What is the permitted scope of charges for each Crowne Plaza card transaction?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Client will pay Processor all fees, fines, assessments, penalties, obligations, liabilities, adjustments, and other charges and amounts a Card Organization, Issuer, or other Third Party imposes, establishes, or sets that are related to Client's transactions, and all related costs and expenses ("Third Party Based Fees"). Card Organizations and other Third Parties may modify their Third Party Based Fees during the Term of the Agreement. Modifications to Third Party Based Fees will be effective on the dates set by the Card Organizations or other third parties.
Third Party Based Fees are in addition to the Servicers Fees and include, without limitation, the following:
Interchange (including any amounts associated with downgraded transactions)
Chargebacks (you are responsible for all transactions, or portions of transactions, that are charged back and all related amounts)
Excessive Chargebacks
Dues and Assessments
Access Fees
Debit Network Fees
Card Organization Pass Through Fees
Other Fees and Amounts (including Data Compromise Losses and other amounts arising from a Compromised Data Event)
(e) Discover. Services provided for transactions made with Cards branded by Discover, Diners Club International JCB, Union Pay, BCcard, or any other Card Organizations subsequently designated by Discover (such Cards are "DNP Card Types" and such transactions are "DNP Transactions") are Non-Bank Services. Depending on your Merchant Account, DNP Transactions may be sponsored and settled by either Processor or Discover. DNP Transactions will be processed under and subject to Discover Card Organization Rules and the terms of the Agreement applicable to Discover Card acceptance and transactions, including, without limitation, the fees, rates, and interchange programs applicable thereto.
(f) American Express. American Express transactions are funded by American Express. American Express will provide you with its own agreement that governs those transactions. We are not responsible for and assume no liability with regard to the funding and settlement of American Express transactions. American Express will charge additional fees for the services it provides.
17.1 Debit Card Transactions Generally; Debit Networks Used. Your Debit Card transactions are subject to the terms of the Agreement, Card Organization Rules (including those of Debit Networks), and Applicable Law. Subject to Applicable Law, we may choose any available Debit Network, including a Debit Network affiliated with us, when routing your Debit Network Transactions. The Debit Network used may not be the lowest cost Debit Network available. We may change Debit Networks used based on various factors, including availability, features, functionality, and our own business considerations.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Crowne Plaza franchisees are obligated to pay all fees, fines, assessments, penalties, obligations, liabilities, adjustments, and other charges ('Third Party Based Fees') imposed by a Card Organization, Issuer, or other Third Party related to the franchisee's transactions, including all related costs and expenses. These Card Organizations and Third Parties can modify these Third Party Based Fees during the term of the agreement, with changes taking effect on the dates they set.
These Third Party Based Fees are in addition to the Servicers Fees. Examples of Third Party Based Fees include interchange fees (including amounts associated with downgraded transactions), chargebacks (where the franchisee is responsible for all transactions or portions of transactions that are charged back and all related amounts), excessive chargebacks, dues and assessments, access fees, debit network fees, card organization pass-through fees, and other fees and amounts (including data compromise losses and other amounts arising from a Compromised Data Event).
For transactions made with cards branded by Discover, Diners Club International JCB, Union Pay, BCcard, or any other Card Organizations subsequently designated by Discover ('DNP Card Types'), services are considered Non-Bank Services. Depending on the Merchant Account, DNP Transactions may be sponsored and settled by either Processor or Discover. DNP Transactions will be processed under and subject to Discover Card Organization Rules and the terms of the Agreement applicable to Discover Card acceptance and transactions, including the fees, rates, and interchange programs applicable thereto.
American Express transactions are funded by American Express, which will provide its own agreement governing those transactions and will charge additional fees for its services. The Bank is not responsible for the funding and settlement of American Express transactions. Debit Card transactions are subject to the terms of the Agreement, Card Organization Rules (including those of Debit Networks), and Applicable Law. The Debit Network used may not be the lowest cost Debit Network available, and Crowne Plaza may change Debit Networks used based on various factors, including availability, features, functionality, and business considerations.