|
Many of you have enquired about the change from the 'Switch' card type to the 'Maestro' card type, so this email is to clarify the situation for you. Please ensure that you read all of this email carefully to avoid any misunderstanding or confusion for you or your customers, who may well ask you about this.
The Switch card scheme was launched 15 years ago to provide UK debit cards. The introduction of e-Commerce, and the associated changes in card usage, now require a global debit card scheme. Because of this, MasterCard (who now own the 'Switch' scheme) will be migrating cards to the global 'Maestro' name.
There are currently two types of Maestro card, defined by the banking industry as:
Domestic Maestro
International Maestro
DOMESTIC MAESTRO
Put simply, Domestic Maestro cards are Switch cards. New Switch cards will be joint branded with both the Switch and Maestro logos appearing on the front of the card, however Switch will continue to be the primary UK brand for Maestro until 30/06/07 when Switch will disappear altogether. From 30/06/05 merchants have the choice of removing the Switch logo from their website, however the Switch name and logo must be removed by the deadline of 30/06/07.
Protx will amend its payment pages in accordance with the 2007 deadline.
INTERNATIONAL MAESTRO
International Maestro encompasses all non-UK card schemes that are changing to Maestro. In order to be able to process International Maestro cards it is compulsory for merchants to support 'MasterCard SecureCode' for all Domestic and International Maestro transactions, under the 'Honour All Cards' rule.
The intention of MasterCard is that all online e-Commerce merchants will be able to support MasterCard SecureCode by 30/06/05, so that both Domestic and International Maestro cards can be accepted.
MASTERCARD SECURECODE
Protx is currently testing MasterCard SecureCode with the acquiring banks and hopes to offer this facility to VSP Form and VSP Server customers beginning Q2 2005, once new administration tools are available to support this.
N.B. Because of the complexity involved in supporting MasterCard SecureCode this service will not be available for VSP Direct customers until Q3 2005.
There are many benefits offered to vendors by MasterCard SecureCode, such as guaranteed payment and reduced fraud, so if you would like to know more about it please visit this link:
http://www.mastercardmerchant.com/securecode/
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
If you currently accept Switch cards you can already accept Domestic Maestro cards. As the word 'Domestic' is relative to your geographic location, and may cause confusion with overseas customers, we have amended our payment page to make it clear that this refers to UK issued cards, by changing the card type selection to 'Switch / UK Maestro'.
Vendors using the VSP Direct integration type may wish to amend their payment pages to reflect this, but the card type to be passed for processing should remain as 'SWITCH'.
LONG TERM ACTIONS
Once MasterCard SecureCode has gone live and the banks have amended their systems, Protx will introduce the 'International Maestro' card type on its payment pages. This will allow all Maestro cards to be accepted well in advance of the 2005 deadline, however they will remain under two different names on the payment pages as they are still two different schemes.
Direct customers will be contacted when new integration protocols are released, enabling them to take advantage of the new security measures and card types. To achieve compliance, customers with this integration type should expect and budget for extra website development to take place later this year.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS:
Feb 2004: Domestic Maestro can be accepted.
Q2 2005: MasterCard SecureCode introduced for VSP Form and VSP Server.
Q3 2005: International Maestro can be accepted by VSP Form and VSP Server.
Q3 2005: MasterCard SecureCode introduced for VSP Direct.
Q4 2005: International Maestro can be accepted by VSP Direct.
June 2005: Deadline for e-Commerce compliance with MasterCard SecureCode.
June 2007: Deadline for complete removal of Switch.
This is all the information available at present, but Protx will inform all of its customers as these changes begin to take effect.
N.B. Unlike many other payment service providers, Protx will not charge extra for MasterCard SecureCode, or the Verified By Visa scheme that will be introduced at the same time.
If there is anything that you do not understand, or you have any questions about Maestro cards please email us at: support@protx.com
|
