Most in-person merchants will qualify for Visa’s CPS Retail rate structure. CPS stands for “Custom Payment Service”. The CPS classification is typically known as the best basic rate structure offered by Visa, and CPS requirements are often the “minimum” qualification requirements for more advanced interchange rates. Read all about CPS here. In a [...]
Standard rates are the worst rates that you can receive on Visa cards. Typically, you’ll receive Standard rates when your sales don’t meet any of the basic qualifications. This can include not submitting AVS data, not settling your sales on time, or failing to submit otherwise required data, based on [...]
“EIRF” is an acronym for “Electronic Interchange Reimbursement Fee” – and it’s a card-type you’d prefer not to receive, if possible. This is the rate category that many cards will “downgrade” to. Some business types (like restaurants) will auto-downgrade to EIRF for many card types, and an EIRF classification can [...]
To qualify for the below restaurant rates, merchants must be classified as a restaurant or quick-service merchant (MCC of 5812 or 5814). Below are the basic qualifications, plus you’ll see each type of card that’s eligible for restaurant rates, along with the associated potential downgrade: Qualifications Be classified as Restaurant (MCC 5812) [...]
Standard rates are the worst rates that you can receive on Mastercard transactions. Typically, you’ll receive Standard rates when your sales don’t meet any of the basic qualifications. This can include not submitting AVS data, not settling your sales on time, or failing to submit otherwise required data, based on your [...]
To qualify for the below restaurant rates, merchants must be classified as a restaurant or quick-service merchant (MCC of 5812 or 5814). Quick-serve merchants will only be eligible for debit sales within this rate classification. Below are the basic qualifications, plus you’ll see each type of card that’s eligible for restaurant rates, [...]
The “Merit I” category is for key-entry and E-Commerce Mastercard sales that meet include AVS and are settled within 1-2 days. Barring a few exceptions, most merchants are able to receive these interchange rates. Qualifications Key-entered or E-Commerce transaction. Authorize and settle within 1 day (keyed) or 2 days (E-Commerce). Obtain and pass 1 valid electronic authorization. Authorization and [...]
Travel & Entertainment merchants typically pay slightly higher rates than other merchant types. This rate category will apply to “premium” cards accepted by T&E merchants. Qualifications Be classified as a Restaurant (MCC 5812), Lodging (MCC 7011), Car Rental (MCC 7512), or Airline/Cruise Line/Travel Agency. Magnetic stripe, contactless, or chip data [...]
To set the stage – there are two distinct portions of any credit card transaction. The first is known as the authorization, which happens in real-time, when you swipe/dip/key the card into your system. You’ll receive a real-time response from the card-issuing bank of “approved” or “declined”. The second step [...]