How Does The MATCH List Work?

As a merchant, landing on the MATCH list is one of the worst things that can happen to you and your business. MATCH stands for “Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants.” 

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The list, created by Mastercard, is a rebranded version of an older list known as the Terminated Merchant File, or TMF list. Today, the MATCH list compiles the names of merchants who have racked up excessive chargeback fees or had their merchant accounts terminated by providers.

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While winding up on the MATCH list is a serious problem, many merchants still aren’t sure how the list works, what happens once you’re on it, or how you get named as a MATCH merchant in the first place.

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In this blog, we’ll discuss how the MATCH list works and how to avoid being listed.

Why do Merchants Wind Up on the MATCH List?

Merchants on the MATCH list usually end up there because they’ve incurred excessive chargebacks. 

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Usually, a merchant’s acquiring bank places them on the list in the first place. If an acquiring bank terminates a merchant account, Mastercard requires that bank to add the merchant to the MATCH list. 

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In addition to excessive chargebacks, however, there are other reasons merchants are added to the MATCH list. They include illegal activity, security breaches, bankruptcy, fraud, non-compliance, and more:

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• Account data compromise
• Common point of purchase
• Laundering
• Excessive chargebacks
• Excessive fraud
• Unused
• Fraud conviction
• Mastercard Questionable Merchant Audit Program
• Bankruptcy/Liquidation/Insolvency
• Violation of Standards
• PCI-DSS Non-Compliance
• Illegal Transactions
• Identity Theft

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While some of these reasons are obvious, others aren’t under a merchant’s control. Examples include identity theft and account breaches that target the merchant as the victim. 

What Happens Once You’re on the MATCH List?

Being on the MATCH list is a red flag for other financial institutions you may want to work with.

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Once your merchant account is terminated, you’ll be labeled a high-risk merchant, making it harder to open another merchant account in the future. 

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Even if you find a bank to provide merchant services, many charge exorbitant fees for high-risk merchant accounts, which is a financial barrier for many companies. 

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Fortunately, you do have options. You can work toward getting off the MATCH list by becoming compliant with PCI-DSS. In the meantime, you can find a merchant service provider who specializes in working with high-risk businesses - like Seamless Chex. 

Why Choose Seamless Chex for High-Risk Merchant Account Services?

Being in a high-risk industry or on the MATCH list shouldn’t make it impossible to do business. Here at Seamless Chex, we understand the unique needs of high-risk merchants and provide merchant account services that support you and your team - without the abusive fees other companies charge. 

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Our high-risk merchant accounts allow companies in high-risk industries to accept and process electronic payments from credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks quickly and easily.

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No matter your needs, we provide the infrastructure required to handle your transactions securely, mitigate chargebacks, and comply with the regulations governing your industry.

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Ready to learn more? Contact us today to determine if our high-risk merchant accounts are right for you.

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