentioned in the article that I, alongside @nossorgs​ have special insight into:

The Transcripts.

In light of everything that has happened this year, the way people inside of RQ have been mistreated, abused, and exploited, the transcripts appear to be a minor issue. But as Newt has pointed out beautifully: They’re a symptom of something much bigger, namely disregard, miscommunication, incompetence, reliance on free fan labour and pretending to be something they’re not. In this case the producer of inclusive and accessible content.

The official RQ transcripts were launched early this year and it was immediately clear how terrible they are. Countless fans have surely reached out to RQ to let them know. After all, there’s a handy feedback form. A feedback form which, incidentally, is neither up-to-task, nor easily accessible as it isn’t linked anywhere near the transcripts, but only in the 26 January 2022 “news” update.

However, Nossorgs and I, as professionals in the language service industry, had concerns that couldn’t be addressed in the feedback form. So we sat down together and wrote a very long email, which we sent to RQ on 22 February 2022. We have received no reply.

I’m now, after checking with Nossorgs, publishing the email here, because I don’t want anyone to say “well maybe they didn’t know”. They knew. They just didn’t care.

They didn’t even care enough to fix these issues by today.

Here’s the email and all the exemplary screenshots are below a cut.

Dear Rusty Quill Team,

congratulations on launching your new website and releasing the transcripts for the RQ original shows.

Upon review of several transcripts (in particular the ones created for Rusty Quill Gaming), we wanted to voice some concerns with the company or software used to generate the transcripts, since there appears to have been a grievous lack of quality control and a large number of errors have made it to the released transcripts. Screenshots are attached and a list of general concerns can be found below.

As professional linguists, who variously have been or are currently employed as editors, translators, transcribers, or project managers in the language service sector (each with QA responsibilities), with over a decade of experience, we would highly recommend requesting a partial or total refund from the companies involved in generating these transcripts. As provided, the transcripts lack any form of serious quality control and may even indicate that the supplier(s) you have partnered with are fraudulent.

With the professional experience we have, we understand the difficulties that come with transcribing audio of this type. One speaker having multiple voices, crosstalk, and "unusual" turns of phrase (i.e. Pathfinder mechanics and terminology) being used pose great difficulties. However, the concerns we would like to voice are unrelated to the content of RQG, but basic issues that any professional linguist should have been able to avoid.

Many of the concerns we have can be traced to a lack of consistency, which could have been avoided by the simple creation and adherence to a style guide. Did your transcription supplier provide or request one? With a project as big as this, it would have been standard practice.

Please find a list of general concerns below, the file names of relevant screenshots have been added in brackets:

Many spelling and grammar errors, which indicate a lack of language skill (Spelling001 to 005). Professional linguists should only ever work in their native language to avoid such issues. There are official ISO guidelines regarding linguistic qualifications, which any agency of worth is aware of and regularly audited on.

Misspelling of player and character names and misattribution of lines (Spelling001 to 005). We do not know whether RQ provided a list of cast and character names to the transcription provider, but they should have realised that many unusual names are included and references are needed. They should have reached out and requested a list if it hadn't been provided. If it was provided, it was clearly not consulted.

Lack of organisation: The very first episode is mislabelled as episode 25 in the transcript (Episode1_mislabeled). Episode 25, in turn, only seems to be available in a word format, not as a pdf (this also seems to apply to other episodes, such as 203). The transcripts are not labelled in a consistent pattern, meaning that they are not sorted consecutively by episode number in the RQ Sharepoint, making browsing difficult (Filing001).

Lack of consistent speaker tagging: In most transcripts, the players are not distinguished from the characters they are playing, and the formatting is inconsistent in the episodes that do note in-character speech (Characters001 to 003). This is probably due to your transcription provider splitting the work over multiple people. This is a common and reasonable approach to spread the workload. However, the linguists should have agreed on a common system, or the central project manager should have dictated one. Lack of cast/character distinction renders the transcripts as good as unreadable.

Lack of basic QA regarding completion: Episode 183 includes internal formatting remarks of the supplier, which should have been deleted by them prior to delivery (CW001).

