Some Interchange Insight From Down Under

G'day Patti. Just read your article about interchange fees ["Words Over Interchange Heating Up," By Patti Murphy, The Green Sheet, May 23, 2005, issue 05:05:02]. Good article. I have been fairly close to all the goings-on in Australia. There is no doubt that the merchant lobby is strong here and that the major retailers will screw as much as they can out of interchange or anything else. And there is some justification for that. But reading [Noah J.] Hanft's comments shows that the card schemes still don't understand the importance of the acquiring side of this business. All they seem to be interested in is the number of cardholders they have out there.

Why? Because most merchants accept both cards. Your comments are spot on. Which consumers … should fall down and give thanks? In Australia, it is neither if you listen to what their respective lobby groups have to say. - Don Retalic [from Australia]

How Many ISOs Exist in the Industry?

I am trying to gain a better understanding of ISOs in the industry. For instance, how many of them there are, their relative size ranges, etc. Can you point me in the right direction? - Mike Barnes

Mike,

While I have no specific answers to your questions, I will point you to GSQ Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2004). Each year we publish a GSQ regarding the ISO/merchant level salesperson market. Actual numbers always prove to be elusive in this industry. All GSQs dating back to May 1999 are available online at www.greensheet.com/gsq/ in the GSQ archive.

Editor

Private Messages on MLS Forum

I've seen The Green Sheet delete posts on [GS Online's] MLS Forum. Will The Green Sheet delete private messages?

- kagtdthomas

kagtdthomas,

The Green Sheet does not delete private messages. Only the receiver of private messages may delete them.

Editor