Legitimacy of merchants that reject US-based credit cards

[jgombos]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Some Belgian mobile phone providers who accept credit card are systematically blocking payments when the credit card number traces back to the US. I'm not sure if they are singling out US cards, or if they're denying all non-Belgian credit cards.

The question is, do the terms of service merchants agree to with visa or mastercard allow for this kind of selective card acceptance?

 

[FlyingRon]

Not a legal issue (at least not a US legal issue). Contact your card issuer. It's at worst an issue with their merchant agreement with the card companies to not take all cards.

 

[Antigone*]

No wonder my credit card rejected when I went to pay for my Belgian waffle breakfast. Wheeew...well, now that mystery is solved

 

[CourtClerk]

No wonder my credit card rejected when I went to pay for my Belgian waffle breakfast.

Yeah, I had a problem paying for french toast

 

[jgombos]

I found this in the VISA acceptance rules-

To offer the broadest possible range of payment options to consumers, most
merchants choose to accept all categories of Visa debit and credit cards . U .S .
merchants, however, may accept:
• All Visa cards
• Visa credit and business cards only
• Visa consumer debit and prepaid cards only
These acceptance options apply only to cards issued in the United States .
Merchants accepting any category of Visa cards must honor all foreign-issued
Visa cards presented for payment.

Mastercard USA also has a "honor all cards" rule in section 5.6.1 of their rule book.

Although none of this addresses my particular case because I'm in an area that's bound by the VISA Europe rules. Anyone know if these rules are mirrored in the European merchant rules?

 

[Zigner]

I found this in the VISA acceptance rules-


Mastercard USA also has a "honor all cards" rule in section 5.6.1 of their rule book.

Although none of this addresses my particular case because I'm in an area that's bound by the VISA Europe rules. Anyone know if these rules are mirrored in the European merchant rules?

Well, since this is a US LAW forum, you are out on two counts.