Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions

by : Jan 11, 2010

As you have already heard… last week MasterCard suspended all direct marketing merchant accounts. They are cracking down and enforcing new regulations and guidelines pertaining to direct marketing. MasterCard maintains that these guidelines must be complied with in order for them to continue processing payments. ALL non-compliant accounts have been suspended until they can show 100% compliance with these new guidelines.

Bear in mind, the sky is NOT falling! This is a an effort by MasterCard to clean up some of the “negative option” marketing that exists out on the web today. Most of the quality programs will be updated and reactivated. These changes will be ultimately improve the quality of the campaigns out on the web and improve the consumer experience.

The linked document below outlines in more depth the criteria set by the card company. Here are the high level highlights of the compliance requirements for your reference:

1. The terms of billing must be clearly disclosed on the website.

2. Verbiage must plainly state the enrollment into the membership without distraction.

3. Any trial period must be a minimum of 10 days.

4. Images of celebrities are prohibited from use without express legal written consent of the entity being published.

5. By law, product claims must be truthful and not misleading. Claims made must substantiated by the formulas used in the product(s) marketed and the clinical research conducted to support it.

6. Merchants must provide customers with multiple outlets for cancellation – including phone, email, chat, and mail.

As many merchants look to update their offers, policies and pages some offers may go down for a short time, so be sure to reach our to  your publisher managers to make sure your campaigns are not effected.

NOTE: You can download the revised “Direct Marketing Best Practices” HERE.

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  • http://www.k2leads.com Matt

    Smart move by Mastercard to get their hands in it before the feds go further.

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  • sam @ merchant account

    Hi. This is Sam. Are you in need of a merchant account? http://bit.ly/8WHRf8 or call 1-866-348-7926

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  • http://www.easynewbiescashsystemonline.com peter mcgrath

    hi
    i think the crack down on unscruplus traders is a good thing i my self have been caught by a vendor who ignored my requests to cancel the monthy subcriptions through the credit card

    i had lost my job about 4 years ago and was paying out a monthy payment of about £20.00 per month approx$35.00
    and needed to urgently reduce my monthy outlay

    the credit card company said that it could only be cancelled by the vendor not by me and he did nothing

    i only pay by paypal as there honest and you can cancell instantly

    regards
    peter mcgrath

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  • http://www.gspay.com/ Credit Card Merchant Account

    Merchant Account is marketed to merchants by two basic methods: either directly by the processor or sponsoring bank, or by an authorized agent for the bank and additionally directly registered with both Visa and MasterCard.

  • http://www.paynetsystems.com/html/affiliates.htm JackChevalier

    Make $100 for every approved merchant account generated by your website or referred to us verbally. Join our Affiliate Program and make money for every approved merchant account.

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  • http://www.paynetsystems.com/html/affiliates.htm paynetsystem

    Paynet Systems Merchant Account Affiliate program offers an opportunity to make $100 for every approved merchant account generated by your website or referred to us verbally. For joining our Affiliate Program and to start making money for every approved merchant account visit http://www.paynetsystems.com

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  • http://www.prestigemerchantservices.com merchant services texas

    I guess they were getting fed up with all the charge back issues this industry has and they are cracking down.

  • http://www.mastercreditcard.net http://www.mastercreditcard.net

    i really like this article..i just want to aapreciate you for this work..and i would like to read more article on this…
    http://www.mastercreditcard.net

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  • http://www.paynetsecure.net Secure payment gateway

    hey !!
    Ijust want to appreciate you for this work. Merchant accounts are an important part of a cohesive payment processing strategy for any business that is conducting business world-wide. Paynet secure.net provide different kind of merchant accounts are: # International Merchant Account
    # Offshore Merchant Account
    # High Risk Merchant Account
    for details visit

    tp://www.paynetsecure.net

    thanks :-)

  • http://www.nationalach.com/ ACH

    I found a blog “National ACH” is a payment processing blog provide following services :

    * ACH Payment Processing
    * Electronic Checks
    * High Risk Processing

    * Check 21
    * Checks by Phone
    * Adult Merchant Account.

    * International Payments.

    For details you can visit

    http://www.nationalach.com/

    thanks :-)

  • http://simplifiedecommerce.com Colin8ch

    It’s been several months, but I think the dust is still settling on this issue. Most merchants that either have been following or have successfully adopted the guide and the rules stated above seem to be doing OK. I biggest issue is always the chargebacks.

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  • Calie

    It is extremely important for you to familiarize yourself with the terms of your contract with your credit card processor. As long as you comply with their set regulation and guidelines to maintain your account in good standing you should have no problems.if for some reason you were faced with your account being suspended you need to know: what to do,when to do it,and what is the reason for your account being suspended in the first place

    merchant services
    http://www.occent.com

  • http://aaaviza.com/ cash for small business

    With every thing that seems to be building within this particular subject material,I appreciate your points of view and how well you have made your information clear.

  • Kurt

    My name is
    Kurt, I work in the loan modification and credit restoration business. For the
    longest time I couldn’t get a merchant account for my type of business. I was
    surfing the web and came across Bankcard Service of New York. I called and
    spoke to Tony and he flat out told me that if he can’t get me a merchant
    account nobody can. He directed me to their online application. Within 2 hours
    he had my account approved with Harris Bank of Chicago and I didn’t have any application
    fees or set up fees like all the others who took my money and ran. Thank god I
    found Tony. Not only has my business increased being able to accept credit
    cards as form of payment for my type of business, but I’m also a part of their
    referral program, I have already referred 3 merchants to him within the last
    year. All 3 of them are very pleased with his knowledge and the amount of money
    he has saved them. PS did I tell you I’ve been making a nice income from his
    referral program for the last 6 months? My wife loves it.

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