top of page

What Are Agent-Assisted Payments?

A Secure Approach to PCI Payments

In today's fast-paced digital economy, businesses must offer their customers seamless and secure payment options. One increasingly popular method is agent-assisted payments, combining human support with secure payment technology. But what exactly are agent-assisted payments, and how do they ensure PCI compliance while enhancing customer experience?

Understanding Agent-Assisted Payments

Agent-assisted payments refer to a payment process where a live agent helps a customer complete a transaction over the phone, chat, or another remote channel. Unlike traditional self-service options, these payments offer real-time guidance while ensuring secure data handling.

How Do Agent-Assisted Payments Work?

When a customer is ready to purchase but needs assistance, a live agent initiates the payment process. To ensure PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance, businesses often use a secure keypad to take payments, also known as DTMF masking (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency). This means:

  • The customer enters their payment details via their phone keypad instead of verbally sharing them with the agent.

  • The agent remains on the line to assist but never sees or hears the full card details.

  • Sensitive data is automatically encrypted, reducing the risk of fraud.

Benefits of Agent-Assisted Payments for PCI Compliance

Ensuring PCI payments meet compliance standards is critical for any business handling card transactions. Agent-assisted payments help businesses:

Enhance Security – Businesses use a keypad to take payments to minimize the risk of card data exposure.✔ Maintain Compliance – Reducing the agent’s access to sensitive information keeps transactions within PCI DSS regulations.✔ Improve Customer Trust – Customers feel safer when they know their data is protected.✔ Increase Conversion Rates – Real-time assistance reduces friction and increases the likelihood of successful transactions.

Final Thoughts

As businesses look to streamline payment processes while maintaining security, agent-assisted payments provide a practical solution. By integrating a secure keypad for payments, companies can ensure a smooth, PCI-compliant transaction experience without compromising data security.

Would you like to explore agent-assisted payment solutions for your business? Let’s talk!

Comments


Contact our Expert Team!

If you are looking for a solution to ease your compliance burden when taking customer not present payments, then contact Paytia today for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

We are a PCI-DSS Level 1 Service Provider, offering businesses the highest level of protection for their payments.

Thanks for submitting!

bottom of page