The busy holiday season is here – and it’s your time to shine.

It’s the perfect opportunity to boost sales, reach new customers, and set your business up for a strong start in the new year.

But it’s not all sugarplums and candy canes.

With the surge in shopping comes a surge in disputes and chargebacks, which can cost you money, time, and focus.

As a bank that values the gift businesses like yours bring to our local communities, we want to help you stay protected. Here are some tips to help you prevent disputes and chargebacks, so you can stay focused on what you do best: selling.

Tips to Help Prevent Holiday Disputes & Chargebacks

• Provide clear, detailed product or service descriptions so customers understand exactly what they’re purchasing.
• Clearly display refund, exchange, and return policies, and have customer acknowledge them at checkout.
• For online orders, send order confirmations, shipping details, tracking information, and estimated delivery dates.
• Don’t charge the customer until the order has shipped.
• If delivery timing changes, notify the customer promptly and in writing.
• Issue refunds or credits for returned or exchanged items quickly.
• Require a signature for high-value orders.
• Use clear, recognizable billing descriptors so customers can easily identify charges.
• Keep thorough records: receipts, signed orders, order updates, delivery confirmations, and customer communications.
• For curbside or in-store pickup, verify identity with an ID. If someone else is picking up, check their ID and document their name.
• If a customer requests a credit that isn’t due, respond in writing with a clear explanation.
• For recurring payments, provide advance notice of upcoming charges or changes.
• If a customer cancels a recurring payment, process it promptly.
• If a dispute occurs, respond quickly with supporting documentation, such as order details, proof of delivery, and your policies.
• Make it easy for customers to reach you. A quick communication can resolve issues before they escalate.

More ways Avidia is here to help your business succeed

To help businesses like yours accept card payments easily and affordably, Avidia has partnered with Elavon.  For more than 30 years, Elevon has helped businesses of every size provide secure payments that drive revenue and customer satisfaction. Their simple, solutions allow you to accept secure payments wherever your business takes you – in-person, online, or on the go.

To learn more about how they can help your business during the holidays and all year long, visit www.avidiabank.com/merchant-services/ .