MasterCard Rules (PDF)

2.3.2 Central Acquiring
Europe Region Rules
2.3 Area of Use
The rules in this section apply in the Europe Region in place of Rule 2.3.1,
paragraphs 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Provided that they comply with the provisions of this Rule, Customers that hold
a License may centrally acquire Transactions of Merchants as described in Rule
2.3.2.4, including those undertaken in countries for which the Customer does
not hold a License. Customers must not acquire Transactions from Merchants
situated outside their Area of Use, except pursuant to this Rule 2.3.2.
This Rule 2.3.2 applies to central acquiring in the Europe Region by Customers
with a License for any Europe Region country.
2.3.2.1 Central Acquiring Registration
Customers must have completed the central acquiring registration process
before they centrally acquire. The central acquiring registration letter specifies
the countries in which a Customer may centrally acquire intraregional Merchant
Transactions.
2.3.2.2 Central Acquirer Service Requirements
The Customer must authorize, clear and settle centrally acquired Transactions
in a manner that does not disadvantage the Cardholder, the Merchant or the
Issuer involved in the Transaction in comparison with non-centrally acquired
Transactions. The Customer must also comply with the requirements defined
below.
1. Authorizations
Central Acquirers must provide Issuers with all information required in the
authorization request, as set forth in the Customer Interface Specification
manual.
A central Acquirer must be able to provide local language voice
authorization services, itself or through a local Acquirer, at the cost of a
local call if the authorization system is not available or in a country where
Transactions cannot be authorized electronically. If the central Acquirer and
local Acquirer cannot agree on a price for these services, the following
rates will apply.
• Voice authorization: EUR 4
• Call referral: EUR 8
2. Clearing
Central Acquirers must provide details in the clearing record of the location,
city and country where the Transaction took place.
For specific Merchant sectors, central Acquirers must provide additional
information in the clearing record if required by the Europe Region, using
the message formats detailed in the IPM Clearing Formats manual.
©1969–2012 MasterCard. Proprietary. All rights reserved.
MasterCard Rules • 12 December 2012 12-3