FAQ > Card Payment Rules Q&A

What is PCI?

Short for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) which sets out requirements to protect card data from compromise. Please reference http://www.pcisecuritystandards.org, and www.visa.com/cisp for more information regarding PCI.

Is a minimum sale amount allowed on a card payment?

No, not according to the card acceptance guide which details out the card company’s rules and regulations. Instead of a mandate, you may want to ask your customers for the favor of limiting card use for small transactions.

Can I add a surcharge fee when my customers pay by credit card?

Offering your customer a cash discount is the accepted method. The states that prohibit surcharging credit card sales include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. For others, read the regulations when card payment surcharges are allowed at http://www.vantagecard.com/resources/convenience_fees.html.

Can I opt out of accepting credit card transactions and only accept debit cards?

Yes, In the Visa Check / MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation settlement, merchants won the ability to opt out of accepting either credit or debit transactions.

When is "no signature required" from my customers?

Visa and MasterCard both offer programs for select merchant industries providing chargeback protection and allowing the flexibility of no signature required on qualifying transactions under $25. Merchant categories include grocery and convenience stores, fast food restaurants, pharmacies, parking lots, movie theaters and others.

What are the rules for truncating or masking the numbers on my credit card receipts?

There are federal laws, various state laws and association rules which require merchants to truncate the cardholder copy of receipts. Read more at http://www.vantagecard.com/resources/truncation.html.

What is AVS and CVV?

Address Verification Service (AVS) is a fraud prevention service developed to help merchants by comparing the address information that the cardholder provides to what is on record for that credit card number at the issuing bank. The Card Verification Value is typically used to help verify that the customer actually has the card in their possession. Read more at http://www.vantagecard.com/resources/avs-cvv2.html.