Considering that this book has been sitting here, for quite some
time without a review, (which doesn't mean it hasn't sold
reasonably well - it may have well done so) I'll lay out its
first review.
First, the fact that this book exists, is a milestone in
e-commerce, and in self-publishing (through Canada's Trafford, no
less), considering that it's a topic that is extremely
specialized, boring, somewhat sterile, complicated yet in so many
ways present everywhere, at all times, considering there's almost
1 million ATM's, and 20 million points of sale/ merchants, around
the world taking credit cards.
If the objective of the author was to lend credibility to his
consulting business, he's succeeded considering the wealth of
information, extremely up-to-date, realistically and in a well
organized manner, on credit cards and points of sale, coupled
with the risk of fraud in that activity.
The author succeeds in giving confidence to merchants in
accepting credit cards, by explaining the litany of security
aspects, protection mechanisms and procedures that are present
during the transactions. I won't repeat what the book discusses,
but suffice to say that there are in excess of 40 chapters, most
short or medium in length, touching upon essential topics.
Obviously, with so many areas, none can be looked at in profound
detail, but this is not a drawback, considering that this book is
more of an introduction, than a how-to manual for websites,
ecommerce, software choices, or advanced security suggestions.
For those in the banking system, or working at merchant
locations, the author's instruction amounts to learning an
entirely new language, such is the terminology, the procedures,
the aspects of thinking and analyzing the "usage" aspects of
credit cards as forms of payment. As such, it can clarify,
justify, make coherent various strategies and requirements that
are seen at points of sales, and at banks for those handling
transactions which up until now were perhaps seen in isolation,
vs. as part of a greater whole, or of a larger encompassing
strategy. It assigns proper names to specific procedures and
scenarios and requirements.
For someone working in accounting, accounts receivable, at the
cash, or running a business, (a store, for example), the book is
an education on the struggle of maintaining the course vs.
abusers and fraudsters, and in how potentially difficult it can
be for store owners in maintaining their banking relationship in
face of the same abusers of "Credit cards" as forms of payment.
The author suggests that there are more volumes to be written in
the future, clearly admitting that a lot more could have been
said. Speaking for myself, a next volume would be welcome.
Lastly, perhaps 10 pages of repetition could have been edited
out of the book (such as about vbv, or securecode) or even the 4
or 5 typos seen along the 200 or so pages of the book, for
example, but, as an INTRODUCTION to the subject matter, clearly,
the author is agile in educating the reader on credit cards and
security and how they must be handled by all the parties
involved (acquirers, issuers, shoppers, merchants, etc.)
