--- title: MasterCard Revisits Rules Around Card Validation description: Effective immediately, MasterCard rules around verifying card authenticity at checkout are optional. image: https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/mastercard-rules-card-validity.svg --- [tel:1-800-601-0230](tel:1-800-601-0230) 800-601-0230 - Features - Solutions - Developers - [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) - Resources [See a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/tour-payjunction) Features - EXPLORE PRODUCTS [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) - ACCEPT PAYMENTS [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH Electronic Checks](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - EXPLORE CAPABILITIES [Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integration Marketplace](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Remote Signature](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) Solutions - [Veterinary Streamline payment workflows and get paid faster with up-front deposits and payment schedules for high-cost procedures. 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MasterCard recently changed its standards around determining card validity at checkout. ## MasterCard Processing Rules In its most recent [transaction processing rules](https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/about-mastercard/what-we-do/rules.html), which were published on June 1, 2017, MasterCard required businesses to take steps to validate the authenticity of a card at checkout. The steps are as follows: 1. Check the valid date and the expiration date on the front of the card. If the card is expired or not yet valid, obtain an [authorization](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-authorization) from the card issuer. 2. Unless a Hybrid Point-of-Sale terminal is used, compare the PAN on the card front with the number displayed on or printed from the terminal. 3. If a photograph of the cardholder is present on the card, compare the photograph on the card with the person presenting the card. 4. Check that the card is signed. 5. For face-to-face individual transactions, request personal identification of the cardholder in the form of an unexpired, official government document (e.g., a driver’s license or passport) that bears the cardholder’s signature, the cardholder’s photograph, or both. For card-present transactions, compare the signature on the personal identification with the signature on the card and the photograph with the person presenting the card. MasterCard notes that its rules and standards change from time to time, and it’s possible that the documents on its [rules page](https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/about-mastercard/what-we-do/rules.html) may not be “absolutely current in all regards.” ## Payment Processing Demo Schedule 15 minutes with a payments expert Get a customized PayJunction product walk-through Understand requirements and pricing Determine your SAVINGS! GET DEMO NOW ## MasterCard Makes Card Validation Optional MasterCard announced immediate changes to its validation requirements. It now affords businesses the discretion to choose to complete certain steps when accepting MasterCard payments for in-person transactions. Yet, there are certain circumstances where a signature comparison is still required. This includes when a bank manually disburses cash or when a business sells a cash-like instrument. This change shouldn’t affect your business much. While it may speed up the checkout process, we still recommend taking steps to ensure the validity of a card to prevent fraud. It’s better to be safe than sorry. ## Accepting phone orders too? [![USE THESE SECURITY SETTINGS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/635739/b6005edb-12b9-4f67-a9e7-cc0cb6204eea.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/635739/b6005edb-12b9-4f67-a9e7-cc0cb6204eea) Have any of the steps above stopped a fraudster in his tracks? Tell us your crime-stopping story below! [Industry News](https://blog.payjunction.com/topic/industry-news) --- ##### [![How Dr. Hrach Obtained Premier Merchant Services for Medical Offices](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/merchant-services-for-medical-offices-dr-hrach.svg) How Dr. Hrach Obtained Premier Merchant Services for Medical Offices](https://blog.payjunction.com/merchant-services-for-medical-offices-dr-hrach) ##### [![MasterCard Assessment Fee Set to Increase to 0.13%](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/mastercard-assessment-fee.svg) MasterCard Assessment Fee Set to Increase to 0.13%](https://blog.payjunction.com/mastercard-assessment-fee) ###### About Author ![Picture of Ursula Librizzi](https://blog.payjunction.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ursula_Librizzi.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=Ursula_Librizzi.jpg) ### Ursula Librizzi Ursula is the sales and marketing operations manager for PayJunction. She oversees daily marketing tasks and liaises between the sales and marketing departments. ###### Related Posts ## [![MasterCard 2-Series Cards: What to Expect](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/mastercard-2-series.svg) MasterCard 2-Series Cards: What to Expect MasterCard announced its expansion to 2-series bank identification numbers (BINs). For decades, MasterCards started with the number five. However, MasterCard plans to begin issuing cards starting with the number two in summer 2017.](https://blog.payjunction.com/mastercard-2-series) ## [![Detecting Padded Dues and Credit Card Assessment Fees](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/credit-card-assessment-fees-unethical-billing.svg) Detecting Padded Dues and Credit Card Assessment Fees Due to the complexity of billing statements, many Merchant Account Providers practice unethical billing. In part four of this series, we will reveal padded dues and credit card assessment fees: another way providers make money by hiding fees from their customers.](https://blog.payjunction.com/credit-card-assessment-fees-unethical-billing) ## [![Mastercard Cards Without Signature Panels Starting April 2019](https://blog.payjunction.com/hubfs/BLOG/FEATURED%20IMAGES/mastercard-signature-panel.svg) Mastercard Cards Without Signature Panels Starting April 2019 If you haven’t noticed, a major trend has emerged in the last year around signatures and credit cards. In late 2017 and early 2018, card brands announced major changes to their signature requirements. Mastercard is now taking yet another step away from signatures.](https://blog.payjunction.com/mastercard-signature-panel) ## Meet a Payment System You’ll Love - ###### FEATURES [No-code Payments Integration®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/no-code-payments-integration.html) [ZeroTouch Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-terminal.html) [Portable Terminal](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/portable-credit-card-reader-terminal.html) [Invoices](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/electronic-invoices.html) [ACH](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ach-payments.html) [SmartSurcharge®](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/smart-surcharge.html) [Cards on File](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/store-credit-card-info.html) [Recurring Billing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/recurring-payments.html) - [Ecommerce](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/ecommerce-merchant-services.html) [Customization](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/custom-payment-software.html) [Remote Signatures](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/signature-capture.html) [Rapid Refunds](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/credit-card-refund.html) [Multi-Location](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/enterprise-payments.html) [Sales Reports](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/sales-reports.html) [Search and Export](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/transaction-history-search.html) [Mobile App](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/payjunction/id1324839420?ls=1&mt=8) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) - ###### RESOURCES [Product Overview](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-processing-solutions.html) [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Blog](https://blog.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Support](https://support.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) - [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [Pricing](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/pricing.html) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) - ###### RESOURCES [Integrations](https://integrations.payjunction.com/) [Guides](https://guides.payjunction.com/) [Tutorials](https://blog.payjunction.com/tag/pj-university/) [API](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/payment-api.html) [Request a Demo](https://www2.payjunction.com/payjunction-demo) [About Us](https://www.payjunction.com/payments/about.html) [Careers *HIRING*](https://www2.payjunction.com/careers) [Press](https://media.payjunction.com/) [Trust Center](https://trust.payjunction.com/) [Service Status](https://status.payjunction.com/) - ###### BUSINESS SOLUTIONS [Auto Dealers](https://www2.payjunction.com/automotive-merchant-services) [Veterinary](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-veterinarians) [Dentistry](https://www2.payjunction.com/payment-processing-dentists) ##### 800-601-0230 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER  Become a better advocate for your business. 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