Placed on the MATCH list?
I help you find out why you were listed, and what removal would take.
In short
Mastercard’s MATCH list, once called the Terminated Merchant File (TMF), records merchants an acquirer has terminated for cause. A listing lasts five years. Only the acquirer that made it can correct or remove it, and early removal is limited to listings made in error or, for PCI non-compliance, to businesses now fully compliant.
What is the Mastercard MATCH list?
MATCH stands for Member Alert to Control High-risk Merchants. It is a database Mastercard runs. When an acquiring bank ends a merchant account for one of the reasons in Mastercard’s rules, it must report the business to MATCH. Acquirers must check new applicants against it before approving them, so a listing can shut you out of card processing.
People in the industry still call it the TMF, short for Terminated Merchant File. More than one card network keeps a similar file, so if a processor says you are “on the TMF,” I start by finding out which list it means.
Why do merchants get placed on MATCH?
An acquirer has to list a merchant under one of a fixed set of reasons. The most common are excessive chargebacks and excessive fraud, which Mastercard measures against monthly thresholds. Others include laundering, a data compromise, PCI non-compliance, bankruptcy, collusion, illegal transactions, identity theft and breaking Mastercard’s rules.
Two points surprise merchants. Closing your account first does not prevent a listing. Winning chargeback disputes later does not undo a listing based on chargeback volume. The reason the acquirer chose matters, because it shapes what can be challenged.
What does a MATCH listing contain?
A listing is more than a company name. It records the legal and trade names, the business address, phone, website and tax ID. It also records each principal owner’s name, address and tax ID, the dates the account opened and closed, and the reason for the listing.
Because the owners are recorded, a listing can follow the people behind a business. A new company with the same owners can be flagged when it applies for a merchant account.
How long does a MATCH listing last?
A listing stays on MATCH for five years. During that time, only the acquirer that added you can change it or take it off. Mastercard runs the database, but the listing belongs to the acquirer that reported you. That is why every removal effort starts with that acquirer, not with Mastercard.
How can I find out if I am on MATCH?
You cannot look yourself up, because MATCH is not a public list. Most merchants find out from a termination notice, or when a new processor turns them down. One step is a written request to the acquirer: did it list you, and for what reason? I can make that request for you.
If you do not know which acquirer listed you, Mastercard has a process for business owners to ask for the details of their own listing.
Can a MATCH listing be removed early?
Sometimes, but the grounds are narrow. Under Mastercard’s rules, the acquirer can remove a listing it added in error. If the reason was PCI non-compliance, it can remove the listing once it has verified the business is fully compliant. Otherwise a listing generally runs its five years, and removal is never guaranteed.
What I do
- Get the listing reason, and the name of the acquirer behind it, in writing.
- Check that reason against the facts and against your merchant agreement.
- If the listing is wrong, press the acquirer to correct or remove it.
- If it stands, work out what to fix first, including any PCI compliance gap, and what the acquirer would need to see.
Source: Mastercard, Security Rules and Procedures, Merchant Edition (opens in a new tab)
Why does timing matter in a MATCH dispute?
Many merchant agreements send disputes to arbitration, and require written notice before you can file. Those notice steps can carry deadlines. A listing can also arrive with a reserve or a freeze on your funds, each with its own dates. The sooner your agreement is read, the more options you keep.
What to bring to the first call
A first call goes further when I can see the paperwork. These documents usually show who listed you, under which agreement, and what the account looked like before it ended. Send what you have; gaps are normal, and I can tell you what else would help.
- Your merchant processing agreement and any addenda
- The termination notice, and anything that mentions MATCH or the TMF
- Your last twelve months of processing statements
- Your messages with the ISO, processor or acquiring bank
Common questions
Does a MATCH listing show up on my credit report?
No. MATCH is a card-industry database that acquirers check. It is not part of your personal credit file with the credit bureaus. Because it records principal owners, it can still affect your next merchant application.
Can I still take card payments while I am on MATCH?
It is hard. Most acquirers decline listed businesses and their owners. Some will still consider an application, usually on stricter terms, so answer every question about past terminations accurately.
Will starting a new company get me off MATCH?
No. A listing records the principal owners as well as the business, so a new company with the same owners can be flagged. The listing still runs for its five years.
Can a MATCH listing come with a reserve?
Yes. A termination for cause can lead to both a listing and a reserve on your money, so they can arrive together. I work on the listing and the held funds at the same time.
Should I contact the acquirer myself?
You can, but what you write may matter later in arbitration or court. I can make the written request, and read the answer against your agreement before anything else is said.
Talk to me about it
Call me, or email the termination notice with a few lines on what happened.