Unbeknownst to most heating fuel retailers, many payment provider agreements do not allow retailers access to their own credit card data. The Data Portability Initiative (DPI) was established in response to several high profile cases where heating fuel retailers had their data held hostage by their credit card processors when the fuel companies tried to change vendors. There is no legitimate reason why fuel companies shouldn’t be able to pursue the best value, service, technology and security for their businesses. DPI encourages providers to commit to the highest level of ethics, and allow for compliant, unfettered access to their clients’ data and customer records.

The lead on this initiative was taken by Larry Richmond of Richmond Financial Services. Larry is a consultant who has worked with more than 1,000 heating oil and propane companies over the last 20 years. Larry successfully lobbied MasterCard to reclassify home heating retailers into a low risk utility processing category. This win opened up discounted pricing for the entire industry.

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