ETA Brief: How to Use Payment Technology during COVID-19

In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, ETA is creating materials to help consumers, merchants and payment professionals understand the ways the payments technology industry stands ready to assist. 

Unprecedented times call for creative solutions, and the payments technology industry offers many different opportunities to people to support their communities and each other in a safe and effective manner with little to no physical contact, in-person and online.

ETA, the trade association for the payments technology ecosystem, has compiled some tips to support your local community and stay safe physically and technologically while using payment technology during the COVID-19 crisis.  The payments ecosystem offers a lot of opportunities and diverse ways to carry on with commerce, continue to make purchases securely, and support local economies.

Below are some tips, advice, and information on what services are safe and effective to use while purchasing from home and operating with limited physical contact with one another.

Use the Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms to support hourly workers at your favorite restaurants, bars, salons, and more!

Many of our establishments are staffed by hourly-workers who risk losing income in the face of COVID-19. Many communities across the country have looked to peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms like Venmo, PayPal, Square’s Cash App and Zelle to facilitate much-needed fundraising for these workers in need.  Consumers are compiling lists in shared online spaces that allow users of these apps who are looking to support people in their local community buy making an “advanced tip” or appreciation contribution.  P2P companies allow people to make direct payments to others online securely from their smart devices) and have user-friendly and intuitive platforms that are typically free to use. Payments made within the P2P market are immediate but take a few days to then be transferred into a bank account.

Considerations: P2P platforms are highly secure and deploy advanced security to keep consumer information safe. However, consumers must be cautious and verify their intended target before sending funds via these services. Make sure to verify that you are sending funds to the correct person, and that they are verified members of your community. It may be possible to cancel certain P2P transactions in the event of a mistake, but the best way to avoid headaches is to make sure all the information is correct before you hit send. To access money once received on P2P market immediately, a small fee is charged. Otherwise, money is transferred from a P2P platform to a bank account within 3 days.

Gift cards help small businesses – and are available for secure purchase online.

Many merchants are also offering gift card sales online to help support their businesses during closures and reduced business due to COVID-19. Gift cards sold online offer small businesses revenue in a time of crisis while also providing consumers with a safe, secure and instant way to support their favorite community businesses. Consumers can rest assured that payments technology will power their secure online transaction, quickly supply businesses in their community with funds and allow their payment to be honored in the future when needed.

Pay online and get delivered (or pick up)!

Many of your favorite restaurants, retail stores, grocers, pharmacies, and businesses have online and app-based stores to buy your favorite products and necessities. Secure payment can be made online for delivery or pick up. Payments made online are made in secure environments that use technology including tokenization, encryption and artificial intelligence to keep payment data secure while processing transactions quickly. This minimizes time spent in public while allowing you to remain in the comfort of your home and also helps consumers maintain a sense of normalcy with products and services available to them online. Companies often have reoccurring, or automated, purchasing options for regular deliveries with safe credit-card storage on their online platforms. For more information on eCommerce, payments security and COVID-19, read ETA’s eCommerce security guide here.

Support your favorite charities through secure online donation platforms!

Many non-profits and charities are facing increased demands on their programs, services, and supplies. Consider donating to your favorite organization, cause, or an emergency fund through an online donation made via credit card through their secure payment portals.

Considerations: Make sure that the fund or charity is a registered 501C3. You can do this by searching more information about them on GuideStar or getting in contact with the organization’s development office.

Clean legacy machines, credit cards, PIN on glass, and all transaction surfaces regularly!

As a merchant, the safety of your clientele is of the utmost importance. Legacy & smart terminals enable business to be carried out both inside the business location, as well as at the customer’s doorstep. When a transaction must be carried out in person, make sure to maintain a safe distance you’re your customer – 6 feet is suggested by health experts  –  and wipe down the surface of the legacy machine before and after use. If a receipt can be sent electronically, consider emailing or texting. Experts believe that COVID-19 can stay up to 5 days on plastic (cards, terminals) ), 4 days on paper (cash and  receipts), and 8 hours on surgical gloves (a safety precaution that many merchants are using in stores and with delivery employees). Consumers should also consider wiping down cards after use.

Considerations: Ensure that staff handling credit cards, legacy machines, and those who interface with customers are properly equipped with hand sanitizer, sanitation wipes, and gloves. Wipe down all surfaces engaged in transaction after each use. Use contactless where possible.

Contactless can help deter the spread of COVID-19 when face2face commerce is unavoidable!

Many credit cards and smartphone mobile wallets are contactless-enabled. This means that consumers can simply (and securely) “tap” their card or their cell device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal at a check-out counter to pay for goods and services. This enables consumers to avoid handing over cash or multiple people touching credit cards. For more information on how contactless payments work, click here.

Considerations: Check to see if this symbol:  is on the front or back of your card. If so, your card is enabled to make contactless transactions. Look for this symbol on a merchant terminal: . If the merchant’s terminal or storefront has the symbol, it can accept contactless payment methods.

Avoid online scams with extra due diligence!

Unfortunately, online scams can proliferate in times like these. Bad actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. It is imperative to search through your received communications (both work and personal) with extra due diligence. When receiving an email, we suggest that you look at the full address of the sender to make sure that the sender or domain is familiar, and even contact them separately if being asked for sensitive information. If there is an imagine or a link in the email, be wary before opening. One precaution to take with links is to hover your mouse over the link or image to see the true URL that is linked.

Considerations: Check to make sure the email is from a familiar contact of domain. When in doubt, make no assumptions- contact the sender (company, colleague, client) separately- by phone if possible -to verify.