Background

MasterCard is modifying the requirements that apply to merchants that use a subscription/recurring billing model and took effect September 22nd, 2022. Specifically, the requirement to provide an electronic receipt after each billing will now only apply to merchants that are identified for at least four months in the Acquirer Chargeback Monitoring Program (ACMP). In addition, all requirements will now only apply to non-profit and charity merchants that are identified for at least four months in the ACMP. 

Overview of New Requirements:

Effective immediately, MasterCard has modified the requirements for all merchants that utilize a subscription and recurring payment plan as follows:

• Each time that the merchant receives an approved authorization request, the merchant must provide the cardholder with an electronic transaction receipt through an email message or other electronic communication method. The receipt must include or provide access to instructions for account management capabilities, including instructions for canceling the subscription (and thereby withdrawing permission for any subsequent recurring payment). 
  • MasterCard recommends this Standard as a best practice for all merchants that utilize a recurring payment plan. However, this Standard becomes a requirement when a merchant that utilizes a recurring payment plan that is identified at least four months or more in the ACMP as an Excessive Chargeback Merchant (ECM), a High Excessive Chargeback Merchant (HECM), and an Excessive Fraud Merchant (EFM) within the same audit period, as defined under the program (see the Data Integrity Monitoring Program manual for more information). A merchant that the ACMP identifies for at least four months or more that has not implemented this requirement may be subject to Category A noncompliance assessments each month, which will be in addition to the assessments applicable under the ACMP. For more information about Category A noncompliance assessments, see Section 2.1.4 of the MasterCard Rules.