Are you having trouble figuring out how the charges on your credit card bills add up? Here is a simple run down of the important steps involved in the processing of your credit card which will also be useful in understanding how the system works and therefore, what kind of charges are likely to be levied on you. The major players involved in credit card processing are the card holder, the merchant or the business, the acquiring bank which is the merchant’s bank, the issuing bank which is the card holder’s bank and the Credit Card association such as Visa or American Express or Mastercard. In the very first step, you submit your credit card to the merchant or seller to be swiped. At the Point of Sale, the merchant swipes the card using the equipment and software that is given to him by his merchant bank. With the digitization of all key accounts related information and also advances in technology, it takes mere seconds for the vendor’s system to transmit the card number and other relevant information to a processor which passes on the processing request to the credit card issuing bank. If the issuing bank approves the transaction, it immediately sends back an authorization via the card network, which in turn, lands at the merchant’s terminal. Once the transaction is authorized, your interaction with the merchant finishes. However, there is a back end process that is now activated. The next phase, post authorization is the settlement, when your account with the issuing bank is debited, and the merchant’s account with the acquiring bank is credited. The issuing bank and the acquiring bank are both members of Credit Card Associations that are not banks but which act as custodians and clearing houses for the respective banks. In the settlement phase, the issuing bank pays the acquiring bank the money spent on purchases made. After this, it is the liability of the cardholder to repay the issuing bank the amount specified inclusive of processing fees as indicated in the agreement entered into between the card holder and the issuing bank.

At times, your pet might happen to urinate or excrete on the floor or carpet in which stains and odors are left behind. Pet stain removal is a key concern at such times and it is with pet stain removal agents that you can get rid of the stains and odor. Below are listed some of the best pet stain removal products which will help you get rid of any kind of such stains. Nature’s Miracle Advanced Pet Trigger Sprayer Any stubborn pet mess is cleared with help of this pet stain removal agent. Stains and any kind of odors which have been caused by grass, mud, urine, and feces are also removed with the help of this pet stain removal agent. The advanced formula of this pet stain remover works effectively on stain removing and can also be used in any kind of dirty laundry. This pet stain removal agent also does not leave any kind of scent and is safe for being used in situations when small children are around. This is one of the best selling pet stain removal agents on Amazon and you can easily get it at your location in the country by ordering the same online. It can also be purchased from the pet store in your vicinity. Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator This is one of the recommended pet stain removal agents if you are looking forward to treating cat and dog odor and stains. It consists of natural enzymatic bacteria which get activated when they come in contact with odors. The tough stains which might have been caused by cat and dog urine, feces and vomit can easily be cleaned with the help of this pet stain removal agent. This can be used safely on carpets, furniture, bedding or any such place in the home. The odor eliminator is also chlorine free and does not contain any kind of hazardous chemical and can, therefore, be considered as a safe option to be used in a house which has children around. Bubba’s Pet Stain and Odor Remover This is another pet stain removal agent which can be considered to be highly effective for dog urine, feces, and stain removing. You can use it for removing the stains on the carpet, flooring, furniture, and rugs among other places. It can be used safely in situations when you have children around you in the home. This is one of the professional grade odor removers which come with a money-back guarantee and in case you find that the product has any discrepancy, the same can be returned back to the manufacturer. This pet stain remover can be ordered online from home and it will be delivered to your location within 5-7 working business days depending on your place of residence. BISSELL Pet Power Shot This pet stain removal agent can be used to remove tough pet stains from carpets and rugs. This is an oxygen-activated remover which easily removes all tough stains. This is free from any hazardous propellant and is safe to use in areas where children might be around. Out! Pet Stain and Odor Remover All kind of pet odor and stains can easily be removed with help of this pet stain removal agent. Any of the tough stains which might have been caused due to urine, pet vomiting, feces etc., can be safely removed with help of this stain remover. Its special enzymatic formula ensures that it can be safely used on carpets, clothing, bedding and other areas having tiles or brick flooring. These stain and odor removers are safe to be used in the home which has children though you must keep them away from the reach of young children. You can check out the amazing range of pet stain removal agents online on web portals like Amazon and can order these from the comfort of your home.

