The MATCH List (Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) is a database maintained by Mastercard and used by other card brands to record merchants with terminated merchant accounts because of fraud, excessive chargebacks, or violations of network rules. Acquirers are required to check MATCH status before boarding a new merchant. If your business appears on this list, it can be difficult to obtain a new merchant account.
If you’ve been placed on MATCH, it’s important to understand the reason and develop a remediation strategy. AltoPay works with acquirers who are familiar with MATCH-listed businesses and can help assess your risk and options. Being transparent during underwriting and showing evidence of operational changes is essential.
Staying off the list begins with monitoring dispute ratios and addressing early warning signs. If your merchant account experiences an influx in fraud or chargebacks, it’s important to put management solutions in place as soon as possible. Suggested solutions include:
- Requesting card security codes (CVV, etc.)
- Adding address verification service (AVS) to checkout
- Chargeback prevention alerts
- Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR)
For more than a decade, Jessica Velasco has been a thought leader in the payments industry. She aims to provide readers with valuable, easy-to-understand resources.
