ATM Owners/ Service Providers
Accessories/equipment or plans/programs for the creation of firearms using 3D printing
Acid, Products containing cyanide, prohibited ozone – depleting substances (ODS) –
Adult Entertainment, Escort Services, Dating Services, or Pornographic Content
Adult entertainment and/or adult content websites including Electronic Commerce adult
Age Restricted Products or Services
Aggregators/third party payment processors are entities that facilitate payment between buyers and sellers. The entity itself does not provide the product or
Airlines Merchants that provide scheduled passenger air service. Payments are normally taken far in advance of the flight. This includes both national, regional and
Airlines including Charter Airlines
All adult products and services Adult book stores, videstores, toys, Adult websites and content, Adult entertainment (misc), Audi(phone sex and adult phone conversations),
Animals & Wildlife products classified as endangered or protected Merchants that sell animals or wildlife that are deemed endangered or protected by the Endangered Speceis Act and the US Fish and Wildlife Service
Any company that issues, sells, or cashes money orders or travelers checks
Any establishment where one of its primary service offerings tits clients include the purchase of foreign currency or the payment for the conversion of one
Any establishment where the primary service offerings tits clients include check cashing services. These merchants are unqualified even if credit or debit
Arms/Munitions Manufacturers or Distributors
Audiotext or videotext that customers access via phone, fax or internet.
AutDealerships, new and used when accepting loan payments (loan payments on a
Bail Bond Services or Bankruptcy Lawyers
Bankruptcy lawyers accepting payments for the debt included in the bankruptcy. Lawyers that accept payment for debts included in a bankruptcy filing.
Banks/Credit Unions
Bearer Share entities A bearer share is equity security wholly owned by the person or entity that holds the physical stock certificate. Bearer shares are unregistered equity securities
Bestiality
Bidding Fee Auctions including Penny Auctions
Bidding fee auctions (a.k.a. penny auctions) Merchants that charge a fee tbid on a product or service. For example, the merchant places an item up for auction. Each time the bidder places a bid, the
Bogus claims & endorsements
Brand or Reputational damaging, potential or otherwise, activities including Child
Brokers and Dealers
Business Payment Solution Providers (BPSP)
Business primarily engaged in the card not present sale of stored value cards such as coupons gift cards, gift certificates or prepaid debit cards in a card not
Business/investment opportunities operating as get rich quick schemes/Home
Businesses in Iran, Cuba, North Korea, or Crimea
CBD related products or services representing a material portion of the merchant's sales or product offering.
Cannabidiol/CBD related products, services & businesses. These merchants sell or offer access tcannabidiol/CBD. This includes entities that provide services tobtain cannabidiol/CBD as well as entities that provide
Card brand rules dnot allow us tsign merchants located outside of the 50 U.S. states. U.S. territories such as PuertRico, Guam, US Virgin Island are not
Card-not-present (CNP) Tobacco, e-Cigarettes and "Vape" supplies and accessories
Career Placement or Advice Center sub-merchants
Cash advances (except regulated financial institutions which are acceptable)
Cash gifting A ponzi scheme similar tchain letters where consumers are encouraged t"gift" a payment tanother party and then solicit others tgift funds tthem.
Casinos/ Gaming Establishments
Chain letters A ponzi scheme where consumers are encouraged t"gift" a payment tanother party and then solicit others tgift funds tthem. These activities and
Characteristics include but are not limited tmerchants offering/stating one or more of the following:
Charities without evidence/proof of 501(c) (3) or equivalent status Charities must provide a copy of the 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status form issued by the IRS at the time of application in order tbe considered acceptable. Not
Check cashing establishments
Collection Agencies
Collection agencies or firms involved in recovering/collecting past due receivables Collection agencies or firms that collect past due receivables on behalf of other businesses.
Commodity Trading or Security Trading
Companies that solicit orders primarily with outbound telephone calls, facsimile or email. Includes "Up-Sellers."
