Maestro Global Rules (PDF) - MasterCard

Processing Requirements
9.9 Performance Standards
9.9.1.2 Issuer Failure Rate (Substandard Level 2)
An Issuer failure rate that exceeds three percent (3%) for POS or ATM
Transactions for two (2) consecutive months is substandard level 2 performance.
The Issuer failure rate will not apply to a Processor until:
1. after the fourth calendar month of operation; or
2. upon processing five thousand (5,000) Transactions in a calendar month;
whichever occurs first.
Issuers that have been designated as having substandard level 2 performance
may be subject to noncompliance assessments and will be mandated to
implement the Stand-In Processing Service.
9.9.1.3 Calculation of the Issuer Failure Rate
Dual Message System
The Issuer failure rate is calculated by taking the total number of Transactions
declined due to Issuer unavailability, malfunction, or timeout dived by the
total number of Transactions.
Single Message System
The Issuer failure rate is calculated according to the formula below:
The sum of the following ISO 8583 response codes:
1. 91—destination processor not available
2. 91s—destination processor not available
3. 96—system malfunction
Divided by the total POS or ATM Transactions processed through the Issuer
connection to the Interchange System.
9.9.2 Acquirer Terminal Standards
9.9.2.1 Acquirer Failure Rate
An Acquirer failure rate that exceeds two percent (2%) for POS or ATM
Transactions for two (2) consecutive months is substandard. Terminal
processing standards will not apply to Processors until:
1. after the fourth calendar month of such Processor’s operation; or
2. upon such Processor’s first processing five thousand (5,000) POS or ATM
Transactions in a calendar month;
whichever occurs first.
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9-24 9 November 2012 • Maestro Global Rules