SAQ-C is not applicable to which payment channel?

The designation of SAQ-C (Self-Assessment Questionnaire C) pertains to specific merchant environments that handle credit card transactions. This particular self-assessment is designed primarily for merchants that process card-not-present transactions, which indicates that the cardholder is not physically present during the transaction process.

In the context of e-commerce payment channels, these transactions typically involve online sales where a customer enters their card information through a website or app; this is considered a card-not-present scenario. Consequently, SAQ-C is not applicable to e-commerce payment channels, as merchants operating in this area would follow different SAQ guidelines, specifically tailored to handle the risks and compliance issues unique to online transactions.

On the other hand, physical retail payments, telephone payments, and in-person face-to-face transactions generally involve the physical presence of the cardholder or the card itself during the transaction. Therefore, these payment channels would align with the requirements of SAQ-C, as they typically involve scenarios where there's interaction beyond just cardholder data collection online. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring compliance with PCI DSS requirements and accurately determining which SAQ type is applicable to a given merchant’s payment context.