Companion/escort services (non-adult oriented) Entities that offer companion services. Generally, these firms will offer their companion services at an hourly or daily rate and typically are of an "adult"
Companion/escort services, Dating services (sexually oriented), Fetish products, Massage parlors (sexually oriented), Prostitution, Gentleman's clubs,
Computer Software, anti-virus with scareware
Computer software (e.g. anti-virus) sold via inaccurate advertisements; Home Based
Consumer Bill Payment Service (CBPS) Providers
Consumer Financing
Contain cancellation obstacles
Counterfeit goods/replicas Business that sell replicas or fake products designed tlook like the designer name products. This definition includes merchant that disclose upfront that their
Credit Card are Prohibited)
Credit Counseling or Credit Repair Services
Credit Protection or Identity Theft Protection Services
Credit Repair, Elimination or Reduction Services
Credit card protection or identity theft service Businesses that offer tassist cardholders in protecting their credit cards from theft/fraud or will assist cardholders in notifying issuers of theft. This definition
Credit repair/restoration Includes but is not limited tmerchants that offer services designed trepair a consumer's credit report, correct or remove negative information on the credit
Crowd Funding The practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.
Crowd Sourced Fundraising shall not be allowed for the purchase of stock or equity, a
Crowd Sourced Fundraising, as defined by Worldpay from time ttime, except however,
Crowdfunding
Cruise Lines
Cruise lines Merchants that provide scheduled passenger service lasting multiple days. Payments are normally taken far in advance of the cruise. This does not include
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
Cryptocurrency and related businesses Merchants that sell or offer access tcryptocurrency, a form of digital asset based on a network secured by strong cryptography.
Currency Exchanges or Dealers
Currency exchange or dealer
Cyberlockers
Data pass (merchants up-selling or cross selling products or other merchants and
Dating Services (non-adult oriented) Is a system that enables people tfind and introduce themselves tpotential connections over the Internet, usually with the goal of developing personal,
Dating Services
Dealers in Precious Metals
Debt Collectors
Debt/Tax Elimination, Debt/Tax Reduction or Debt Consulting Services
Debt/interest consolidation or reduction services Business that offer consumers the ability tconsolidate or reduce debt and/or reduce their interest rate. These merchants are generally not the lender but
Decryption and descrambler products including mod chips Merchants that offer products or software that allow a user tbypass the restrictions set by a manufacturer thereby allowing a user tuse the product
Delayed Delivery Merchants where the good or service the merchant is providing the
Digital Wallet or Prepaid Card Companies
Digital Wallet or Prepaid Companies
Direct Marketing-Inbound Telemarketing including videotext services and MCC 5967
Direct Marketing-Travel Related Arrangement Services including MCC 5962
Direct Marketing: Continuity or Subscription services or merchants including MCC 5968
Discount Buying Memberships/Clubs
Discount Coupon Merchants or Online Sites
Discount Medical or Dental plans including Discount Insurance
Discount buying clubs/home shopping clubs These merchants charge a membership fee and provide access tdiscounted products or services. In general, these merchants dnot sell the actual
Distressed Property Sales and/or Marketing
Dnot provide reminders prior tbilling
Drug Paraphernalia
Drug paraphernalia of any form Merchant selling any items used in the illicit growth, manufacture, distribution or consumption of illegal drugs. For example: crack pipes, roaches, bongs,
E-Cigarettes
Earn thousands of dollars a month starting your own internet business
Embassies/ Foreign Consulates
Embassy, foreign consulate, or other foreign government, Foreign (non-US)
Entities that allow money to be moved from one party to another. This includes entities that control the money transfer network as well as any retail
Entities w/International Payment Needs
Essay mills/paper mills These are entities that sell term papers, book reports or essays.
Extended warranty companies Companies that offer warranties designed trepair, service or replace improperly operating products and the warranty extends for a period of one year of
Fake references and other services/products that foster deception (including fake IDs and government documents
File sharing services/cyberlockers These merchants allow users tstore, transfer or share computer files, videos, music and other software via the merchant's own servers. While file sharing
Financial consultants (Internet/MOTO) Companies that provide financial advice via a card not present environment.
