Behind the Curtains

Behind the Curtains

AN INSIDER LOOK

WITH EZFACILITY’S

PAYMENT SPECIALIST

JAMES MCLAUGHLIN

For the second edition of EZFacility’s

Employee Spotlight Series, we

have James McLaughlin, Payment

Specialist, Constellation Payments

liaison and avid New York sports

fan! James is here to enlighten

us about the inner workings of

EZFacility’s preferred partner and

top-industry merchant service

provider, Constellation Payments

(CSI Pay). But first, let’s get to know

the man himself.

James, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak

with us. How long have you been with EZFacility and have you always held the

role of Payment Specialist?

I’m going to hit the two-year mark this January, which is almost unbelievable. I

can’t believe how time flies! I actually started in the role of Support Representative

where I assisted EZFacility clients in implementing their business models with our

software, as well as investigating/solving any technical issues they came across.

I assumed the role of Payment Specialist within the last few months.

Wow! So, at this point, you must be quite familiar with EZFacility’s

all-in-one, web-based software. Tell us a little about the role

you’re in now.

As the Payment Specialist at EZFacility, I am the company’s

direct liaison to CSIPay and handle everything from application

to integration. I assist clients in implementing their Constellation

Payments merchant account, ensuring a smooth and seamless

setup for payment processing that is fully integrated with

EZFacility’s software.

What is your favorite part of your role here at EZFacility?

I enjoy the exposure to every part of the company. I get to work

with both EZFacility and CampSite with their support, training, development, and

management teams.

I hear there are some huge changes regarding payment processing in the U.S.

this year. Will Constellation Payments be affected by this change? And if so, what

is the plan of action, so to speak?

There most definitely are some major changes taking place. As many people

know, the way credit card payments are processed is changing. EMV was actually

released this past October. EZFacility and CSIPay will both be affected by this

change, but not in a bad way. Both companies have been working together to

become EMV compliant within our software and offered hardware.

What is EMV?

EMV is actually an acronym and it stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa. It’s

a new standard for credit cards. Cards will now contain a tiny computer chip that

is used to authenticate transactions. This change is being made to help combat

preventable credit card fraud.

Very interesting. What were we (and most of America) using before EMV?

Before EMV, we were using magnetic stripe cards. As most people know from

recent history, these cards were very vulnerable to fraud. This has been evident in

the ever increasing use of card skimmers-malicious card readers used by identity

thieves to collect the data off the card’s magnetic stripe—planted on real

payment terminals such as ATM’s, ticketing machines, and gas pumps.

Can you tell us some of the benefits that come with switching to EMV?

The most important benefit of switching to EMV is the shift in liability. Becoming

EMV compliant helps to take the accountability off of merchants (our customers).

Any breach of an EMV compliant merchant would place the legal responsibility

on the card issuer. If you do have a breach and are NOT EMV compliant, you may

incur a portion of the damages.

I see. So, how will EMV affect EZFacility and their clients?

The biggest change is going to be the new terminals that will be offered. These

terminals will look different than the magnetic stripe readers our clients are used to.

The new terminals will still have a stripe reader to take payments the old fashioned

way, but will also read chip and PIN cards. Integrated EMV terminals supplied

exclusively by Constellation Payments have been adapted to interface directly

with our software.

What is the most important thing you want clients to know about EMV?

It is extremely important to become compliant. No one wants to be a victim of fraud,

especially when all of the risk may fall on you. Protect yourself by becoming compliant!

I'm sure after learning about the potential liability of NOT switching, our readers

will heed your warning! Thank you so much again for educating us about both your

role as Payment Specialist and the upcoming changes involving EZFacility and EMV.

I have one last question for you before you go—and it’s possibly the most important

of the day: If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Hmmmmmm. I would have to say a bear—maybe a Grizzly—because they are a

giant, feared animal. Not to mention they are extremely strong, and they get to

sleep for the entire winter. What could be better than that?

Absolutely nothing—can’t argue with that! Thanks again for chatting with us

today, James. Check back with us for more employee spotlights as well as updates

and upcoming features.