Content warnings: Listing of content warnings is inconsistent, if present at all, with one remark noting that content warnings were unavailable because they were not listed in the (fan-made) wiki (CW002). It is concerning that the transcription provider would refer to a fan-made, unofficial source, when RQ provides content warnings with all episodes in the episode notes. Surely, these are also available at RQ internally in a centralised document which could have been requested by the supplier.

We understand you are probably very busy creating and promoting your new shows and troubleshooting your new website, but transcripts of this quality actively harm your reputation as an accessible and inclusive company. The mantra "better than nothing" only applies to a certain extent here. Low-quality transcripts, such as these, are of no help to those who rely on them. Clear labelling of actors vs characters is needed in order to follow the podcast, and content warnings should have been included whether they are available on the fan wiki or not. Even if these transcripts are intended as first drafts, to be revised and polished at a later stage, they are at best unuseable and at worst dismissive towards those members of the fan community who are hard of hearing or have auditory processing issues.

Professionally, we recommend that you reach out to your supplier with the list of concerns and screenshots we have collected and request corrections. Whether or not you also request a (partial) refund is up to you, but we also recommend you do. If you do not trust your original supplier to take care of the required corrections accurately, it would be standard practice to request a quotation from another supplier and contact the original transcription provider with this quotation in order to bill them for the additional financial burden. Before choosing a (second) supplier and contracting them for all 200+ reworks, it would be advisable to do a small batch of transcripts first, in order for you to get a feeling for their quality, as well as allow them to make an accurate estimate of the effort involved and ask any questions that may already have come up.

In the language service industry, it is not uncommon to have to rework one's deliveries. Language is subjective and linguists are people. Mistakes happen. We understand this better than most fans. However, no professional, qualified linguist would have signed off on these transcripts with the feeling of a job well done. There are human errors, and there is a gross lack of basic quality assurance. Unfortunately, the RQG transcripts, as they are, fall into the latter category.

If you would like to get in touch, we would be more than happy to share our professional knowledge and experience regarding linguistic projects such as these, in order to help you avoid such problems in the future, for instance if and when you decide to add transcripts for side quests, specials, and bloopers. We are aware that you don’t usually work with fans and understand and respect the reasoning behind the decision, however, many linguists in the fan community are prepared to offer their own services as transcribers. You have a wide range of professionals in your fan community, and all of them come with the additional benefit of being familiar with the source material and understanding what format these transcripts should take in order to be of use.

With kind regards,

Spelling001

Spelling002

Spelling003

Spelling004

Spelling 005

Episode1_mislabelled

Filing001

Characters001

Characters002

Characters 003

CW001

CW002

[sablegear0]

We are proud to present - Sector Zero: A Samus x Adam Fanzine! I want to thank all the contributors for their hard work in making this zine a reality!!! I've wanted a Samus & Adam fanzine for so long, so the fact that this is now a reality is so insanely awesome!!! It would mean so much to all of us artists and writers if everyone would check out this zine!!! There is something for everyone! Please enjoy, and Happy 38th Anniversary to Metroid!

Note: The digital version of the zine is "Pay What You Want" - please set the value to $0 (the money has nowhere to go and will likely be refunded otherwise)

[insert-witty-user-name-here]

50+ Good Things from the Biden Administration

Just a list of 50+ good things the Biden Administration has done in the last 4 years because I’ve been hearing too much rhetoric that it doesn’t matter who you vote for. It does make a difference. 

Increased access to healthcare and specifically codified protections for LGBTQ+ patients against discrimination. (x) 

Strengthened women's reproductive rights by increasing access to reproductive health care, improving confidentiality to protect against criminalization for patients receiving reproductive care, and revoked Medicaid waivers from states that would exclude providers like Planned Parenthood, and more. (x)

Expanded healthcare and benefits for veterans through the PACT Act (x)

Cemented protections for pregnant and postpartum workers through the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. 