Firearms and weapons including Ammunition, Silencers, Components and Suppressors
Firearms, Ammunition, Firearms Parts, other weapons such as crossbows,
Firearms, Weapons, and Explosives, Card Not Present including but not limited to:
Foreclosure protection/guarantees These merchants assist the consumer in preventing or stopping foreclosures and charge a fee tfile paperwork or advocate on behalf of the consumer. Also
Foreign Correspondent Banks
Foreign-Owned Charities or Charities Funding Projects outside the US
Fortune tellers Any business providing horoscope readings, palm readers, tarot card readers and related services. This includes both card and card not present transactions.
Fulfillment centers Merchants that offer back office services designed tfulfill orders on behalf of other merchants. These services may include one or all of the following order
Funds/loss recovery These businesses offer thelp a cardholder recovery abandoned/escheated property or assist in recovering losses incurred due tbad investments,
Gambling Activities and Establishments including MCC 7995, lotteries, internet gaming,
Gambling advice/sports forecasting or odds making Companies that offer advice on the outcomes of certain events. For example, they may provide a forecast as tthe winner of a sports event.
Gambling-internet and other card not present gambling Any merchant processing an illegal gambling transaction including illegal gambling via the Internet or mail order telephone order. This definition includes the
Gambling-legal/regulated brick and mortar/point of sale gambling This includes but not limited tlegally operated binghalls, casinos, gambling parlors, and racetrack betting.
Get rich quick schemes Characteristics include but are not limited tmerchants offering/stating one or more of the following:
Gold Dealers
Government grants These merchants charge a fee tassist in obtaining government grants or provide access tinformation detailing how tobtain government grants.
Great wealth requiring limited real skills
Hazardous Materials, Card Not Present, including but not limited to: Hydrofluoric
Hemp (Excluding sterilized hemp seeds or hemp textiles) Merchants selling hemp, part of the cannabis family of plants. This does not included sterilized hemp seeds or hemp-based textiles.
Hemp Related Businesses
Hidden disclosures
High interest rate non-bank consumer lending with an APR >30% including, but not
How tbooks, newsletters, subscriptions or on-line access for ANY Industry shown
Human body parts or bodily fluids (excluding hair, teeth) Merchants selling human body parts or bodily fluids, not including hair and teeth.
IT services help desks (home-based and offshore) These companies offer IT support over the phone. This includes assisting consumers with fixing issues with their computer, operating systems or various third
Illegal Online Gambling Businesses
Immediate riches
Inbound telemarketing companies that receive calls as the result of post cards or similar mailings (as opposed tcatalog or media advertising)
Inbound telemarketing companies that receive calls as the result of post cards or
Including discount travel clubs, membership or subscriptions ttravel services or newsletters where subscribers may select prepackaged trips.
Infomercial merchants
Intellectual property right violators Infringement refers tany violation or breach of protected intellectual property rights. Your IP rights may have been infringed upon if your work that is
Internet State Lottery
Internet Sweepstakes Cafes
Internet/Mail Order Pharmacies or pharmacy referral sales
Intravenous Therapy (e.g. IV Drip Bar, Vitamin infusions, hang over cures) Merchants that offer intravenous therapy in a social setting. They purport toffer health and wellness benefits but are not recognized by the FDA.
Investment or "get rich quick" merchants, businesses or programs and inclusive of
Investment programs/business opportunities/seminars Merchants offering courses, seminars, books, CDs, DVDs or other instructional material offering instructions on various investment programs or opportunities.
Issuer/seller/redeemer or money orders or travelers checks
Jammers are radifrequency transmitting devices that are designed tblock, jam or otherwise interfere with cellular and personal communication services,
Jammers or devices that are designed tblock, jam or interfere with cellular and
Large wealth with a limited amount of effort or time
Lead generation Merchants that sell leads.
Legal Internet Gambling/Legal Gambling, including Sports Forecasting & Odds Making
Lifetime subscriptions (any product or service) These merchants promise lifetime subscriptions or membership tcardholders. For example, lifetime access ta website or consultations.
