Eye on Acquiring: Revel Starts Merchant Hardship Fund; SEAA Conference Moves to June

The unprecedented impact of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak encircling the globe has hit close to the payments industry. Several conferences have been postponed or canceled, and one vendor has set up a relief fund for merchants.

Point-of-sale system maker Revel Systems Inc. created the Revel Relief Program, which can help merchants reduce their technology fees because of hardship from the effects of the coronavirus, or Covid-19. Revel is allocating up to $1 million to the program, the San Francisco-based company says.

“Covid-19 has created a very challenging situation for many of our customers and Revel is stepping in to help,” Greg Dukat, Revel chief executive, said in a statement.

Applications will be accepted beginning March 17 on the Revel Web site.

In related news, Skrill, a money-transfer unit of payments provider Paysafe Group, said it is immediately dropping all fees and foreign-exchange charges for persons sending money to Italy in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on that hard-hit country. Recipients also will pay no fees, the company said. Skrill did not announce a time limit for the move.

Multiple industry events are affected, too.

The Southeast Acquirers Association says its annual conference, originally scheduled for April 6-8, has moved to June 15-17 and will be at the same venue, the InterContinental Miami, according to correspondence from SEAA organizers. 

“We ask that you remain patient while we finalize the details of SEAA 2020’s date switch with the hotel,” said an email from the SEAA. “We will issue more information over the next week regarding details on hotel accommodations and show registration once we have finalized our rescheduling efforts.”

Also the Merchant Risk Council canceled its 2020 conference, originally scheduled for March 16-19. 

Debit network and card processor Shazam Inc. cancelled its 2020 Shazam Forum conference set for April 14-16 in Des Moines, Iowa, because of concerns about Covid-19. And Payments Canada Summit, originally scheduled for May 25-27 in Montreal, has been canceled.