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Merchant Category Code (MCC)

Merchant Category Code (MCC):

Merchant classification code which identifies the merchant by type of processing, authorization and settlement.

Merchant Agreement

Merchant Agreement:

The written contract between merchant and acquirer who detail their respective rights, responsibilities and warranties.

Merchant Acquirer

Merchant Acquirer:

A member that has entered into an agreement with a merchant to accept deposits generated by bankcard transactions; also called the acquirer or acquiring bank.

Merchant Account Initiation (MAI)

Merchant Account Initiation (MAI):

A full-cycle credit management system that statistically credit scores and rates new merchant applications, tracks accounts from contract signing to achievement including an on-going profitability analysis, and retains a paperless credit file online.

Merchant

Merchant:

A retailer, or any other person, firm, or corporation that, according to a Merchant Agreement, agrees to accept credit cards, debit cards, or both, when properly presented.

Merchandise Returns/Refunds

Merchandise Returns/Refunds:

The request by a STAR Cardholder for a refund of part or all of a previously processed STAR Transaction. The STAR Network does not support Merchandise Returns and/or Refunds as an electronic transaction unless they are processed as Purchase Corrections/Cancellations or as Internet Purchase Credit pursuant to these Rules. A non-Internet STAR Merchant must handle a STAR Cardholder’s request for a refund or return of a product or service purchased with a STAR Card in the same manner as a refund or return of a product or service purchased with cash or a check.

Member

Member:

A financial institution which is a member of VISA USA and/or MasterCard International. A member is licensed to issue cards to cardholders and/or accept merchant drafts.

Media

Media:

The documentation of monetary transactions (i.e. sales drafts, credit slips, computer printouts, etc.).

Mail Order/Telephone Order (MO/TO)

Mail Order/Telephone Order (MO/TO):

The direct marketing catalog industry.

Magnetic Stripe

Magnetic Stripe:

A stripe (on the bankcard) of magnetically encoded cardholder account information affixed to a plastic card.