How to Get a Merchant Account After Being Placed on MATCH

Imagine you are a hard-working, self-made entrepreneur who has invested extensive time, money, and creativity in designing an e-commerce enterprise that has optimized product offerings, targeted promotional campaigns, and a seamless customer experience. Suddenly, you receive an email stating that the merchant account has been suspended indefinitely and that the business entity, along with its key decision-makers, is officially listed in the MATCH database, a specialized credit reporting agency for the payment industry. It is a widely known database that contains a detailed history of flagged entities and is monitored by a well-acclaimed card network.

Although it affects an uncountable number of merchants every year worldwide, getting placed on a MATCH listing doesn’t mark the end of a career. Although the emotional and economic damage it causes is immense, it is possible to regain access to processing services. This can be done through a rigorous process that includes a disciplined, multifaceted strategy and commonly used methodologies applied across numerous recovery cases. This detailed guide highlights the mechanics behind the MATCH listing. You will understand the most prominent reason for getting listed on MATCH, along with the remedies that are available to get rid of this hurdle.

What is the MATCH database, and Why Do You Need to Learn About It?

As explained earlier, this widely known database contains a repository of flagged identities. It was previously known as Member Alert to Control High-risk Merchants. This database is consulted frequently by acquiring banks, full-service processors, and independent sales organizations. They often refer to this database before making a new onboarding decision. An active listing typically indicates heightened risk, illegal activity, or an inability to comply with mandatory security protocols, making the conventional account setup process overly burdensome.

It is needless to say that, in the coming years, frictionless card processing will play a non-negotiable role in sustaining growth; without it, enterprises will face hurdles across digital storefronts, recurring billing cycles, mobile payments, and traditional point-of-sale terminals. The negative effect of a MATCH entry is not limited to card schemes; it extends beyond them, as a stream of alerts is generated by interconnected networks. The record component could cover a vast range of items, including business identifiers, operational addresses, and personal details of principals. In addition to these, the record component also includes a codified explanation of the cause of the termination.

Evidence shows that this list hinders operations across businesses, from new online stores struggling with weak fraud protection to large retail shops burdened by holiday customer complaints. Outdated or obsolete payment machines are another contributing factor to this failure. Although these may sound frightening, they can be addressed if you understand the root cause, spot the red flags early, and take corrective action.

What Are the Common Reasons for Which Merchants Get Listed On MATCH?

 Few merchants intentionally have their names listed on MATCH. The primary reason is the failure to address small problems, which can escalate into major issues if left unaddressed. Those businesses, identified as high-risk, such as merchants selling vitamins, travel booking services, digital files, or subscriptions, remain on the hit list because they are easy targets for customer complaints. A few of the main reasons that make them an easy target include:

•     High rate of customer refunds. Approximately 100 chargebacks within 3 months, or 1% of sales, are typically considered a high rate.

•     Poor security that fails to protect data and detect warnings at an early stage.

•     Abnormal business signs that include an abrupt jump in sales without any reason, discrepancies in bills like incorrect names, or bank payments that are bounced back.

•     The linkage of the business owner’s information with the glitch.

However, the above reasons may seem troubling; they can be addressed easily by regularly checking the account dashboard and resolving complaints within a day. It usually takes 3-6 months to rebuild your merchant profile post- MATCH. With dedicated and smart work, merchant rehabilitation is possible.

Step-by-step Guide To Return To The Post-MATCH Listing.

Step 1: Don’t forget to check your status and collect all the vital papers

The first step is to obtain a “termination form” from your former processor, which will provide a clear explanation of the reason for their termination. Identify what’s wrong and get it fixed through the card company’s website. This fixing should be completed within 10 days (about 1.5 weeks). Then, arrange the documents listed below as proof to show that you have fixed the problem:

•     Bank statement of the last financial year indicating a steady flow of money.

•     A copy of a blank cheque along with your tax ID number.

•     Reports of all the previous payments, including the one that did not end positively.

•     Document that will prove that your chargebacks do not exceed 0.75%

Step 2: Try to fix the problem by making crucial changes

This step involves fixing the main cause minutely. To do this, start by keeping a record of all changes, then run a second check to verify the address, CVV, and time-based buy limits. Incorporating new, smart, and updated tools to predict scams can be another vital step in addressing the problem. In the event of a dispute, establishing a dedicated team or automated system with sufficient evidence to defend and resolve the issue can be especially effective.

Step 3: Choose the right payment providers

Instead of going to safe big banks, try to reach out to local high-risk companies, as these processors are crafted especially to work with businesses facing challenges in the past years, and will be appropriate to review your situation.

However, remember that:

•     High-risk processors, which come with higher transaction fees, need a rolling reserve. Their monitoring terms are stricter than those of others.

•     There are no standard fees and conditions. It varies widely; therefore, try to target more than one renowned provider. This will increase your chances of approval.

•     Working with processors having a history of working with MATCH-listed merchants will ensure that your improvements get assessed correctly.

Step 4: Avoid discrepancies and submit a lucid, honest application

Make sure that the application you submit is devoid of any errors and includes the following:

•     Statement of your MATCH listing containing its status with context.

•     A brief yet detailed summary of the reason behind the issue.

•     Explicit evidence of the measures taken to rectify the issue.

•     A detailed history of your performance data, highlighting the improvement ratio in dispute and risk metrics.

Keep in mind that there is no alternative to well-organized, authentic documentation. It not only allows underwriters to evaluate your application carefully but also ensures a timely outcome.

Conclusion

Once you successfully get yourself removed from the MATCH list, make sure that you implement long-term strategies to avoid repetition and future risks. Adopt measures to sustain operational health and strengthen and secure your position with payment partners. A few things to keep in mind include having a robust system to monitor risk. In addition, conduct regular reviews of dispute and fraud metrics. Conducting regular external risk audits can also help you avoid the nightmare of being listed in the future.

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