Check Authorization

As the nation's largest check authorization company, Equifax Check Solutions offers the most comprehensive check authorization service in the industry. The service, also known as Welcome Check or PathWays, provides businesses with the most accurate consumer information available.

Equifax provides a simple process at the point of sale where a customer's information is simply entered into a credit card terminal (POS) or cash register device. Within seconds, Equifax authorizes the check from its database of millions of records - in about the same time as a credit card transaction - and increases sales, improves point of sale efficiency, controls bad check losses, reduces the risk of fraud, enhances customer service levels, and improves cash flow.

Full overview of product or service: (one page - fully detailed and outlined) Equifax Check Solutions is the pioneer and leader in the payment services industry with over 35 years experience in authorizing checks for the payment of goods and services. The company operates throughout North America, including Canada and the US Colonies as well as the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In 1998, Equifax authorized over $30 billion in checks for it's customers. Equifax Check Solutions has evolved from the original check guarantee service into a full check management solution for merchants. It employs the latest state of the art technology, including artificial intelligence modeling and neural networks. This allows Equifax to monitor variables and transaction characteristics in the risk assessment process, enabling Equifax to make accurate decisions while expediting the point of sale experience for the retail shopper.

Equifax Check Solutions maintains the most comprehensive check authorization database in the U.S. In addition to a high risk or negative file, Equifax also keeps a positive file of over 100 million good check writers, so merchants won't lose a sale or delay a customer. Equifax offers the service on-line, real-time, 24 hours per day, every day and continuously updates the database with accurate check writing histories of millions of customers.

Equifax offers a full check management solution, Welcome Check, where all checks can be authorized or warranted and we can also offer our self-risk management solution, called PathWays, which has been designed for the mid to large retailer.

The Welcome Check Solution Provides:

• Quick and Easy Installation
• Compatibility Point of Sale Devices
• Maximum Check Protection
• Standardized Procedures at the Point of Sale
• Easy Claims Acceptance
• Automated Claims Payment
• Simplified Monthly Billing
• Improved Cash Flow
• Customized Programs for Retail Outlets; Mail Order Companies; Wholesales; Auto Dealers; Hotels; Home Improvement Centers; and much more.

The PathWays Solution Provides:

• Custom Warranty and Self-Risk Solutions to reduce check management expense and ensure efficiency standards at the point of sale.
• Analytical and Software Reporting that includes: Risk Assessment - Monthly Status Reports; Net Cost Trend Analysis; Loss Reports; Transaction Detail Reports; and In-depth Customer Education and Follow-up
• Negative File Applications including: Proprietary Data; File Compatibility; Full File Accessibility - Driver's License/ID Validation, Full MICR and Positive File
• Collection Services includes: Full Collection Capabilities; Electronic Representment; Bank Collection; Letter Services; Contingency Collections; Combined Automation and Technology; and, Negative File Inclusion
• Employee Fraud Detection includes: Proactive Approach to Detecting Employee Theft and Inventory Shrinkage; Total Transaction Capture and Data Mining; Database Creation and Sorting; Employee Analysis; Fraudulent Refunds Detection; Sweethearting; and, Credit Card Abuse
• Marketing and Credit Solutions includes: Retail Reach - Analyzing Your Customer's Purchasing Behaviors; Decision Power Retail - Approving Qualified Candidates for your Credit Card at the Point-of-Purchase; Fast Credit and Portfolio Decisions and No Declines.

Recent and ongoing enhancements to Equifax's programs have created a new level of quality service and improved value to the bottom line. Take advantage of the most comprehensive check management system in the industry. It's flexible. It's cost-effective. And it's designed just for you.

Contact: Marketing Department, 11601 Roosevelt Blvd., Mail Drop TA - 06, St. Petersburg, FL 33716, 1-800-633-9454.