Credit Card Scam
NLA has received a fraud alert from our credit card processor, Elavon, which is part of U.S. Bank Corp. It applies to everyone who accepts credit cards.
Thieves are using stolen credit cards numbers to order materials usually via fax, email, or operator assisted (hearing impaired relay) call. Sometimes they will say that a shipping or trucking company, which is part of the scam, is picking up the material at your facility. At other times, they will ask you to deliver the items to an open or vacant lot, saying that the materials are for a "start-up" development; or they may ask you to ship smaller items via UPS or a similar service. Other "red flags" include (a) the customer requests for the merchant to process the transaction while on the phone, (b) the customer is in a geographical location that is out of the ordinary [in another state], (c)the customer asks for the authorization codes(s) or proof that the cards went through, and (d) they often use multiple card numbers which are almost identical except for the last few digits.
Even when an authorization code is obtained, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover will not guarantee payments for non-card swipe transactions. Therefore, if you don't know who's ordering material from you, it is prudent to have them come in and swipe their card. If they cannot, please contact your voice authorization department and perform a Code 10 authorization prior to processing the transactions. The telephone number for Voice Authorization may be located on the side of your credit card machine, or can be obtained by contacting customer service. It is recommended that you always use Code 10 procedures prior to shipping any product to an unknown customer.
As always, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
New Cost of Doing Business Survey
Building Materials Operations Comparison
Online Survey Software
NLA is proud to announce a new online tool that combines the annual Cost of Doing Business Survey with the biyearly Wage & Salary Survey. NLA members can participate in the Building Materials Operations Comparison (BMOC) for $200 and the deadline to submit your data has been extended to April 30, 2010.
This web based survey tool will allow interested members to log in and enter their business information in an anonymous secure database. Once the survey period is over, participants will have access to about 90 charts and graphs comparing salaries and operational costs to regional and national averages.
We would like to encourage all NLA members to take advantage of this service as a great way to see how you compare to your peers. Those that have used similar tools in the past have learned more about the efficiencies and how to improve their bottom line. The charts help owners reveal the areas that can be improved upon as well as highlight the areas you do well. To date over 120 lumber yards across the nation have submitted data.
If you are an NLA Roundtable participant, your BMOC data can be used as your Roundtable financial information. Weather you participate as an individual or as a Roundtable, your data will be secure and anonymous. Please contact membership services director, Jay Breimhorst at (800) 896-5130 if you would like any additional information about the different ways to participate in this survey.
Click HERE for more information about BMOC.
Click HERE to download sign-up information.
Online Survey Software
NLA is proud to announce a new online tool that combines the annual Cost of Doing Business Survey with the biyearly Wage & Salary Survey. NLA members can participate in the Building Materials Operations Comparison (BMOC) for $200 and the deadline to submit your data has been extended to April 30, 2010.
This web based survey tool will allow interested members to log in and enter their business information in an anonymous secure database. Once the survey period is over, participants will have access to about 90 charts and graphs comparing salaries and operational costs to regional and national averages.
We would like to encourage all NLA members to take advantage of this service as a great way to see how you compare to your peers. Those that have used similar tools in the past have learned more about the efficiencies and how to improve their bottom line. The charts help owners reveal the areas that can be improved upon as well as highlight the areas you do well. To date over 120 lumber yards across the nation have submitted data.
If you are an NLA Roundtable participant, your BMOC data can be used as your Roundtable financial information. Weather you participate as an individual or as a Roundtable, your data will be secure and anonymous. Please contact membership services director, Jay Breimhorst at (800) 896-5130 if you would like any additional information about the different ways to participate in this survey.
Click HERE for more information about BMOC.
Click HERE to download sign-up information.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
AmerAssist Collections Program
New Benefit Available to NLA Members
NLA's newest endorsed partner, AmerAssist, has developed a full service cash flow management and collections program specifically for the lumber industry. This program is designed to help safeguard and recover your delinquent accounts receivable. With this partnership NLA members receive a 5% discount on all orders.
You should have already received a letter announcing this new partnership. The letter was approved and signed by Northwestern Lumber Association President, Paula Siewert. It introduces AmerAssist and offers more details about the program.
Contact NLA Membership Director Jay Breimhorst for more information (800) 896-5130.
Click HERE for more information about the Program.
NLA's newest endorsed partner, AmerAssist, has developed a full service cash flow management and collections program specifically for the lumber industry. This program is designed to help safeguard and recover your delinquent accounts receivable. With this partnership NLA members receive a 5% discount on all orders.
You should have already received a letter announcing this new partnership. The letter was approved and signed by Northwestern Lumber Association President, Paula Siewert. It introduces AmerAssist and offers more details about the program.
Contact NLA Membership Director Jay Breimhorst for more information (800) 896-5130.
Click HERE for more information about the Program.
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