Mastercard reminds merchants to assign unique terminal IDs

For: Terminal merchants

Terminal ID Requirements

According to Mastercard specifications for Data Element (DE) 41 (Card Acceptor Terminal ID), merchant locations with multiple terminals must uniquely identify each terminal. Mastercard’s Unique Terminal ID Compliance Program identifies merchant locations with multiple terminals that use a single terminal ID to identify all terminals on the premises, and Mastercard is enforcing the requirements for the content of DE 41.

DE 41 should contain a terminal ID that is up to eight characters long (assigned by the terminal owner) and is unique within the terminal owning organization. 

Compliance management

Mastercard uses their Rules Compliance program to manage compliance for this field. In accordance with the definitions within this program, this is considered a Category C compliance item, and fines could be assessed.