Who is responsible for the assignment of penalties or fees for non-compliance among the Payment Card Brands?

The assignment of penalties or fees for non-compliance is the responsibility of the Payment Card Brands. These brands establish the compliance requirements for merchants and service providers that handle card transactions. When compliance standards, such as those set by the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), are not met, it is the Payment Card Brands that enforce penalties and fines.

This enforcement serves as a mechanism to encourage all involved parties to maintain a high level of security and protect cardholder data. The Payment Card Brands have the authority to determine what those penalties are, which may vary based on the severity and frequency of non-compliance. They aim to safeguard the overall integrity of the payment card ecosystem, hence their pivotal role in this process.

In contrast, other parties like the PCI SSC, cardholders, and merchants do not have direct authority to assign such penalties. The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) primarily develops and maintains security standards but does not enforce penalties. Cardholders and merchants may face the consequences of non-compliance, but they are not responsible for assigning penalties.