How to Avoid MATCH List Placement as a Merchant

  • September 3, 2025

What’s at Stake When You’re on the MATCH List

The MATCH list is a database of merchants who are banned from using the payments system. MasterCard maintains MATCH but all major card companies use it. Once you’re on MATCH, it’s very hard to get off the list. While you’re on the list, major card companies won’t let you process payments to their cards. That can be devastating for your business.

Once you’re MATCH’d, you might:

Lose payment processing capacity. This means you can’t accept credit card payments and must rely on cash or other forms of payment. By not accepting credit, your business can suffer a huge drop in revenue. This can make it very hard to keep up with your financial obligations, let alone run a profitable company.

Suffer reputational damage. By operating on a cash-only basis, you can develop a reputation as a company that’s hard to do business with. Your reputation might decline, as consumers assume any legitimate business takes credit. You also likely won’t be able to run an ecommerce site or online store, which can make your business appear outdated to modern consumers. 

Face a lengthy process to reinstatement. If you get on the MATCH list, it’s going to be hard to get off. MATCH list and Terminated Merchant File (TMF) removal is possible with legal help. 

Merchants usually get placed on the MATCH list without warning. Sometimes, a merchant has to ask their card processor if they have been MATCH’d, as they are not always informed before they are unable to use their account. This unexpected halt to activities can be devastating for most business owners. 

Getting MATCH’d gets in the way of business as usual. You certainly can’t grow or expand your business while on the MATCH list. For some merchants, the MATCH list means they’re barely able to sustain their operations, let alone do the work of increasing revenue and driving profits. Instead of focusing on growth, you’re dealing with a crisis. 

What You Can Do to Avoid Getting MATCH’d

To avoid that crisis, you can do what you can to avoid landing on the MATCH list. Some best practices for your credit card processing can help you to avoid the risky, “red flag” behaviors that can trigger a MATCH listing. Keep a close eye on your credit card transactions so you’re staying within the bounds of acceptable risk.

Monitor chargeback ratios. Aim for a chargeback ratio of less than 1%. You can implement policies that reduce the risk of customer-disputed charges that lead to chargebacks. Verify customer identity, deliver goods on time, and include your business name on transaction descriptions so customers recognize the charge. 

Implement fraud prevention tools. Use address verification service (AVS) to compare billing address and on-file card address. Take the card’s CVV to confirm the person making the purchase is the legitimate holder of the card. These kinds of steps can reduce the risk of processing an illegitimate transaction that a customer will dispute because of fraud. 

Maintain PCI DSS compliance. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of protocols set by the PCI Security Standards Council. These data security standards keep customer information safe. Adopt PCI PSS standards in your card processing machines and associated procedures to protect that sensitive data.

Regularly audit merchant account activity. Keep internal records and compare them to your merchant account statements. Regular review of account activity gives you the chance to spot and manage any suspicious or unauthorized transactions. This proactive work can offer reassurance your protocols are working. It can also help you clean up any problems early, before a prolonged period of activity leads to placement on the MATCH list. 

What to Do Next to Prevent Getting MATCH’d

Taking these steps is just the beginning. Because the consequences of MATCH listing are so grave for merchants, consider more proactive measures. Global Legal is an experienced and reputable law firm with a strong focus on the payments industry. Our lawyers deal with the specific issues most relevant to credit card merchants, like chargebacks, payment processor disputes, and MATCH list removal. 

Safeguard your business with a review of your current practices. Avoid the MATCH list by learning where your business is most vulnerable to a red flag. Assess your MATCH risk today. Contact our team. 

FAQs

Global Legal helps clients who are at risk of getting MATCH’d. Here are some answers to the most pressing issues people ask us.

What triggers a MATCH listing?

Some types of credit card processing activity are enough to flag the system that results in a MATCH listing. There are almost a dozen possible reason codes on the MATCH list, but the three most common are excessive chargebacks, fraud, and PCI non-compliance.  

This can reassure some merchants, since there are clear steps you can take to help prevent these flags. These steps include minimizing chargebacks, lowering chargeback ratios, implementing fraud prevention, and upgrading security systems to meet PCI DSS standards.

How can I monitor chargeback ratios?

Excessive chargebacks are one of the most common reasons for MATCH listing. In fact, chargeback ratios above 1% (and above $5,000 in chargebacks during the same time period) often trigger MATCH listings. By keeping close watch on your chargebacks you might therefore steer clear of MATCH. Regular monitoring of transactions, payment disputes, and customer refunds can help you assess your chargebacks.

To monitor chargeback ratios, use processor dashboards. Chargebacks should be clearly identified and easy to calculate as a percentage of overall activity. Your processor should direct you to this information on your dashboard and tell you how often the information is updated. 

Bear in mind that chargebacks can take several weeks to occur, so it’s a good idea to liaise with your processor to learn when you can consider transactions as final. 

Besides this approach, you can also discuss the issue with legal experts. They can closely examine your credit card processing procedures, how you receive notice of charge disputes, and advise on steps you can take for chargeback ratio monitoring. 

Can Global Legal Law Firm help prevent MATCH placement?

Yes. Payment industry attorneys can help with ensuring compliance and drafting policies. The team at Global Legal can run a risk assessment on your current practices and identify areas of vulnerability. They can highlight areas of non-compliance and recommend steps to meet standards in areas of data security (PCI DSS), fraud prevention, and reduced chargebacks.

Legal help is also essential for drafting internal policies for credit card processing procedures. You can use these policies to implement a consistent approach to credit card transactions that meets standards of risk reduction, thereby making it less likely suspicious activity will occur. With less suspicious activity, there’s less likelihood of placement on the MATCH list. 

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