WHAT IS MATCH LIST

 The MATCH list is not where you want to be. It suggests that your merchant account has been flagged as high-risk due to chargeback activity, which can be a big problem for doing business in the future. The best way to do that is to be fully educated about what criteria can get you placed on the MATCH list, what you can do if you end up on it despite your best efforts, and how to avoid ending up in that scenario.



The Match (Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) List provides acquiring banks with a record of high-risk merchants as defined by Mastercard. With the
MATCH list, banks screen merchants and determine their risk as a merchant account holder. MATCH is the rebranded overhaul of an older, more aptly named list, the Terminated Merchant File (TMF). It was created by Mastercard to help acquiring banks identify high-risk merchants before entering into merchant agreements with them. 

You are on the MATCH list because of chargeback activities. Sometimes Mastercard will place you on the list, but more often than not your acquiring bank will do so. If you are a merchant that racks up chargebacks, there is a chance that you could end up on this list. The MATCH List is just one more reason why keeping up this fight is so important for merchants. 

IMPACTS ON BEING ON THE MATCH LIST:

If an acquiring bank terminates your merchant account, it is a big red flag for other financial institutions and credit networks. Essentially, you will be labeled a high-risk merchant, and many institutions will not do business with you (or will only do so with exorbitant fees). Some acquiring banks may decide that you are worth the risk, depending on their risk assessment and the reasons you have for being on the MATCH list

More importantly, it can be hard to process payments if you are on the MATCH list due to fees or access. If you can't process payments, this can be a big hit to your potential revenue and how you do business. 


YOU CAN AVOID BEING ON MATCH LIST:

For the most part, you can avoid the MATCH list by adhering to quality business practices. You want to focus on the things that are under your control as a merchant: maintaining compliance with standards and regulations, taking proactive steps to prevent and reduce fraud, and of course, doing everything you can to stop chargebacks from occurring and fighting them when they cannot be avoided. 


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