Poison ivy is a plant which causes rashes and irritation when you come in contact with any part of it. The plant contains substances which you might be allergic to, thus causing a mild or severe reaction depending on the sensitivity of your skin. It is estimated that almost 85% of the people in the country are allergic to poision ivy, which is why the following home remedies might come in handy for providing quick poison ivy relief. Rinsing with water: The first thing to do after you have come in contact with the oil from poison ivy is rinsing the area thoroughly with lukewarm soapy water. Rinsing will help clean the oil residue which would have otherwise penetrated your skin, causing rashes and irritation due to the substance slowly spreading. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a highly versatile ingredient which has natural cooling properties, normally used to treat sunburn. Aloe vera gel has also been proven as a quick poison ivy relief since it helps soothe inflammation and controls the itching. Baking soda: A thick mixture of baking soda and water can be applied to the affected area which will help relieve the pain and irritation. Poison ivy also causes the skin to blister and pop out, which is why using a diluted mixture of this remedy is also recommended. Gauze soaked in a baking soda water bath can be applied over the blisters with little pressure to clean and provide quick poison ivy relief without creating too much of a mess. Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is naturally rich in medicinal properties which make it an effective counter to control the poison and prevent it from causing any infection or aggravated skin conditions. Soaking a brown paper bag in apple cider vinegar and applying it to the rash and affected area will help absorb the toxins. Alchohol: Alchohol can be alternatively used to clean out wounds and prevent any infection from spreading. A chemical compound called urushiol is responsible for causing the rashes and irritation when you come in contact with poison ivy. Cleaning the affected area with alcohol directly will prevent the poison from penetrating deep into your skin, to provide quick poison ivy relief. Cold compress: Applying a cool compress will help relieve the itching and irritation, providing quick poison ivy relief. This is just as efficient as taking periodic lukewarm showers to wash off the oil residue on the surface of your skin.

What is USPS? USPS stands for United States Postal Services. It is a unit that takes care of the independent post services operated by the federal government of the United States. This agency is responsible for providing postal services to the associated states of the country and includes different insular areas as well. It was created under Benjamin Franklin’s invigilation and has grown remarkably ever since then. Everybody who has received a post in their lifetime must know about the USPS. For people who don’t, here is a guide to finding the USPS number that will help you track all your packages. How to find the USPS tracking number? Finding the USPS tracking number is quite simple and tracking it is even simpler. Firstly, you need to see the shipping receipt from the post office. Once you have mailed the package from your end, you will receive a 22-digit tracking number, and then you may take it forward from here. Secondly, if the value of your package is more than $50, the post office will provide you with an additional receipt. This receipt also mentions your tracking number. Some other ways to look for your USPS tracking number are through the confirmation received in the mail or the bottom peel-off portion of the label on your USPS package. Once you have found this number, you can follow the procedure mentioned below to track your package and stay updated regarding its whereabouts. How to track a USPS package? The most convenient way to track your USPS package is by logging onto their website and selecting the tracking option. Here, you can enter up to 35 different tracking numbers to get exclusive information about each package. However, they also have a service wherein you may opt for Informed Delivery, and with this option, you would never require knowledge about the USPS tracking number again. It helps you see all images of incoming mail, and it also tracks your packages automatically. You can sign up to receive text and email notifications so that every time you send a package, you get automatic notifications. In this way, you don't have to look for the USPS tracking number. In short, with the right information, you can set aside your worries about where your parcel is and when it would get delivered to you.

Kitchen appliances come in a range of sizes, shapes, and designs. Among the different companies that manufacture kitchen appliances, Crock-Pot is a leader in the market. Below are listed some key Crock-Pot appliances which find their mention in the leading kitchen appliances list.

