MasterCard Rules (PDF)

Europe Region Rules
2.6 Obligation to Issue Cards
2.3.2.9 Customer Noncompliance
The following are examples of violations of the central acquiring rules for
which noncompliance assessments may be applied:
1. Engaging in central acquiring without first registering,
2. Engaging in central acquiring in non-notified countries or of non-notified
Merchants (not applicable for Western and Central European countries).
3. Failure to comply with intracountry rules (including application of incorrect
interchange fees) resulting in financial loss to another party.
4. Incorrect data in network messages (including incorrect country code)
resulting in financial loss to another party.
2.6 Obligation to Issue Cards
3.1 Standards
Rule 2.6 of Chapter 2, “Licensing and Licensed Activities,” does not apply in
the EEA.
3.1.3 Rules Applicable to Intracountry Transactions
The following are additional Rules applicable to intracountry Transactions.
Refer to Rule 9.5 of Chapter 9, “Settlement,” regarding the establishment of
intracountry interchange fees and intracountry service fees.
The Corporation may establish Rules for Intracountry Transactions. The
Corporation will inform Customers of all Rules it establishes.
If Rules for Intracountry Transactions are not established by the Corporation,
the following two options apply as regards establishment of the rules to be
applied to Intracountry Transactions. Customers may change from one option
to another upon notice in writing to the Corporation, and fulfillment of any
requirements associated with the new option.
Global Rules (including Europe Region Rules) Customers may apply the Rules
(including the Europe Region Rules) to Intracountry Transactions. If the other
option does not apply, then this option applies by default.
Intracountry Fallback Rules (75 percent Rule) If permitted by local law,
Customers holding Licenses for the country (including SEPA Licenses) and
representing, during the year preceding the agreement, at least 75 percent
of each of the Card issuing and acquiring intracountry Volumes (excluding
on-us Volumes), have the power to agree on fallback Rules applicable to all
Intracountry Transactions, including those acquired by Customers outside the
country. Intracountry fallback rules must be agreed by at least two Issuers and
at least two Acquirers Licensed to engage in Activity in the country.
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12-6 12 December 2012 • MasterCard Rules