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Mastercard MATCH List: What Is It & How to Get Removed (2024)

Mastercard

The Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants list is a tool made by Mastercard for acquirers who work with merchants in high-risk industries.

While getting “matched” might initially sound cool, being a merchant on this infamous list can lead to irreversible damage. So, it pays to maintain good standing with your payment processors, especially if your business relies on credit card transactions to earn and process money.

Not sure how to maintain good standing? Keep scrolling to learn about what the MATCH list is, why businesses might be added, how to avoid being listed, and what to do if you’ve found yourself on it unexpectedly. 

What is the MATCH List?

We’re often surprised at how many high-risk merchants have never heard of the MATCH list. After one quick Google search, it may appear as if it’s just a blacklist of “bad” merchants, which isn’t that far from the truth. 

The notorious MATCH list, previously known as the TMF (Terminated Merchant File), is a new-age database created by one of the biggest card schemes in the world—Mastercard.

Its main purpose is to help protect payment processors by flagging companies with suspicious or particularly high-risk activities, like high chargeback rates, fraud, or non-compliance with regulations.  

How Do MATCH Lists Work?

Participating in MATCH is mandatory for acquirers and processors working with Mastercard’s card network. They’re required to consult the list before onboarding new merchants and report a business they’re working with if they believe the merchant is violating the card scheme’s terms and conditions

Once they can prove there’s been a violation, the acquirer must terminate its contract with the merchant. After termination, the business is assigned a reason code that specifies the violation that occurred. The card scheme then adds the merchant to the MATCH list. 

💡 Did you know?

Participating in MATCH is mandatory for acquirers and processors working with Mastercard’s card network. They’re required to consult the list before onboarding you as a merchant and report your business if they believe you might be violating the card scheme’s terms and conditions. 

Reason Codes: Why You Might Have Been Added to the MATCH List

A merchant can’t be added to the MATCH list unless there’s a reason code that corresponds with (and sort of explains) the supposed violation.

Mastercard has several codes that each specify the reason behind a termination. These codes vary from compromised account data to money laundering, yet they all lead to one thing—a designated spot on the MATCH list.

In addition to the 14 main reason codes Mastercard has established, there are 4 extra ones that are meant for merchants who have either been associated with any kind of illegal transactions or whose violations haven’t been 100% determined yet.

How to Know if You’re On the MATCH or TMF Lists

Many merchants who end up on the list only find out about it by applying for a merchant account with a new acquirer and getting declined because they are on the list.

This might come as a surprise since there is no direct way for merchants themselves to access the list

However, you can contact your current or previous acquiring bank to find out why they decided to list you. Granted, there’s no way to guarantee you’ll get the explanation you’re looking for, but this is the most likely way of figuring it out.

If you're on the MATCH list and don't know why, we always suggest getting in touch with the acquirer who put you on the MATCH list. Once we know why and what, we can figure out what to do from there and what your options are, whether that's a simple appeal because it was a mistake or another more complex plan of action.

Dennis Pedersen FastoPayments

Another way to find out why your business is listed on MATCH is to request information directly from Mastercard.

It’s also worth noting that some payment service providers are authorized to check the listing and could help you in this case. Of course, you’d have to find a processor willing to do so on your behalf.

How Long Do You Stay on the MATCH List?

The standard time period that a business remains on the MATCH list is 5 years. 5 years after the merchant’s most recent offense, Mastercard automatically removes the business from the list.

Being on the list essentially means your rights to process credit card payments have been revoked. As a MATCHed merchant, you’ll likely be considered an extra liability by future payment partners. This means that if you do find a payment provider willing to work with you, you’ll likely get less favorable terms like a longer contract or higher processing fees.

What can you do? Unless you believe there’s been a mistake or have a reason to believe the acquirer has misconducted your case, you’ll have to wait out the five-year period. 

Can You Get on the MATCH List Again?

The short answer is yes. You can get on the MATCH list again.

Even after finally getting removed from the list, there’s still a possibility of landing right back on there, especially as a high-risk merchant. This might happen in the case of a repeated violation or any unresolved issues resurfacing

For example, if you got MATCHed for an excessive amount of chargebacks, in the worst case, you’ll wait out the five years, and you might as well get back into business. However if you continue to have chargeback rates just as high, you might find yourself back on the list.

Below are some strategies you might want to consider to minimize the risk of being added to the database (again):

  • Maintain good practices

  • Stay compliant

  • Monitor chargebacks 

  • Utilize fraud and chargeback prevention tools

  • Use multi-layered security measures

  • Communicate with your payment service provider

  • Operate diligently

Red file envelope in a drawer full of envelops

How to Get Removed From the MATCH List

As hopeless as this situation may seem, there are a few ways to get your business off the MATCH list with minimal damage to your finances and reputation.

