Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions
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.
21 Comments, Comment or Ping
affiliatesprout
Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions http://bit.ly/50JON1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
THGBusiness
Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions: As you have already heard… last week MasterCard suspended http://url4.eu/16Adl
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
AffiliationTips
Affiliate Insider: Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions http://bit.ly/7g7HwW
by @MediaTrust
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
DEvansMatthews
Media Trust article on blanket MC Merchant Account Suspensions to ensure marketing compliance – http://bit.ly/6ypEyb
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
mediatrust
UPDATE: MasterCard suspends merchant accounts. What are the new guidelines?: http://bit.ly/6OU41s
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
MikeA96
Affiliate Marketers check this out…MasterCard suspends merchant accounts. What are the new guidelines?: http://bit.ly/6OU41s
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
Breana7832
Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspenions …: As you have already heard… last week MasterCard s.. http://bit.ly/50JON1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 11th, 2010
Matt
Smart move by Mastercard to get their hands in it before the feds go further.
Jan 12th, 2010
kenzei
Update on Direct Marketing Merchant Account Suspensions http://tinyurl.com/ycxczud a must read for continuity marketers #affiliatemarketing
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 14th, 2010
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
Jan 19th, 2010
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
Jan 24th, 2010
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.
Jan 25th, 2010
Bobbye
MasterCard slams direct marketers – read this for the story and new guidelines – http://budurl.com/n2dz
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Jan 25th, 2010
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.
Jan 27th, 2010
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
Mar 5th, 2010
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