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FTC orders card company to let merchants use other debit networks

On December 23, the FTC ordered a payment card company to stop blocking merchants from using competing debit payment networks. According to an agency investigation, the company allegedly violated provisions of the Durbin Amendment, which requires “banks to enable at least two unaffiliated networks on every debit card, thereby giving merchants a choice of which network to use for a given debit transaction,” and “bars payment card networks from inhibiting merchants from using other networks.” The FTC claimed that the company’s policy requires the use of a token when a cardholder loads a company-branded debit card into an ewallet. Ewallets are used to make online and in-app transactions, the FTC explained, adding that because competing networks cannot access the company’s token vault, merchants are dependent on the company to convert the token to process ewallet transactions using company-branded debit cards. Moreover, since the company allegedly did not provide conversion services to competing networks for remote ewallet debit transactions, the FTC asserted that it is impossible for merchants to route their ewallet transactions on other payment networks.

Under the terms of the proposed order, the company will be required to (i) provide other payment networks with customer account information in order to process ecommerce debit payments, and prohibit any efforts that may prevent other networks from serving as token service providers; (ii) provide notice to affected persons; (iii) provide 60-days advance written notice to the FTC before launching any pilot programs or new debit products that would require merchants to route electronic debit transactions only to the company; (iv) file regular compliance reports with the FTC; and (v) notify the FTC of any events that may affect compliance with the order.

Federal Issues FTC Debit Cards Credit Cards Payments Durbin Amendment Enforcement