It recently came to my attention that QuickBooks is notifying registered users of their POS software and hardware as well as the Cash Register Plus software and hardware that users of their pin pads purchased before 10/2009 are not PCI compliant. If you haven’t heard of PCI Compliance then you may have a problem. If your equipment is older than mid 2009 you may have a problem.

Every vendor that accepts credit cards for payment whether online, in person or over the phone is required to be PCI complaint. There is great information about PCI Compliance at PCI Compliance Online Guide and at the Visa Partner Network. You can also check with your hardware vendor about the equipment that you currently own. As for software – many small businesses own some version of Intuit’s QuickBooks which has white papers explaining how to make your system complaint. They can be accessed at http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/papb.aspx .

They penalty for not being complaint is a fine in most cases but can result in your not being able to accept credit cards. Check your software, hardware and processes to make sure you are compliant before an issue arises.

Other PCI Sites –

Visa Rick Management
PCI Security Standards Council

Self Assessment Questionnaire