Improved access to nursing homes for those who receive Medicaid services and established, for the first time, a national minimum staffing requirement for nursing homes to ensure those in their care receive sufficient support.  (x) 

Lowered healthcare costs for those with Medicare which capped insulin for seniors at $35 a month, made vaccines free, and capped seniors’ out of pocket expenses at the pharmacy through the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Fully vaccinated 79% of American adults against COVID-19 (I know this is old news now this is a big deal) 

Banned unfair practices that hide housing fees from renters and homebuyers when moving into a new home (x) 

Reduced the mortgage insurance premium for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages and clarified that inflated rents caused by algorithmic use of sensitive nonpublic pricing and supply information violate antitrust laws. (x) 

Increased protections for those saving for retirement from predatory practices. (x)

Helped millions of households gain access to the internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. (x) 

Restored net neutrality (net neutrality is a standard which ensures broadband internet service is essential and prohibits interna providers from blocking, engaging in paid prioritization, and more.) (x)

Increased protections for loan holders as well as increased access to loans (x)

Cut fees that banks charge consumers for overdrawing on their accounts. (x)

Reaffirmed HUD’s commitment to remedy housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (which was– surprise, surprise– halted under the Trump administration). (x)

Rejoined the Paris Climate Accords.  

Listed more than 24 million acres of public lands across the country as environmentally protected and has channeled more than $18 billion dollars toward conservation projects. (And revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline amongst others). 

Invested $369 billion to reduce greenhouse emissions and promote clean energy technologies through the Inflation Reduction Act. Through the tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, renewable energy (such as wind, solar, and hydropower) has surpassed coal-fired generation in the electric power sector for the first time, making it the second-biggest source of energy behind natural gas. (x)

Strengthened protections against workplace assault through the Speak Out Act. (x) 

Increased protections for workers during the union bargaining process (x)

Is making it easier for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their bags, or fail to provide extra services when purchased. (x)  

Invested $1.2 trillion into roads, waterlines, broadband networks, airports and more allowing for more bridges, railroads, tunnels, roads, and more through the Inflation Reduction Act (which also added 670,000 jobs). (idk about you but I like driving on well maintained roads and having more rail options).  

Strengthened overtime protections for federal employees (x)

Raised the minimum wage for federal workers and contractors to $15. (x)

Strengthened protections for farmworkers by expanding the activities protected from retaliation by the National Labor Relations Act and more. (Previously anti-retaliation provisions under the National Labor Relations Act applies mostly to only U.S. citizens) (x)

Invested $80 billion for the Internal Revenue Service to hire new agents, audit the wealth, modernize its technology, and more. Additionally, created $300 billion in new revenue through corporate tax increases. (x) 

Lowered the unemployment rate to 3.5% — the lowest in 50 years. 

Canceled over $140B of student debt for nearly 40 million borrowers. (x)

Strengthened protections for sexual assault survivors, pregnant and parenting students, and LGBTQ+ students in schools through an updated Title IX rule. This updated rule strengthens sexual assault survivors rights to investigation– something that had been gutted under the Trump administration, strengthens requirements that schools provide modifications for students based on pregnancy, prohibits harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and more. (x)

Revoked an order that limited diversity and inclusion training. (x)

Cracked down on for profit colleges. (x)

Reaffirmed students’ federal civil rights protections for non-discrimination based on race, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender in schools. Specifically, the Department of Education made clear students with disabilities’ right to school, limiting the use of out of school suspensions and expulsions against them. (x) (x) 

Enhanced the Civil Rights Data Collection, a national survey that captures data on students’ equal access to educational opportunities. These changes will improve the tracking of civil rights violations for students, critical for advocates to respond to instances of discrimination. 

