Mississippi § 97-19-9 - Credit cards; definitions.

§ 97-19-9. Credit cards; definitions.

The following words and phrases as used in Sections 97-19-5 through 97-19-29 shall have the following meanings ascribed to them, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: “Cardholder” is defined as the person or organization named on the face of a credit card, as defined hereinafter, to whom or for whose benefit the credit card is issued by an issuer. “Credit card” is defined as any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate or by any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder or one authorized by him in obtaining money, goods, property, services or anything else of value on credit or in consideration of an undertaking or guaranty of the issuer of the payment of a check or draft drawn by the cardholder or one authorized by him, and shall include a card issued by a financial institution to be used in operating an automatic unmanned cash dispensing machine. “Expired credit card” means a credit card which is no longer valid because the term shown on its face has elapsed. “Issuer” is defined as any business organization or financial institution, including but not limited to merchants, state and national banks, and any and all other persons, firms, corporations, trusts, and organizations, or any duly authorized agent thereof, which issues a credit card. “Receives” or “receiving” is defined as acquiring possession of or control of or accepting as security for a loan a credit card. “Revoked credit card” is defined as a credit card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the issuer. A credit card is “incomplete” if part of the matter other than the signature of the cardholder which an issuer requires to appear on the credit card before it can be used by a cardholder has not been stamped, embossed, imprinted or written on said card. A person “falsely makes” a credit card when he makes or draws in whole or in part a device or instrument which purports to be the credit card of a named issuer, but which is not in fact such a credit card because the issuer did not authorize the making or drawing of said card; or when one materially alters a credit card which was validly issued. A person “falsely embosses” a credit card when, without the authorization of the named issuer, he completes a credit card by adding any other matter than the signature of the cardholder which an issuer requires to appear on the credit card before it can be used by a cardholder.