As an added benefit for being a Banc Certified Merchant Services client, we would like to provide you with the information about downgrades in the hope of helping you avoid them as much as possible.

What is a downgrade rate? A downgrade is when a credit card transaction fails to meet all of the necessary standards, the merchant receives a less-than-optimal interchange rate.

How does a downgrade happen? Downgrades happen in the following situations:

• When a merchant keys in a transaction on a swiped account, the terminal should ask for the Address Verification System. (AVS)
• When the settled amount not equal to or less than the authorized amount.
• Merchant does not batch on a daily basis.
• When a merchant does not answer all prompts by pushing zeros and skipping questions by pushing enter.
• When a corporate card is provided the terminal should prompt for either invoice number or customer code.
• Mail Order / Telephone Order accounts should ask for CVV / CVC codes.

What do I do if I have more questions? If you have more questions please contact our client relations manager Jean Thomas at (877) 861-8008 ext 2221.