Provided guidance on how colleges and universities can still uphold racial diversity in higher education following the Supreme Court decision overturning affirmative action. (x) 

Issued a federal pardon to all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. Additionally, the DEA is taking steps to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance instead of a Schedule I, limiting punishment for possession in the future. (x) 

Changed drug charges related to crack offenses, now charging crack offenses as powder cocaine offenses. This is a big step towards ending the racial disparity that punishes crack offenses with greater severity than offenses involving the same amount of powder cocaine. (x) 

Lowered the cost of local calls for incarcerated people through the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act as well as increased access for video calls (especially impactful for incarcerated people with disabilities). (x) 

Enacted policing reforms that banned chokeholds, restricted no-knock entries, and restricted the transfer of military equipment to local police departments. (x)

Established the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) which will better track police officer misconduct. This database will vet federal law enforcement candidates who have a history of misconduct from being rehired and will make it easier and faster to charge police officers under the Death in Custody Reporting Act. (x) 

Added disability as a protected characteristic alongside race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. Under the law, police officers are prohibited from profiling people based on these characteristics. …It sadly happens anyway but now there’s an added legal protection which means a mechanism to convict police officers should they break the law. (x) 

Required federal prisons to place incarcerated individuals consistent with their chosen pronouns and gender identity. (x) 

Expanded gun background checks by narrowing the “boyfriend” loophole to keep guns out of the hands of convicted dating partners, strengthening requirements for registering as a licensed gun dealer (closing the “gun show loophole”), and more through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.  (x) 

Increased mental health programs within police departments to support officers experiencing substance use disorders, mental health issues, or trauma from their duties. (x)

Lifted Trump era restrictions on the use of consent decrees. The Justice Department uses consent decrees to force local government agencies (like police departments) to eliminate bad practices (such as widespread abuse and misconduct) that infringe on peoples’ civil rights. (x) 

Improved reporting of hate crimes through the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (x) 

Nominated the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court 

Confirmed 200 lifetime judges to federal courts, confirming historic numbers of women, people of color, and other judges who have long been excluded from our federal court system. (64% are women, 63% are people of color) 

Designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) status for immigrants from Cameroon, Haiti, ​​El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sudan, and more. (x) 

Ended the discriminatory Muslim and African bans (x). 

Provided a pathway to citizenship for spouses of U.S. citizens that have been living in the country without documentation. (x) 

Expanded healthcare to DACA recipients (x) 

This one is… barely a win but not by fault of the Biden Administration. The Department of Homeland Security as of Feb 2023 has reunited nearly 700 immigrant children that were separated from their families under Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy. From 2017-2021, 3,881 children were separated from their families. About 74% of those have been reunited with their families: 2,176 before the task force was created and 689 afterward. But that still leaves nearly 1,000 children who remain tragically separated from their families from under the Trump Administration. (x)

(okay this one is maybe only exciting for me who’s a census nerd) Revised federal standards for the collection of race and ethnicity data, allowing for federal data that better reflect the country’s diversity. Now, government forms will include a Middle Eastern/ North African category (when previously those individuals would check “white”). Additionally, forms will now have combined the race & ethnicity question allowing for individuals to check “Latino/a” as their race (previously Latine individuals would be encouraged to check “Latino” for ethnicity and “white” for race… which doesn’t really resonate with many folks). (x) (I know this sounds boring but let me tell you this is BIG when it comes to better data collection– and better advocacy!).

Rescinded a Trump order that would have excluded undocumented immigrants from the 2020 Census which would have taken away critical funds from those communities. 

Required the U.S. federal government and all U.S. states and territories to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages by passing the Respect for Marriage Act, repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.

Reversed Trump’stransgender military ban. 

Proposed investments in a lot of programs including universal pre-k, green energy, mental health programs across all sectors, a national medical leave program for all workers and more. (x) 

Last… let’s also not forget all the truly terrible things Trump did when he was in office. If you need a reminder, scroll this list, this one mostly for giggles + horror, for actual horror about what a Trump presidency has in store, learn about ‘Project 2025’ from the Heritage Foundation. I know this post is about reasons to vote FOR Biden but let’s not forget the many, many reasons to vote for him over Trump. 

So, there it is, 50+ reasons to vote for Biden in the 2024 Election. 

Check your voter registration here, make a plan to vote, and encourage your friends to vote as well. 

All in all, yeah… there’s a lot of shitty things still happening. There’s always going to be shit but things aren’t going to change on their own. And that change starts (it certainly doesn’t end) with voting. 

Go vote in November. 

