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More Frequently Asked Questions


From Our Business Consumers


How does my business apply for a MasterCard BusinessCard, Corporate Card or Corporate Purchasing Card?
How can my business get a list of MasterCard/Cirrus ATM locations?
How can my business establish a merchant account with MasterCard?
How can my business download the MasterCard brand mark for use on the WWW?
Does MasterCard set standards for deciding which merchants can accept the MasterCard?
My company is a business supplier. How can I get information about accepting the MasterCard Corporate Purchasing Card®?
My company is a financial institution. How can we become a MasterCard member?
What is MasterCard doing about Internet security?
How do I get emergency assistance from MasterCard while traveling?
I represent an existing MasterCard member institution. How can I contact a MasterCard representative?
Can a merchant charge me a fee to use my MasterCard card? Can a merchant require a minimum purchase amount to use my MasterCard card?

Q: How does my business apply for a MasterCard BusinessCard, Corporate Card or Corporate Purchasing Card?
A: MasterCard provides invaluable business tools for your company or agency. To apply for a card within the U.S., you must contact one of our card-issuing member institutions since MasterCard does not issue cards itself. See the Small Business, Corporations or Public Sector areas of this website for lists of these member institutions, or to request further information. To apply for a card outside the U.S., contact one of our regional offices.
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Q: How can my business get a list of MasterCard/Cirrus ATM locations?
A: The MasterCard/Cirrus ATM network is the largest in the world, giving you immediate access to cash wherever you go. To locate an ATM in a particular place, try our ATM Locator, or, within the U.S. and Canada, call 1-800-4Cirrus (1-800-424-7787). Outside the U.S. and Canada, contact your financial institution.
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Q: How can my business establish a merchant account with MasterCard?
A: With so many millions of MasterCards in circulation, it's a wise choice for any business to accept MasterCard. We've assembled all the information you need to get started in our Merchant Acceptance Center. Visit today!
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Q: How can my business download the MasterCard brand mark for use on the WWW?
A: Electronic versions of the MasterCard brand mark are available on this web site for download by qualified institutions. Click here for details.
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Q: Does MasterCard set standards for deciding which merchants can accept the MasterCard?
A: MasterCard sets some minimum standards on merchants for the protection of cardholders, but most standards are set by the banks that maintain a direct relationship with the merchant. These standards will vary from bank to bank, but in general a bank will prefer a merchant with whom it has an established relationship. It will also prefer, as a fraud-prevention measure, a merchant that can't move away on a moment's notice, potentially leaving behind fraudulent transactions.
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Q: My company is a business supplier. How can I get information about accepting the MasterCard Corporate Purchasing Card®?
A: If your company does business within the U.S., see the MasterCard Corporate Purchasing Card pages of this web site. Outside the U.S., contact one of our regional offices.
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Q: My company is a financial institution. How can we become a MasterCard member?
A: Please contact a Member Relations representative at the MasterCard office nearest you.
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Q: What is MasterCard doing about Internet security?
A: MasterCard has long recognized that the security of all transactions is a key requirement for consumers, merchants and financial institutions. On the Internet, MasterCard has been a leader in the effort to provide secure electronic commerce through our support of SecureCode which provides MasterCard Cardholders with added protection against unauthorized card usage when shopping at participating merchants online.
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Q: How do I get emergency assistance from MasterCard while traveling away from home?
A: MasterCard provides many services to assist you whether you're close to home or halfway around the world. Look through our Emergency Aid section, which will lead you to listings of toll-free Global Service phone numbers around the world.
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Q: I represent an existing MasterCard member institution. How can I contact a MasterCard representative?
A: MasterCard representatives are available in MasterCard offices worldwide to help you with information specific to your region. Please contact a Member Relations representative at the MasterCard office nearest you.
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Q: Can a merchant charge me a fee to use my MasterCard card? Can a merchant require a minimum purchase amount to use my MasterCard card?
A: The answer to the first question is almost never; the answer to the second question is not ever. Merchants must follow certain acceptance rules in order to be granted the privilege of accepting MasterCard cards. One of these rules specifically prohibits the practice of surcharging, that is, charging a customer a fee for using a MasterCard card over and above the sale amount. Under very specific conditions, however, a merchant can charge customers - including those using a MasterCard card - a fee in addition to the transaction amount. As a general rule, such a fee doesn't violate the MasterCard rules provided the fee is charged to all customers engaging in the same transaction, regardless of the form of payment. Keep in mind, however, that it is not a violation of the MasterCard rules for a merchant to offer customers a price discount for payment in cash, provided payment by MasterCard card is on at least as favorable terms as payment by any other means. Another MasterCard acceptance rule prohibits merchants that accept MasterCard cards from establishing any minimum amount below which the merchant won't accept payment via MasterCard card. If a merchant displays a decal with the MasterCard logo to indicate that MasterCard cards are accepted, that merchant can not condition a sale based upon the cardholder disclosing any other information or identification, except under very specific conditions, such as when merchant needs to deliver merchandise to the cardholder's home or business.

It's not always easy to tell whether a merchant is complying with MasterCard acceptance rules. It's important to MasterCard that you are treated fairly and in accordance with those acceptance rules when you shop using your MasterCard card.
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