VISA to go Easy on Non-Compliant Merchants — For Now

 Two key deadlines for merchants accepting VISA cards passed last week (July 1), accompanied by a statement from the card company saying it would "not take a punitive approach" against those who haven't been able to meet the deadlines. Acquirers were required to make sure their merchants use point-of-sale software that meets the Payment Application Data Security Standard and that any PIN pads connected to Visa Inc.’s network use triple DES encryption technology.

The PA-DSS compliance program at VISA began in 2007. The requirement applies to software that runs on multifunction point of sale systems frequently used in restaurants and other specialty merchants.

MasterCard Worldwide has set a July 1, 2012, global deadline for PA-DSS compliance for its merchants.

While VISA said it would work with acquirers, merchant banks and processors to assist merchants who, in good faith, haven't been able to meet the compliance deadline, it also noted that the lenient policy won't apply to those who purposely ignore the requirement.

Visa’s will take the same approach to merchants who cannot meet the deadline for triple DES encryption of PIN pads.