VFP-based App?

Q: Does anyone know of a point-of-sale credit card processing program that is easily integrated with a VFP app, e.g., as a COM server/ActiveX control or VFP-based app? Specifically, we need to be able to process individual transactions while on the phone with a customer as well as process smallish batches (few hundred at a time).

A: -This is probably of no use to you if you're outside the UK, but we use Commidea (www.commidea.com). Even if they don't provide for the US market, I'm sure they'd know who does. A better idea (assuming you're already a registered Merchant) is to contact the credit card companies and your bank for approved suppliers. -Commidea's software is good. Their batch software works by processing a simple fixed length record text file, which you can generate easily enough on an ad-hoc basis. Then it runs through the authorisation process and posts authorisation/error/declined codes on the end of each record. Then you read it back in. We were putting through 1500+ transactions a day before Christmas with no trouble. Getting it working was surprisingly straightforward. You can also key in one off transactions through it from a single WS, but these have to be posted back to the order processing system manually. They also do a version which works client/server in real time, which apparently integrates well with most Windows development tools. I'll give their rep a call tomorrow, because I bought an add-on module from them today, so she likes me - I'll

see if she has any ideas for you. OT, but some of you may find it relevant. I don't know if you have this anywhere else or if it's a UK thing, but on the back of all credit cards now, there is a little three digit number after the main card number. The idea is that if you can verify that number, you know that the card is in the customer's possession (if the physical card is stolen then it still won't help). The module I bought will verify it, and I think it's well worth experimenting with because we're sick of being scammed over both the phone and the Internet. Is anyone else doing mail order or e-commerce finding that the problem of fraud is very rapidly growing?