Maestro Global Rules (PDF) - MasterCard

Acquiring
7.1 Acquirer Obligations and Activities
The Merchant Agreement may contain additional terms and conditions that are
mutually agreed upon between the Acquirer and the Merchant, provided such
terms and conditions do not conflict with any provisions contained in these
Standards, and other Rules, regulations and policies of the Corporation.
Each Merchant Agreement with a Merchant registered as a Payment Facilitator
must additionally contain the substance of Rule 7.1.3.4 of this rulebook and
a provision stating that the Payment Facilitator accepts financial liability for
all Transactions processed through the Interchange System on behalf of
its Sub-merchants and will be responsible for the handling of all disputed
Transactions, credits, and customer service-related expenses. The Merchant
Agreement must provide for:
1. The Acquirer’s right to terminate the Payment Facilitator; and
2. The Payment Facilitator’s obligation to ensure the ongoing compliance of
each of its Sub-merchants with the Standards; and
3. The Payment Facilitator’s obligation to terminate the written agreement
with a Sub-merchant for the conduct of activity deemed by the Payment
Facilitator, it’s Acquirer, or the Corporation to be in violation of the
Standards.
NOTE
Additional regional Rules on this topic appear in Chapter 17, “Europe Region,”
of this rulebook.
7.1.1.3 Acquirer Responsibility for Merchant and Sub-merchant
Compliance
The Acquirer is responsible for ensuring that each of its Merchants complies
with the Rules and technical specifications of the Corporation, and is jointly and
severally liable with its Merchants or Sub-merchants for each of the Merchant
obligations in the Merchant Agreement.
The Acquirer must take appropriate actions that may be necessary or
appropriate to ensure the Merchant’s or Sub-merchant’s compliance, such
as reviewing the Merchant’s deposit records and procedures for effecting
Transactions. Failure by a Merchant, Sub-merchant, or Acquirer to comply with
any of the Standards may result in chargebacks, a penalty to the Acquirer,
or other disciplinary action.
7.1.2 Before Signing a Merchant
7.1.2.1 Verify Bona Fide Business Operation >>
Before entering into, extending, or renewing a Merchant Agreement, the
Acquirer must verify that the Merchant from which it intends to acquire
Transactions is a bona fide business, and that the Transactions will reflect bona
fide business between the Merchant or Sub-merchant and the Cardholder. Such
verification must include at least all of the following:
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7-2 9 November 2012 • Maestro Global Rules