Can I choose not to certify for PCI Compliance?

MasterCard and Visa require all merchant acquirers to report on the PCI compliance of their merchants. If you choose not to complete the self-assessment questionnaire you may overlook certain data security practices that minimize your risk of a security breach. In the event that your business is compromised, you may be subject to fines of up to $500,000 per payment brand. These fines would be in addition to the expenses and fraudulent transactions resulting from the breach.