Tennessee Enacts Legislation Requiring Payment Service Providers to Provide Adequate Disclosures to Merchants

Credit Cards Debit Cards Payment Processors

On April 17, the Tennessee Governor Bill Haslem signed H.B. 547, which requires the disclosure of fees and other details in contracts entered into by payment service providers with merchants located within the state. The legislation requires the payment service providers to provide merchants with information detailing where the merchant can obtain access to operating rules, regulations, and bylaws under the agreement. In addition, the law requires payment service providers to disclose (i) the effective date of the agreement; (ii) terms of the agreement; (iii) any provisions relating to early termination or cancellation of the agreement; and (iv) a full schedule of all payment services fees with respect to the credit card, debit card, or other payment services under the agreement. The law also requires payment service providers to supply merchants with a monthly statement of fees, total value of transactions, and in some cases the aggregate fee percentage.