[acceptccnow]

High-Risk Credit Card Processing: Overcoming the Challenges

Article by Jonathan Bomser | CEO | Accept-Credit-Cards-Now.com

In today's ever-changing digital landscape, businesses, regardless of their size, are flocking to e-commerce to connect with a global clientele. However, for specific industries categorized as high-risk, the journey towards accepting credit card payments is riddled with distinctive challenges. High-risk credit card processing spans sectors such as CBD sales, credit repair, and others, which frequently grapple with stringent regulations and heightened scrutiny. In this piece, we dive deep into the realm of high-risk payment processing, shedding light on the obstacles that merchants face and unveiling the strategies available to expertly navigate this intricate terrain.

DOWNLOAD THE HIGH RISK CREDIT CARD INFOGRAPHIC HERE

Understanding the Complex World of High-Risk Payment Processing High-risk payment processing casts a wide net, encompassing various industries, from credit repair services to CBD product sales. This classification often arises from factors like heightened chargeback rates, intricate regulatory frameworks, or perceived risks to a company's reputation. Merchants operating in these sectors frequently encounter hurdles when seeking payment processing solutions due to these perceived risks.

The Indispensable Role of High-Risk Merchant Accounts For businesses entrenched in high-risk domains, obtaining a high-risk merchant account is of paramount importance. This specialized account is meticulously tailored to meet the unique needs of high-risk sectors. It provides a level of security and flexibility that conventional merchant accounts may not offer, allowing businesses to navigate the world of credit card payments with enhanced confidence.

Navigating the Maze of Regulatory Hurdles At the heart of high-risk credit card processing are the ever-evolving regulatory challenges. Industries such as CBD and credit repair are entangled in a web of regulations that vary across jurisdictions. Staying up-to-date with these regulatory intricacies and ensuring compliance is absolutely essential. Collaborating with payment processors well-versed in the multifaceted regulations governing these industries is a key strategy for merchants to overcome this hurdle.

Mitigating Fraud and Chargebacks High-risk sectors often contend with a higher incidence of fraud and chargebacks. This predicament can be attributed to factors such as the digital nature of transactions or the perceived risk inherent in these industries. Implementing robust fraud prevention measures, coupled with transparent product information, can bolster customer trust and reduce the likelihood of chargebacks.

The Pivotal Role of Payment Gateways in High-Risk Processing Payment gateways play an indispensable role in high-risk credit card processing. They serve as the conduits for secure and seamless transactions between merchants and customers. Opting for a payment gateway that specializes in high-risk industries equips merchants with the necessary security features and fraud detection tools to fortify transactions.

Building the Foundations of Customer Trust Operating within a high-risk sector necessitates the prioritization of trust-building with customers. Clear, transparent communication regarding product offerings, pricing, and refund policies is of paramount importance. Displaying security certifications and leveraging recognized payment logos can provide reassurance to customers, encouraging them to complete their purchases.

Selecting the Ideal Partner for Merchant Processing Services In the intricate realm of high-risk credit card processing, the choice of payment processing service provider can prove to be a game-changer. Reputable Merchant Processing Services offer tailor-made solutions for high-risk industries, encompassing CBD, credit repair, and more. Armed with expertise, merchants can navigate the labyrinthine challenges of high-risk payment processing while ensuring security, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

While high-risk credit card processing undeniably presents its share of challenges, businesses entrenched in such sectors can overcome them through strategic approaches and savvy partnerships. By securing high-risk merchant accounts, adhering to regulatory mandates, and investing in trustworthy payment gateways, merchants can assert their credibility within their industries. In an e-commerce landscape that continually evolves, embracing the distinctive demands of high-risk payment processing isn't merely a necessity; it represents a pathway to growth and success.

[gonzalez756]

12 Advantages and Disadvantages of ECommerce | Imagency Media

The rapid growth of eCommerce has transformed the way businesses operate, bringing both remarkable advantages and notable challenges. Understanding these can help businesses leverage eCommerce to its fullest potential or address its drawbacks effectively. Let’s dive into 12 key advantages and disadvantages of eCommerce.

