Charge Restrictions

Please realize that MasterCard and Visa regulations prohibit assigning a minimum or a maximum purchase amount or adding a surcharge to credit card transactions. Regulations also prohibit the use of credit cards for cash advances, collection of bad debt (e.g., returned checks), or damages, theft, etc.

Protecting Cardholder Privacy

Keep cardholder numbers and personal information confidential.  This information should be released only to your merchant bank or processor, as specifically required by law, or in response to a government request. Safeguard your customers by ensuring that you provide confidential cardholder information only to authorized sources. You must have written agreements with a provider supported by Global for loyalty program or fraud control services.  You must not request or use account number information for any purpose the cardholder did not authorize or that may be fraudulent.  If you accept other card types (American Express, Diners, Discover, JCB, etc.) you may release transaction information to them as required.

You must not sell, transfer, purchase, provide, exchange or in any manner disclose account number information, a cardholder’s name, or other personal information, even in the event of failure or other suspension of business operations. This prohibition applies to card imprints, transaction receipts, carbon copies, mailing lists, tapes, or other media obtained as a result of a card transaction. The card association penalty for noncompliance is up to US $50,000.  If you use a third party terminal provider and they have access to cardholder account information, then your agreement with them must indicate that you retain legal control of the data. If information can be accessed over the Internet, then adequate controls must be adhered to and a third party security audit may be necessary. If cardholder transaction data or personal cardholder
information is compromised, card association penalties for noncompliance will be assessed.  Never retain or store the:

  Complete contents of a card’s magnetic stripe (subsequent to
the authorization)
  CVV2, CVC2, or CID (American Express and Discover) card
validation code numbers

Listing cardholder information, such as a phone number, driver's license or social security number, on the charge draft is unnecessary and discouraged. If you are suspicious that the transaction is not valid, do not hesitate to ask for additional identification -- preferably a photo ID. If you must list the identifying data, write it elsewhere (such as your copy of the sales receipt) rather than on the charge draft where vulnerable account number information is printed. Thousands of dollars worth of damage can be done with only a few pieces of personal information. Keeping a cardholder's information confidential is a service that your customers will
appreciate.

Proper Display of Signage

When you agree to accept Visa or MasterCard at your place of business or Web site, you should display the proper signage to indicate that service is available. Visa and MasterCard require that you clearly display signs at the point of sale. Use the sign and decals included in your merchant welcome kit. (See “Supplies” section for information on ordering additional signs and window decals.)