To soften the blow, this account continues, Microsoft is extending terms from net 30 to net 60. The rationale given for the card ban was how much Microsoft pays the credit card processors. But the source of this information complained, "For a couple of percentage points, they are hacking off the whole channel." Many resellers, this person continued, use the points generated by credit card purchases to pay for expenses for Microsoft's Convergence conference. An inquiry through Microsoft PR wasn't answered yesterday.