MasterCard Rules (PDF)

United States Region Rules
5.11 Prohibited Practices
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Merchant may not offer a discount or other
benefit to a Cardholder if the Cardholder uses a particular Issuer’s Card at the
Point of Interaction (POI), unless the discount or other benefit is available for
all other Cards of the same product type or is accessed 1) after the Transaction
has been completed (for example, a credit on the billing statement or a rebate);
or 2) at the time of or after the Transaction and is effected by a separate
instrument and not by the Card (for example, a coupon or a voucher). A
Merchant at the POI must not promote a discount or other benefit for use
of a particular Issuer’s Card.
5.11.2 Charges to Cardholders
Rule 5.11.2 of Chapter 5, “Merchants,” is replaced with the following:
A Merchant must not directly or indirectly require any Cardholder to pay a
surcharge or any part of any Merchant discount or any contemporaneous
finance charge in connection with a Transaction. A Merchant is permitted to
charge a fee (such as a bona fide commission, postage, expedited service or
convenience fees, and the like) if the fee is imposed on all like transactions
regardless of the form of payment used, or as the Corporation has expressly
permitted in writing. For purposes of this Rule:
1. A surcharge is any fee charged in connection with a Transaction that is not
charged if another payment method is used.
2. The Merchant discount fee is any fee a Merchant pays to an Acquirer so that
the Acquirer will acquire the Transactions of the Merchant.
5.11.3 Minimum/Maximum Transaction Amount Prohibited
Rule 5.11.3 of Chapter 5, “Merchants” is modified to include the following:
A Merchant may set a minimum Transaction amount to accept a Card that
provides access to a credit account, under the following conditions:
1. the minimum Transaction amount does not differentiate between Issuers;
and
2. the minimum Transaction amount does not differentiate between MasterCard
and another acceptance brand; and
3. the minimum Transaction amount does not exceed USD 10 (or any higher
amount established by the Federal Reserve by regulation).
A Merchant may set a maximum Transaction amount to accept a Card that
provides access to a credit account, under the following conditions:
1. the Merchant:
a. is a department, agency or instrumentality of the U.S. Government; or
b. is a corporation owned or controlled by the U.S. Government; or
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MasterCard Rules • 12 December 2012 15-11