opinion

Revelations - Xbiz Summer Forum & Billing

As the Xbiz Summer Forum wrapped up last week I enjoyed the opportunity to moderate the panel focused on Visa regulations, good business practices, and the card associations’ rules, past, present and future. My panelists included card processing authorities Cathy Beardsley of Segpay/CommerceGate/DHD, Mitch Farber of Netbilling, Steve Bryson of OrbitalPay, Dennis DelaRosa of OnlineIPS.net, and Doug Wickes of CCBill.

Our discussions centered on recent new VISA rule enforcement emphasis, guidance on compliance issues, and understanding the regulations faced by merchants every day. Among others, attendee Daniel Hogue, camworld.com CEO, contributed some incisive questions eliciting detailed answers to specific compliance requirements across programs and sites. The depths of the combined panelists’ knowledge was certainly tested here. This Xbiz offering was not your typical vanilla tradeshow billing seminar.

Topics covered included internal and external cross sale limits and exclusions, affects on merchant account holders versus those using third party processors, differences between Visa and MasterCard on all topics, content guidelines and monitoring, history and significance of the Visa regions, descriptors, scrubbing, intentional and unintentional questionable billing practices, common merchant mistakes, and suspicious activity and freezing of funds. The bottom line was a mostly positive future outlook from a particularly well informed group delivering the real goods without hedging.

A post-Visa adult world was also discussed and the panelists unanimously agreed that VISA will not leave the space, but compliance enforcement, fraud prevention and vigorous monitoring of merchant relationships and activities would all continue to intensify to the benefit of cardholders.

I especially enjoyed the moderation, as Webbilling does not provide merchant accounts or process credit cards and therefore is not affected by card association rules; Webbilling provides a non-card payment platform for Europe to pair with and augment credit card processing for extra revenue from the same traffic. With knowledge of processing but no dog in the show, my questions generated a spirited hour of discussion and great attendee participation. For information and introductions to panelists and information on the Webbilling EU non-card payment solutions, write Marketing@Webbilling.com NOW, and watch for more straightforward relevant panels at future Xbiz events.

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Why E-Payment Diversification Matters for Merchant Stability

Match payment methods to your customers. Look at where your customers are located, how they prefer to pay and which products they purchase. A business with significant European traffic may benefit from SEPA or Pay by Bank, while a subscription-based business may prioritize ACH or cryptocurrency. Add the payment methods your customers are most likely to use, as not every option is available.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

Staying Power: Justin Ross on Two Decades of Building Screaming O

Ironically, it was a single-use, disposable vibrating ring that became the foundation of The Screaming O, transforming a basic foil pouch into the launchpad for a pleasure-product brand that has endured for over two decades.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
trends

AI at Work: The Tools and Practices Powering Creativity, Commerce and Compliance

For years, artificial intelligence felt like the plot of a science-fiction movie. Pop culture gave us Skynet from “The Terminator,” the replicants of “Blade Runner” and countless visions of machines replacing human creativity altogether. AI was cast as either humanity's next great breakthrough or the beginning of a dystopian future.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA: Nasstoys' Suzy Contreras Drives Sales With Personal Connection

Suzy Contreras' journey into the pleasure products industry has been steady and carefully cultivated. Across departments, accounts and nurtured relationships, Contreras has demonstrated commitment and passion at each step.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

Key Questions Online Merchants Should Know About PCI Compliance

Choosing a payment provider involves more than comparing features and pricing. It's also about trusting that your customers' payment information is being handled securely. Every August, Segpay is recertified as a Level 1 PCI-compliant service provider, a milestone the company has achieved for the past 20 years. Having helped write Segpay's original PCI policy documents more than two decades ago, I've seen firsthand how PCI compliance has evolved.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

Hannah Tyer Reveals the Inspiration Behind 'Touch Therapy' Couples Card Game

Relationship therapist Hannah Tyer believes there's a better way to get to the heart and soul of your sexual differences, and she's crafted a deck of cards to show couples the way.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Tips for Thriving as a Neurodivergent Creator

As digital creators, we're entrepreneurs juggling content production, business logistics, fan communities and the demands of everyday life. Add neurodivergence to the mix, and building a sustainable career can sometimes feel overwhelming. Yet my experience has been the opposite. After years of trying to fit into more traditional career paths, I eventually found my way into the adult industry and realized I'd finally found a place where the qualities that made me different became my greatest strengths.

Abby Rose ·
opinion

Retailer Strategies for Engaging Mature Shoppers

One of the biggest opportunities in adult retail isn’t chasing the next trend. It’s recognizing the customers who are already walking through your door and making sure they feel they belong there.

Rin Musick ·
profile

NakedSword Originals Serves Up Triple the Heat in 'Spain in the Ass 3'

Successful trilogies usually bring to mind Hollywood blockbusters like "Back to the Future," "The Hunger Games" or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over three installments, however, "Spain in the Ass" has built a franchise of its own, pairing Spain's most picturesque destinations with cinematic production values, ambitious performances and career milestones.

Christian Cintron ·
opinion

Why Strong Kink Sales Start With Education and Support

This topic might make some people uncomfortable: the kink industry has a predator problem, and it is not the one most people assume. It is not creeping in the shadows of underground dungeons or sketchy playrooms, but instead is out in the open, on your timeline, in your inbox, and within platforms and brands that have figured out that the BDSM aesthetics and lifestyle sell really well. The issue is that there is no education that follows it.

Mistress Marley ·
Show More