Key takeaways
- MATCH is a Mastercard system that acquirers must check when onboarding merchants and must update when they terminate one for specific reasons.
- A listing records the business and its owners, and normally stays for five years.
- You cannot search MATCH yourself. Your former acquirer, or a new provider during underwriting, can tell you.
- Only the acquirer that added you can remove a listing early, for example if it was an error or, for PCI reasons, once you are compliant.
- Some specialist providers accept MATCH-listed merchants that have fixed the cause, usually with a reserve and volume caps.
What is the MATCH list?
MATCH stands for Member Alert to Control High-risk Merchants. It is a database run by Mastercard and was previously known as the Terminated Merchant File (TMF), which is why people also call it the merchant blacklist. When an acquirer terminates a merchant for certain reasons it must add the merchant to MATCH. When an acquirer onboards a new merchant it must check MATCH first.
A listing includes the business and its principals, such as owners and directors. That is why opening a new company with the same owners does not clear a listing. Visa runs a similar service, the Visa Merchant Screening Service (VMSS), and many acquirers check both.
MATCH reason codes
Every listing has a reason code. The code matters because it tells a new provider what went wrong and decides whether early removal is possible.
| Code | Reason | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Account data compromise | Card data was exposed through the merchant’s systems |
| 02 | Common point of purchase | The merchant was the common link in a set of fraud cases |
| 03 | Laundering | Processing transactions for another, undisclosed business |
| 04 | Excessive chargebacks | Chargebacks above the network thresholds |
| 05 | Excessive fraud | Fraud above the network thresholds |
| 07 | Fraud conviction | A principal was convicted of a criminal fraud |
| 08 | Questionable merchant audit | Identified under Mastercard’s questionable merchant programme |
| 09 | Bankruptcy or insolvency | The merchant cannot meet its financial obligations |
| 10 | Violation of standards | Breaching card network rules |
| 11 | Merchant collusion | Taking part in fraudulent transactions |
| 12 | PCI DSS non-compliance | Failing to meet card data security standards |
| 13 | Illegal transactions | Processing transactions that are illegal |
| 14 | Identity theft | Using someone else’s identity to open the account |
Excessive chargebacks (04) is by far the most common reason among the merchants we speak to, followed by excessive fraud (05) and PCI non-compliance (12).
How to check if you are on the MATCH list
Merchants cannot search MATCH directly. Only acquirers and their agents have access. To find out:
- Read your termination letter. Acquirers often say if they are adding you to MATCH and why.
- Ask your former acquirer or processor in writing whether they listed you, under which reason code and on what date.
- Ask a new provider. Any acquirer you apply to checks MATCH during underwriting and can tell you if a listing came up.
How to get off the MATCH list
Listings are removed automatically after five years. Before that, only the acquirer that added you can remove the listing. Mastercard rules allow this in a limited set of cases:
- The listing was an error, for example the wrong business, the wrong owners or a reason code that does not match what happened.
- PCI DSS non-compliance (code 12), once you have become compliant and the acquirer has confirmed it.
- Account data compromise (code 01) in some cases, once a forensic investigation and remediation show the merchant has fixed the issue.
For a removal request, write to the acquirer with your evidence: what happened, what you changed and the supporting documents. If you believe the listing is wrong and the acquirer will not act, a payments lawyer can help you escalate.
Getting card processing while you are on MATCH
A listing does not make processing impossible, but it narrows your options. Some specialist high-risk providers accept MATCH-listed merchants when the cause has been fixed. Expect:
- A higher rolling reserve and lower monthly volume caps for the first months
- Questions about the reason code, what went wrong and what you changed
- Evidence of fixes: chargeback alerts, fraud tools, a clearer descriptor, a better refund policy or a PCI compliance certificate
- Closer monitoring, with terms that relax after a clean processing history
Local payment methods such as bank transfers, open banking and instant payment systems do not run on card networks, so they are often a way to keep taking payments while you rebuild your card history.
How to avoid the MATCH list
- Watch your chargeback ratio monthly, not quarterly. Most providers want it well under 1%.
- Use chargeback alerts such as Ethoca and Verifi, so you can refund before a dispute becomes a chargeback.
- Make your billing descriptor recognisable so customers do not dispute payments they simply do not recognise.
- Publish clear refund and cancellation terms, and make cancelling subscriptions easy.
- Stay PCI DSS compliant and complete your annual questionnaire on time.
- Talk to your provider early when ratios rise. An agreed plan is far better than a termination.
Read next: rolling reserves explained and what to do when Stripe closes your account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MATCH list?
MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-risk Merchants) is a Mastercard database of merchants that acquirers terminated for specific reasons, such as excessive chargebacks, fraud, laundering or PCI non-compliance. Acquirers must check it before onboarding a new merchant.
How do I check if I am on the MATCH list?
You cannot search it yourself. Ask your former acquirer or processor in writing whether they listed you and under which reason code, or ask a new provider, which checks MATCH during underwriting.
How long do you stay on the MATCH list?
A listing normally stays for five years and is then removed automatically. Only the acquirer that added you can remove it earlier, in limited cases such as an error or, for PCI reasons, once you are compliant.
Can I get a merchant account if I am on the MATCH list?
Yes, some specialist high-risk providers accept MATCH-listed merchants that have fixed the cause, usually with a higher rolling reserve, lower volume caps and closer monitoring at the start.
Does a new company remove me from the MATCH list?
No. A listing records the business and its principals, so a new company with the same owners is matched to the old listing. Hiding the link with nominee owners leads to termination and further listings.
What is the difference between MATCH and the TMF?
They are the same system. TMF, the Terminated Merchant File, is the old name for what Mastercard now calls MATCH.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Payment providers set their own terms and make all underwriting decisions.