Advantages of eCommerce

Global Reach eCommerce breaks down geographical barriers, allowing businesses to reach customers worldwide. This expansive reach helps businesses tap into new markets and grow their customer base beyond local limitations.

Lower Operational Costs Running an online store can be significantly cheaper than maintaining a physical storefront. Costs like rent, utilities, and staffing are greatly reduced, allowing businesses to reinvest savings into marketing and product development.

24/7 Availability Unlike traditional stores, eCommerce sites operate round the clock. This availability caters to customers in different time zones, providing a seamless shopping experience anytime, anywhere.

Personalization and Customer Experience eCommerce platforms can gather data on customer behavior, preferences, and purchase history, allowing businesses to offer personalized recommendations and improve the overall shopping experience.

Easy Scaling and Growth Scaling an online business is much simpler than expanding a brick-and-mortar store. Adding new products or services, targeting new demographics, and adjusting to market demands can be done quickly and efficiently.

Enhanced Marketing Opportunities Digital marketing strategies such as social media advertising, email marketing, and SEO are particularly effective for eCommerce. These channels allow businesses to target specific audiences and track results in real-time.

Disadvantages of eCommerce

Lack of Personal Touch Despite technological advances, online shopping often lacks the personal interaction found in physical stores. This absence of human touch can make it harder to build customer loyalty.

Security and Privacy Concerns With the rise in cybercrime, protecting customer data is a major concern for eCommerce businesses. Ensuring robust security measures is critical but can be costly and complex.

Dependence on Technology eCommerce heavily relies on technology, including websites, payment gateways, and software. Technical glitches, downtime, or slow-loading pages can lead to lost sales and damage to the brand’s reputation.

High Competition and Price Wars The ease of starting an online store has led to increased competition, making it difficult for smaller businesses to stand out. Price wars are common, often squeezing profit margins.

Shipping and Logistics Challenges While eCommerce allows businesses to reach a global audience, shipping products efficiently can be complex and costly. Issues like delayed deliveries, high shipping fees, and logistics mishaps can affect customer satisfaction.

Difficulty in Handling Returns and Refunds Returns are more prevalent in eCommerce, especially in fashion and electronics sectors. Handling returns and refunds can be costly and time-consuming, often eroding profit margins.

Conclusion

eCommerce offers vast opportunities for growth, flexibility, and global reach, but it also comes with challenges that businesses must address. By understanding these advantages and disadvantages, companies can better strategize and create a seamless, customer-friendly eCommerce experience.

Contact us

Imagency Media can help you navigate the eCommerce landscape, providing expert insights and tailored solutions to maximize your online success.

[landrysg]

Here is one very simple way to see the distortions embodied in [taxing unrealized capital gains]. … Say you have a start-up, and it becomes valued at $10 billion after a quick growth spurt. But still you aren’t making money yet, but nonetheless your overall portfolio is reasonably liquid because your last company did well and you sold it. So, if I follow Jason [Furman] and the plan document correctly, in the year after that valuation you have to pay one-fifth of the tax liability on that gain, or say one-fifth of one-fourth of the $10 billion, or $500 million … Obviously you can vary these exact numbers, but the general point remains. … That just seems like a bad investment to me! … Then suppose that, the year after, the start-up crashes and has to be liquidated at a very low value. There isn’t any refund from the tax man. So you have lost not only your investment but … [significantly] more, again noting the exact numbers can vary a bit here. … Why would you enter into deals like this? But of course a lot of start-up sectors have return structures very much like that, namely some high initial valuations but with reasonably high percentages of a later crash. Venture capital drives so much of the most productive sectors of our economy, so why are we whacking it like this? When so many promising developments in biotech and green energy seem to be on the way? Why should we want to crush venture capital like this?

[allthecanadianpolitics]

"The Ontario government is appealing a court decision that struck down a law limiting wages for public-sector workers.

In the notice of appeal filed in Ontario's top court on Thursday, the province argues the judge erred in ruling that Bill 124 infringes on the applicants' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

 In his decision on Nov. 29, Justice Markus Koehnen deemed the law unconstitutional.

