his is the final article in a series written in response to numerous reader requests for definitions of the various interchange levels. For current and upcoming Interchange rates, see chart on page 38.

MasterCard Standard Rate

This rate covers transactions that are not electronically authorized (through voice authorizations, Code 10s, referrals, etc.) and electronic transactions that are not otherwise qualified (where full, unaltered contents of the magnetic stripe are not transmitted). The transaction must be settled within 30 days.

World MasterCard Travel and Entertainment (T&E) Rate

This category applies to cards that carry the World MasterCard brand accepted by T&E merchants.

MasterCard International Electronic Rate

To qualify for this rate, the card and cardholder must both be present at the time of the transaction. The credit card must be swiped and captured for authorizations through the magnetic stripe reader on an electronic terminal. The signature must be obtained on the credit card slip or printer receipt and the transaction must be settled within five days.

MasterCard International Standard Rate

To qualify for this rate the card and cardholder must both be present at the time of the transaction. The credit card is keyed for authorization and captured through the magnetic stripe reader on an electronic terminal. The signature must be obtained on the credit card slip or printer receipt and the transaction must be settled within five days.

International Universal Cardholder Authntication (UCAF), International Full UCAF Program

The MasterCard UCAF program is designed to allow merchants and customers to interact during transactions; merchants are assured that customers using the cards are authorized users. Customers are required to have specific hardware with their card that will allow the exchange of data, much as the same way a PIN works with a PIN pad.

MasterCard Commercial Rates

Corporate Face-to-Face Rate

This rate applies to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet (excluding fuel Merchant Category Codes [MCCs] for Fleet) cards. The card and cardholder must both be present and the entire contents of the magnetic stripe must be read and transmitted. Static data like the merchant tax ID, merchant type must be included. The POS terminal should prompt for tax amount and customer code and the cardholder provides the customer code to the merchant. The transaction must be settled within 24 hours of the authorization.

Corporate Data I Rate

These transactions apply to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards. They are keyed transactions and electronic authorizations are required. The transactions must be settled within two days.

Corporate Data II Rate

These transactions apply to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards. They are keyed transactions and electronic authorizations are required. A Customer Code is not required. Additional fuel addendum data are required for Fleet cards. The transaction must be settled within two days.

Corporate Data III Rate

These transactions apply to Purchasing/Fleet, Business and Corporate (excluding fuel MCCs for Fleet) cards only. They are keyed transactions with electronic authorizations required. The transactions must be settled within two days. Level II and additional Level III data are required; Level III data include line item transaction details such as quantity of items and type of goods or services.

Corporate T&E I Rate

These transactions apply to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards (Fleet only at non-fuel MCCs). An electronic authorization and swiped or keyed entry are required. Qualifying transactions include restaurant, lodging, airline, passenger railway and auto rental merchants when addendum data are not provided. The transaction must be settled within two days.

Corporate T&E II Rate

These transactions apply to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards (Fleet only at non-fuel MCCs). An electronic authorization and swiped or keyed entry are required. Restaurant merchants are not eligible for this rate.

Qualifying transactions include lodging, airline, passenger railway and auto rental merchants with addendum data are required. The transaction must be settled within two days.

Corporate T&E III Rate

These transactions apply to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards (Fleet only at non-fuel MCCs). An electronic authorization and swiped or keyed entry are required. Restaurant merchants are not eligible for this rate.

Qualifying transactions for lodging, airline, passenger railway and auto rental merchants where addendum data are required. Additional T&E data including room rate, room tax, property phone number, etc. are also required. The transaction must be settled within two days.

Corporate Standard Rate For All Merchants

This rate applies to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards. The transactions must be settled within 30 days.

Corporate Large Ticket Rate (Non-T&E)

This category applies to Business, Corporate, Purchasing and Fleet cards only. Transactions must be greater than $3809.58 for Data Rate II; $6666.69 for Data Rate III and $7254.53 for a Face-to-Face transaction. It must be settled within 24 hours of the authorization and electronic authorization is required. Level II data are also required.

MasterCard International Rates

(The following MasterCard International Rates apply to all merchants for transactions on cards issued outside the United States.)

International Corporate Purchasing Data Rate II

This rate applies to Purchasing/Fleet (excluding fuel MCCs for Fleet) cards only. An electronic authorization with Level II data is required. The transactions must be settled within four days.

International Corporate Purchasing Rate

This rate applies to Purchasing/Fleet cards only. An electronic authorization is required. The transactions must be settled within 30 days.

International Corporate Purchasing (Large Ticket) (Non-T&E)

This rate applies to Purchasing/Fleet cards only. An electronic authorization required. The transaction must be more than $3000 and be settled within 30 days.

International Corporate Rate

This rate applies to MasterCard Business/Corporate cards only. The transaction must be settled within 30 days.