Loan payments transacted on Credit Cards
Lottery Clubs A group of people pools their money together tbuy lottery tickets. If any of the tickets they buy wins, they then split the pot. Sometimes, the pool members
Mail order spouse and international match-making services Services designed tallow users tfind a spouse. Often the would-be spouse is located overseas. The merchant may alsoffer travel services and
Marijuana Related Businesses
Marijuana dispensaries and related products or services that contain CBDs or provide
Marijuana, marijuana products, marijuana services, and marijuana related
Marketplaces (MCC 5262)
Marketplaces/Auction Houses/Bidding Services
Massage Parlors
Medical discount benefits packages (including medical cards) These entities provide a discount card that purports toffer discounts on various medical services. They are not health insurance. In generally, monthly fees
Merchant accounts owned by foreign governments including their embassies and consulates is prohibited. Including but not limited to: agency, consulate,
Merchant operating as a front for other businesses These companies are not the true owners, principals or operators of the underlying business. Instead they may be set up thide the identity of the true
Merchant that sell alcohol in a card not present environment are Unqualified/Unacceptable unless the merchant's sales are business tbusiness/wholesale or
Merchant with excessive chargeback rate or fraud rate of over 1% or any merchant in any Card Brand excessive chargeback or fraud program.
Merchant with marketing practices designed tdeceive card holders are Unqualified. This includes merchants with confusing, contradictory or difficult tfind
Merchant, individual or related parties that were previously identified by any Card Brand for deceptive practices or any violation of Card Brand Rules are
Merchant, principal or related entities previously identified by any Card Brand for
Merchants Located Outside the US
Merchants engaged in activity prohibited by the Card Brands Any entity conducting an activity prohibited by any Card Brand rules or operating regulations.
Merchants engaged in any form of deceptive marketing practices including but not
Merchants engaged in the card not present sale of hazardous materials.
Merchants engaged in this type of Unqualified/Unacceptable behavior will attempt thave the consumer purchase a product or service provided by another
Merchants in any Card Brand excessive chargeback or fraud program or merchants
Merchants offering rebates or special incentives (ie, free gift, prize, sweepstakes,
Merchants or principals listed on MATCH Any merchant or individual listed on MasterCard's MATCH file.
Merchants physically located outside the United States (offshore/cross border
Merchants primarily engaged in the card not present sale of coupons, certificates,
Merchants splitting the sale across multiple transactions Merchants will attempt tsplit the true value of the product or service by charging the cardholder over a short period of time (often measured in days or
Merchants that have ransom-like or extortion-like basis for their business model
Merchants that use tactics tevade any Card Brand excessive chargeback or fraud
Merchants using tactics designed tavoid or evade detection for excessive chargebacks or fraud. This includes, but is not limited to, merchants splitting
Money Services Businesses: Money Transfer, Wire Transfers, Money Orders, Transmitters, and Check Cashing
Money Services Businesses
Mortgage/credit/debt reduction/consulting services These merchants attempt treduce the consumer's loan/line balance or reduce the total interest paid during the life of the loan. This includes business that
Mortgage/loan modification These merchants target cardholders having difficulty with their mortgage or loan and offer, for a large upfront fee, trepresent the consumer tget the bank
Multi-Level Marketing Businesses
Multi-Level Marketing
Multi-level marketing/pyramid/affiliate network marketing NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are assets that have been tokenized via a blockchain. They are assigned unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish
Negative renewal option following a free or low cost purchase (including pay for
Nexperience is necessary because merchant has a program, system or plan tteach or train the consumer testablish or operate their own home based
Nutraceuticals/Pseudo-pharmaceuticals (e.g. acai berry, health related teas, herbal remedies or drinks, weight-loss, diet pills, anti-aging pills, anti-wrinkle creams, teeth whitening products, muscle
Nutritional Supplements/Vitamins/Herbal/Pseudo-Pharmaceuticals/Nutraceuticals
Online Personal Computer Technical Support (not Direct Marketed in nature)
Outbound Telemarketers and Telecom merchants within MCCs 4814, 4816, and 5966
Pawn Shops
Pawnbrokers/Pawn Shops
Payable Through Accounts
Payday Lenders/ Cash Advance Stores
Payday loans and unsecured loan/lines originating from non FDIC insured banks Payday loans (alscalled payday advance) is a small dollar, high interest loan that is generally due on the borrower's next payday. Merchants offering payday
Payment Facilitators shall not solicit or sign agreements with merchants or sub-
Payment Facilitators
Payment Processors/ TPPPs
Payment facilitators/third party payment processors/aggregators/payment services
Personal Enhancement Products and/or Nutraceuticals where there is not any consumer
Personal Enhancement/Nutraceuticals where nCP retail option is available
Pornography, Escort Services, Mail Order Brides, Occult
Pre-checked optin boxes
Prepaid Phone Cards
Prepaid Phone Services
Prescription drug sales, Internet/MOTEntities that sell prescription drugs in a card not present/non swiped environment.