Groups representing several hundred thousand public sector employees had challenged the constitutionality of the 2019 law that capped wage increases for Ontario Public Service employees as well as broader public sector workers at one per cent per year.

As part of the decision, Koehnen said Ontario has not explained why it was necessary to infringe on constitutional rights to impose wage constraints while at the same time providing tax cuts or licence plate sticker refunds more than 10 times larger than the savings from the wage-restraint measure.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) said it's outraged by the government's decision to appeal.

"Bill 124 has severely impacted workers' living standards and worsened issues like the staffing crisis in our overburdened health-care system," OFL president Patty Coates said in a news release.

"Right now, the Ford government should be focused on taking meaningful action to address the simultaneous cost-of-living and health care crises in this province. Instead, they are choosing to spend public dollars to fight workers in court," added Coates."

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[digital-1313]

Digital marketing in Mohali

Digital marketing is the use of digital channels to market products. Also known as online marketing, digital marketing promotes brands and connects them to potential customers via the Internet. There are several digital marketing companies in Mohali. There are some digital marketing companies in Mohali - Wood Box Digital Media, Dezcode, Solution1313, Social Win, Digi Hawks Marketing, etc. These all companies are Google-verified companies in Mohali. These companies provide content marketing, website marketing, pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, social media marketing, affiliate marketing, video marketing, text messaging, etc. These companies' fees are under 20000-40000 rupees. Furthermore,   These companies provide all gadgets to the student needs. In my opinion solution 1313 is best in all of these. This company is located on Airport road Mohali sector-82. This company provides website layout and development, Shopify website development, Website hosting, CMS-based websites, computer analysis, UI\UX wireframing, Functional systems, Test, review and launch, as well, website maintenance, etc. You can contact Solution 1313 by dialing +919216041313. This website company provides 24/7 support as well as protection services for its projects. Solution1313 is one of the custom web development companies in India. 

In the end, web development in India is a totally popular choice for every person. Moreover, Everyone desires to create a lovely and practical website for his or her business. As well as,  You can get a large variety of web development services in India at affordable prices and high quality. It is easy to learn for beigners. Teenagers can also do digital marketing. Anyone can start it in any age. People can start their own business through digital marketing .Nowadays individuals are making money through web marketing. It's a partime work and this will pay a good income denizens. There are many companies which pays good refunds. Persons can also gives adds of their own products and business. People can do work from home. It's a best business for teenagers and ladies. Moreover, this work has not much requirments it's need only one laptop and good wifi. There are many people who gives online classes. In last individuals should have to learn digital marketing. 

[refund-specialist-system]

Achieve work-life balance with the Refund Specialist System, helping young mums earn and grow from home. Discover the full story…

[partisan-by-default]

The consumer watchdog said $98 million is being refunded for surprise overdraft fees, while another $22 million is being refunded for multiple insufficient fund fees levied on a single transaction.

The CFPB also accused companies of taking in “millions in fake revenue” by charging monthly fees for paper bank statements that they never attempted to deliver, which will be refunded to customers.

Other junk fees levied on bank account deposits, auto loan servicing and international money transfers will also be refunded, according to the agency.

“The CFPB continues to uncover junk fee scams that violate the law and undermine consumer trust,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a press release. “We will continue to combat the illegal fees cropping up in consumer finance markets.”

The recent efforts by the consumer watchdog to curb the extra charges in the financial sector come amid a larger Biden administration push to crack down on “hidden and bogus” fees throughout the economy. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Wednesday that it is proposing a rule that would require companies to include all mandatory fees up front, effectively banning “junk fees.”

[azure-cherie]

Doing paid readings for 4.84$ / 400 INR today for your tools :

What does this include?

I will be mentioning what are the things you can borrow energy or healing or protection from , from herbs to stones to runes , to random objects my intuition tells me about.

How can you harness their energy.

Why and which sector you'll be benefitting in by using this .

Additional information about deities who want to connect to you . If I get any .

Pre payments only no refunds, your reading will reach you within max extension of 2 days in case of problems . Exclusive discount for the first 3 people to register .

