Credit Card Rules and Policies
1.0 Definitions:
1.1 “Association” means any entity formed to administer and promote Cards, including VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover Card, and any other entity as specified by Lawson Travel.
1.2 “Authorization” means the process by which Customer electronically accesses Services’ computerized system, unless such system is inoperable or otherwise not accessible to Customer, in which case Customer shall utilize the designated toll-free telephone number, to obtain credit approval from the Card issuing bank before completion of the Card transaction.
1.3 “Card” means a valid credit card or valid off-line debit card bearing the service mark of VISA or Mastercard and any valid card issued by any other Associations or is then currently accepted by Lawson Travel for payment of a booking made through the Reservation Services.
1.4 “Cardholder” means the individual whose name is embossed on the Card and any authorized user of such Card.
1.5 “Card Security ID” is a unique number that is either on the front or back of the card and that serves as an additional level of security to help protect from Internet or credit card fraud.
1.6 “Chargeback” means the procedure by which a Transaction Record or other indicia of a Card transaction (or disputed portion thereof) is returned to the Card issuing bank for whatever reason, the liability of which is the Customer’s responsibility.
1.7 “Services” means the activities undertaken by Servicers to authorize process and settle all United States Dollar denominated VISA, Mastercard Card and any other Card transactions undertaken by Cardholders at Customer’s location(s) in the United States, and all other activities necessary for Servicers to perform the functions specified in this Agreement for all other cards than currently accepted by Lawson Travel.
1.8 “Servicers” means the financial institutions who are responsible for their respective bankcard programs and perform authorization, processing and settlement services for merchant s participating in bankcard programs (including Mastercard, VISA, American Express and Discover). Servicers any entity issuing a Card then currently accepted by Lawson Travel.
1.9 “Transaction Record” means evidence of a purchase of goods or services by a Cardholder from Customer using a Card, regardless of whether the form of such evidence is in paper, electronic or otherwise, all of which must conform to Association Rules.
2.0 Acceptance of Cards.
2.1 Customer acknowledges that Servicers shall perform the Services as they may determine.
2.2 Customer will accept any Card properly tendered, without imposing any special conditions. Customer will assess no special charge or extract any special agreement, condition (including any minimum or maximum transaction amounts) or security from a Cardholder in connection with any Card transaction. Customer shall not make any statements indicating that Customer will refuse to honor Card Transactions below or above specified amount. Customer shall not engage in acceptance practices or procedures that discriminate against or discourage the offered use of any particular Card accepted by Customer. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit Customer from entering into any Card specific promotions whether or not in conjunction with any Card issuer or co-branding a Card with any Card issuer, provided such promotion does not violate any rules set forth in this Exhibit C.
2.3 If the Cardholder is not present at the point-of-sale, Customer shall be responsible for identifying and verifying the Cardholder by request the following information: (a) Cardholder’s first and last name, (b) the billing address as it appears on the Cardholder’s Card statement, (c) Card type, number and expiration date and year, and (d) the Card Security ID. By asking for the Card Security ID when the Cardholder makes a card transaction, it becomes more difficult for unauthorized individuals to use the Cardholder’s Card. Customer will not honor a Card that appears or Customer otherwise has reason to believe to invalid or expired.
2.4 Customer will not store, print or save on any media type the Cardholder’s Security ID. Customer shall not store the Card Security ID. Customer shall not store the Card Security ID in any database.
2.5 Customer shall disclose to the Cardholder the following information (e.g., in a booking confirmation page or/and follow-up email): (i) the transaction date; (ii) a brief description of the goods or services sold, returned or cancelled; (iii)the price of the goods or services, including applicable taxes, or amount of any credit or adjustment; (iv) the Cardholder name; (vi) Customer’s address; (vii) a customer service telephone number; (viii) exact date any free trials end; and (x) any other information which the applicable Association may require.
3. Authorization.
Customer acknowledges that Authorization, (i) indicates only the availability of credit at the time of Authorization; (ii) does not warrant that the person presenting the Card is the rightful Cardholder; and (iii) is not an unconditional promise or guarantee by Servicers or Lawson Travel that any Card transaction will not be subject to Chargeback.
4. Internet and Telephone Orders.
4.1 When using an XML Interface, for each Internet or telephone order, an Authorization must be obtained by Lawson Travel, regardless of the face amount and Customer must complete the Transaction Record as described in the XML Interface documentation. Customer assumes all responsibility for identification of the Cardholder and the validity of the Card information for Internet and telephone orders.
4.2 Customer’s website must contain a complete description of the goods or services offered, returned merchandise and refund policy, customer service contact information (including an email address or telephone number), known export or legal restrictions, and Customer’s delivery policy.
4.3 For Internet transactions, copies of Transaction Records may be delivered to Cardholder in electronic or paper format. Customer may not transmit Cardholder account numbers to Cardholders for Internet transactions.
4.4 Customer agrees to follow the VISA Cardholders Information Security Guidelines (presently available online at VISA’s Web site (www.visa.com) as well as any other security guidelines or requirements established by any applicable Association or by Servicers.
5. Chargebacks.
Customer shall assume all liability and responsibility for Chargeback transactions equal to the amount of the Customer’s compensation for that transaction.