However, the method that works best for you will more than likely depend on how you ended up on the list in the first place. 

Below are three no-brainer ways to wriggle yourself out of this situation.

Wait Five Years

The easiest (and often only) way to get off the list is to wait until your business is removed from it automatically.

That, however, probably isn’t everyone’s first choice. I mean, who would want to put their business on pause for five whole years, especially if you’re not even sure how you ended up on that damned list in the first place.

So, this will be your best bet only if you know you’re on that list for a reason.

Appeal the Decision

To appeal the decision, you would first need to pinpoint the reason code. That’ll help you gather the needed documentation to prove there’s been an error or wrongdoing by an acquirer.

This information should also include anything that demonstrates that your business is in compliance and addresses issues that may have led to you being MATCHed, like PCI non-compliance.

The next step is submitting a thorough appeal directly to Mastercard for a “retrial.” While this process may take a lot of effort and time, it’s certainly better than the five-year wait with your hands tied.

PCI Compliance

If you landed on the MATCH list with the reason code 12, which indicates noncompliance with the PCI Data Security Standards, there’s still hope.

You actually may be able to get your business removed from the list by simply demonstrating adherence to the standards

💡 At FastoPayments, we provide our merchants with a comprehensive PCI DSS self-assessment questionnaire that’ll help business owners ensure their business is compliant and in good health. Contact us to ask for yours!

Alternative Payment Methods for MATCH List Merchants

Even though there are ways to get out of this sticky situation, for many merchants, this is just a reality they’ll have to deal with. Some may choose to wait it out; others, however, have to look for alternative payment methods to credit cards.

Despite credit card payments being almost necessary for processing the majority of transactions nowadays, there are some very convenient alternative options available, which we’ve explored below. 

eCheck

These electronic checks are digital versions of traditional paper checks. Take a simple voucher, a slip worth a specific amount of money that can be used to make a purchase, as an example. 

If this is the method you opt for, the payments will be made using ACH (Automated Clearing House), which takes funds from a customer’s account and directs them into a merchant’s business account. 

Although these online checks can facilitate cross-border transactions, they’re mostly used in the US. So, they might not be the best option if you or your customers are primarily located outside of the US.

Ultimately, using eChecks as your primary way of processing payments can be a complicated and pricey procedure.

To actually process a transaction, in this case, you would need to involve an authorized third party—a processor. Many intermediaries, however, aren’t willing to work with high-risk merchants, and if you’re looking to utilize eChecks as a MATCH-listed business, you are considered high-risk despite the industry you’re in. 

Cryptocurrency

If you’re new to the concept, cryptocurrency is digital money that can be used to make a purchase without involving a financial institution. Instead of banks keeping records of the transactions made using this currency, payments are verified and registered through modern blockchain technology. 

While this may seem like a payment method with clear pros for a blacklisted merchant, there are some cons to this option as well. 

Despite digital currency being a widely used tool nowadays, it still carries a specific stigma. Many people consider cash and credit cards the most trusty payment methods today and aren’t familiar enough with the concept of cryptocurrencies yet.

In addition to that, since the currency isn’t centralized, it makes it harder to trace transactions which puts your business at a higher risk of fraud. 

A bitcoin an eth coin in an online world with a phone processing a payment

P2P Wallet

A P2P payment essentially means that the transaction went directly from one person to another. So, instead of a bank or another middleman facilitating a transaction, P2P uses technology to process a payment between the two parties. 

The most known P2P service providers today are PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. While this payment method opens up a lot of opportunities for MATCHed merchants it does come with a few downsides as well.

Utilizing P2P as the primary way of processing transactions for your high-risk business may reduce your reach significantly. That’s because not all digital wallets are connected to all banks around the world.

In addition, transactions made through e-wallets are prone to human errors, which becomes a problem because there’s no intermediary and, hence, no real way to initiate a refund. 

Partner with FastoPayments for More Protection

Don’t leave the livelihood of your business in the hands of a payment processing partner who doesn’t help protect you. Work with FastoPayments instead.

Get a free, no-obligation quote for a high-risk merchant account and payment processing services here. We’ll review your business information and get back to you ASAP.

What makes ours the best high-risk merchant account solutions?

FastoPayments ensures your transactions are secure and simplified. Enjoy real-time monitoring, fraud prevention tools, and chargeback dispute assistance for domestic and international payment transactions.
There are years of industry experience behind our high-risk merchant guides and tips...