I only use gpay

Dm for details 🌷

[ekanisdraws]

Commissions are Open! :D

Commissions are now open, I am accepting payment through PayPal or in the form of discord nitro (Details are in my carrd attached is the english and mandarin versions of my carrd)

Terms and Conditions are as follows:

For Discord Nitro: After receiving the commission, I will complete half of the art work and send it over chat (Discord/Email), after receiving the nitro I will then complete the rest of the artwork and once it's completed, send it over (It will be scanned and can be sent using email if you'd like).

For money transactions: There must at least be a 50% down payment made before I start the commission. The rest of the amount can be paid after I have completed the piece but before I scan and send the final piece. All money transactions will be made through PayPal.

All Prices are in USD.

There will no No refunds.

Commissions are not to be used commercially

I do not draw backgrounds

Nothing made by me may be used in blockchain related technology, this includes NFTs, cryptocurrency, or future inventions in the sector.

Regular updates to the piece will be sent throughout this entire process if requested.

If you are interested please look below to find out more and see some of my art work samples :D

Disclaimer: The first drawing art style is only applicable for dark skinned people due to the nature of it, for lighter skinned models it will be more similar to the second piece (with more details & care; the piece shown was done in a bit of a rush due to time constraint)

I won't be accepting any: - nsfw commissions - full body pieces unless for 4 months nitro/$44 (also stated below) though I am unable to guarantee the quality of the piece - furry/mecha

What I'm offering are:

A semi-realisitc/realistic drawing of your character/person of choice and in any pose for 3 months of discord nitro classic/$33. I will require reference images of: your character / person of choice, the pose of choice, if it is a character I will also need a reference image of a real life person that has a face that you like (so that I can reference things like nose and face shape)

A realism piece of any animal of your choosing for 1 year nitro classic. For this I will require a clear image of the animal in the position you want. Please take note that I will not add in full backgrounds and will only draw in items that the animal is interacting with. (If you choose to commission this it may take more time as compared to people to deliver but regular updates will be sent over chat)

Please note that I do not have the fastest drawing speed, drawing duration will differ based on my schedule & the complexity of the piece commissioned. Character/people artworks may take up to a few weeks or a month. Animal artworks can take up to a few months to complete based on my schedule. Usually between 1-3months if I am busy. (eg. the koala took approximately 3 months to complete)

All art works will be done using traditional materials such as paper and pen/pencil depending on whether you choose character/person/animals. character/person (Pen), animal (Pencil)

The finished artwork will be scanned and sent to you via discord/email depending on what you prefer.

There will be 3 slots for character/people commissions and 1 slot for animal commissions for now.

Thank you everyone :D

Reblogs are appreciated :D

Commission Status: 0/3 Character/Person 0/1 Animal

[goviinbookeeping]

Goviin Bookkeeping & Taxation: Your Trusted Tax Consultants in Dubai

Are you struggling with VAT registration or in need of assistance with Tax compliance, return filing, or tax agent services to minimize losses? We understand the importance of maintaining streamlined financial records. That's why we offer comprehensive services, including audits, VAT e-filing assistance, managing tax penalties and refunds, and other tax residency services. Let us help you achieve financial efficiency with our top-notch bookkeeping and accounting services.

At Goviin, we understand the importance of maintaining accurate financial records and complying with VAT regulations. Whether you need help with VAT return filing, tax agent support, or navigating complex tax laws, our team is here to provide tailored solutions to meet your needs.

As certified Tax Consultants in Dubai, recognized by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) in the UAE, we specialize in providing professional financial management services and comprehensive VAT-related solutions. With our extensive expertise and dedication, we ensure that your business remains compliant with the ever-evolving tax landscape in Dubai.

Since the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2018, it has significantly impacted businesses across various sectors. With a standard rate of 5% applied to a wide range of services, adherence to VAT regulations is essential to avoid penalties and ensure smooth operations.

Navigating the complexities of VAT compliance can be daunting, but with Goviin Bookkeeping & Taxation by your side, you can rest assured knowing that your tax obligations are in capable hands. Let us help you streamline your VAT processes and minimize risks, allowing you to focus on what matters most – growing your business.