• Crock-Pot 4-Quart Cook and Carry Slow Cooker The oversized handle in the slow cooker ensures that cooking can be accomplished with ease. It comes with a secure fit lid and has easy-to-use locking that comes with a rubber gasket and offers some additional protection. It comes with three heat settings, namely low, high and, warm, which ensure that your food remains warm all the while. It also has a glass lid and is a great option to consider especially for parties and other social gatherings.
• Crock-Pot 5 in 1 Multi Cooker When a mention of Crock-Pot appliances is made, it is imperative to talk about the Crock-Pot 5-in-1 multi cooker. It has five touch settings for a slow cook, roast, bake, steam, and saut and meets different needs of the family. Cooking is an extremely easy task with the 5-in-1 multi cooker as it comes with easy digital readout and various programming functions can be checked with ease. It also has a removable non-stick inner pot along with a dual positioning rack that can be used for steaming and roasting. The inner pot is dishwasher safe and has a rack and a glass lid as a protective cover. Do not forget to collect the cookbook, which features details about 30 delicious recipes.
• Crock-Pot Countdown Digital Slow Cooker Organizing mealtime in minimal time becomes fairly easy with this cooker. Crock-Pot's range of cookers includes this innovative product that helps you manage exact cooking time. Cooking can always be set to a pre-decided time that might vary from 30 minutes to 20 hours on high to low settings. This cooker from Crock-Pot is ideal for sauces and warm dips, and you can easily serve up to seven people by cooking in this digital cooker. You can always count down the cooking time with help of the digital timer in this cooker. The digital slow cooker has an equally impressive silver stainless-steel food warmer and stainless-steel exterior that is amazingly polished and has a matching plastic handle.
• Crock-Pot Food Warmer The Crock-Pot food warmer readily serves one person and comes with a 20-ounce capacity. It also has a tote-like handle that makes carrying the food warmer a relatively easy task. The food warmer has a white exterior and comes with an elegant red lid and a matching handle.

Choose from any of the above-listed products and add some worth to your kitchen.

Technology knows no bounds anymore. You can now connect to people all around the world in the blink of an eye. Things get better when you can connect to more than one person at a time. Be it for business or personal use, conference calls are the best thing to have happened in the world of social networking. You can have a conference call with your family and friends all around the world. You can hold a meeting online and get your workplace to your home anytime. Here are the popular international conference calling platforms Skype: Skype is the most common and famous video calling platform. Skype gives you an option to connect with up to 25 people at a time. You can choose between a video conference or an audio conference. All you need is a Skype account and you can connect with people free of cost. Skype even gives you an option to call people without a Skype account with Skype credit or subscription. Google+ hangouts: It is one of the simplest and most efficient platforms for international conference calling. Hangouts is compatible with any device and has impeccable clarity. Hangouts lets you call 25 people at a time in HD video for Work or Education. This service is also free of cost and just requires a Gmail account to be able to make calls all around the world. Phone.com: Phone.com allows you to connect with up to 300 people at affordable prices. This platform is suitable for voice calls. Calls are in HD voice quality and are crisp and clear. Phone.com is compatible with any phone system. There is also a trial offer where all calls are free for a duration of 30 days. Conferencecalls.com: With this service, you can connect with up to 50 people in one go. Conference calls made through this platform is not based on contract but on a pay per minute basis. You can call up to 45 countries in supreme voice quality. One of the special features of this platform is that you can record and listen to your conference calls. This service too comes with a trial offer with free calling for 30 days. OpenVoice: OpenVoice allows you to connect to 500 people at once at just $0.8/min. It has the facility to make conference calls in 50 countries worldwide. It is very easy to schedule a conference call and invite the attendees. You don't need to have any early reservations to make calls through OpenVoice. OpenVoice is also available as an app and can be used across all smartphones. You can also save your conferences as MP3 and listen to it later. FreeBridge: FreeBridge gives you unlimited international conference calling services. You can connect with up to 120 people free of cost. All you have to pay for is the toll charge. Be it for personal or business use, FreeBridge is the most simple and secure way to make international conference calls.