Products that contain CBD or derivatives of CBD for human or animal consumption and/or rapid entry intblood stream (e.g., patches, edibles, ingestible)
Products/services that promote hate, discrimination, violence, harassment or abuse This includes but is not limited tnewsletters, books, website access or membership fees
Prohibited Sub-Merchants
Prohibited by the EPA, Nitric Acid, Peptides, research Chemicals, Bacteria cultures or
Promises or guarantees of significant wealth
PseudPharmaceuticals
Psychics and "occult" businesses
Quasi-Cash or Stored Value
Real Estate Flipping
Rebate-Based Businesses
Refund/cancellation avoidance
Sale of Mobile Minutes
Security brokers, funding portals, and other similar investment entities Merchants in the business of buying and selling securities for its own account or on behalf of its customers. ... A brokerage acts as a broker (or agent) when it
Selling or Sales of Social Media Activity
Selling products/services as an agent for a third party
Sexual Aids/Toys
Shell Banks
Shell Companies
Shell banks A shell bank is a financial institution that does not have a physical presence in any country.
Shippers/forwarding brokers, Internet/MOTAny merchants that offer freight forwarding or shipping services in a card not present environment
Shipping or Forwarding Brokers
Social media "click farms" (e.g., the sale of clicks/likes/reviews/endorsements on
Software Resellers
Solar Panel Companies
Sports Forecasting or Odds Making
Staged Digital Wallets
Student Loan Servicing (For Profit)
Substances designed tmimic illegal drugs (ex. Kratom, Kava, etc.)
Substances designed tmimic illegal drugs and/or other psychoactive products
Telehealth/Telemedicine
Telemarketing companies involved with the following methods of operations:
Telephone Sales, Telemarketing, and/or Call Centers
Ticket brokers
Time sensitive offers/pressure to pay for the product/services/opportunity right away
Timeshare Any merchant that offers partial ownership or usage of homes or resorts
Timeshare advertising services Merchants that allow cardholders tadvertise their timeshares for purposes of selling or trading their stake in the timeshare
Timeshare resellers These merchants may advertise that they will assist cardholders in selling their timeshare or may agree tbuy timeshare from the cardholders
Timeshares, including resale's and related marketing
Tobacco Sales
Tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), Internet/MOTAny merchant that sells tobaccproducts including cigarettes, cigars, snuff, unpackaged tobaccin a non-face tface/non swiped transaction. This definition
Transacting Virtual Currency or credits that can be monetized, re-sold or converted to
Travel Agencies or Tour Operators except however those Agencies or Operators
Travel clubs Companies that charge a membership fee that in turn allows the cardholder tpurchase travel products or services
Tribal Entities (ie: American Indian Tribes)
Unqualified/Unacceptable Business Description
Unrealistic profits
Unscrupulous merchants will initiate the multiple charges (instead of one charge) in an attempt tcircumvent Card Brands excessive chargeback or fraud
Up-Selling Merchants
Virtual Currency Exchangers and Administrators
Virtual currency Is Virtual currency that can be monetized, resold, converted, traded intphysical/digital goods & services outside the virtual world
Vitamins Internet/MOTAny merchant primarily engaged in the sale of vitamins in a card not present environment
Warranty Companies
Web hosting companies