$680,000 to lobby interests of MasterCard in American Senate

As it was announced in 2007 MasterCard International Inc. offered to Sidley Austin, LLP in total $680,000 for lobbying its interests related to several Internet-related issues and the most tricky matter - merchant fees, charged while purchasing with credit card. $280,000 were paid within first half of the year to lobby on issues on merchants' fees paid to banks for accepting the MasterCard, as well as for paying for prescriptions processed online, Internet gambling and data security issues.

Basing on American Senate's disclosure the largest credit card processor spent approximately $400,000 in the second half of 2007 to lobby Congress. It lobbied on the same issues plus for the use of cards related to illegal material online purchases.

Let us remind you that in December the European Commission has warned the MasterCard international about the expected legal actions taken against the card processor and immense fees to be imposed provided the MasterCard wouldn't review and decrease the implemented unreasonably high merchant fees that are transmitted to the customers through the increase of the shelf price. So it seems that MasterCard is trying to fortify its positions on the American market and cover partly the potential losses that might occur from the decreasing of merchant fees throughout Europe.

Natalia, reporter of Ecommerce Journal