If your peptide merchant account is terminated, there's another consequence many businesses don't immediately realize:
You may be placed on the MATCH List.
For high-risk industries like peptides and research chemicals, MATCH placement can significantly complicate future payment processing approvals — for up to five years.
Understanding how MATCH works — and how to avoid it — is critical for long-term stability.
What Is the MATCH List?
MATCH stands for Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants. It was previously known as the TMF (Terminated Merchant File) and is managed by Mastercard, though it is used across all major card networks.
It is an internal industry database used by acquiring banks and payment processors to track merchants whose accounts were terminated for specific risk-related reasons.
When a merchant is added to MATCH:
- Other acquiring banks can see the listing when you apply
- New merchant account approvals become significantly more difficult
- Applications require enhanced underwriting and additional documentation
- Some providers may automatically decline without review
- The listing remains active for five years
MATCH is not public — you won't find yourself in a Google search — but it is widely referenced across the payment industry whenever a merchant applies for a new account.
MATCH Reason Codes: Why Merchants Get Listed
When a bank reports a merchant to MATCH, they assign a specific reason code. Understanding these codes helps you identify what to prevent.
The most relevant codes for peptide merchants:
- Reason 04 — Excessive Chargebacks: Your dispute ratio exceeded the card network's threshold (Visa flags at 0.9%, Mastercard at 1.0%)
- Reason 05 — Fraud: Fraudulent transactions processed through the account
- Reason 07 — Fraud Conviction: Criminal fraud conviction of a principal
- Reason 09 — Bankruptcy/Insolvency: Business cannot cover its financial obligations
- Reason 10 — Violation of Standards: Breach of card network rules or compliance requirements
- Reason 12 — PCI DSS Noncompliance: Failure to meet Payment Card Industry security standards
- Reason 13 — Illegal Transactions: Processing transactions for prohibited products or services
For peptide merchants, reason codes 04 and 05 are by far the most common — excessive chargebacks and fraud activity. Both are preventable with the right setup.
Why Peptide Merchants Are at Higher Risk of MATCH Placement
Peptide businesses are typically classified as high-risk, which means termination events are scrutinized more carefully by banks.
Common triggers that lead to termination (and then MATCH):
- Excessive chargebacks that breach card network thresholds
- Fraud-related activity slipping through weak filters
- Compliance violations from misleading website language or missing policies
- Processing outside approved parameters (volume spikes, undisclosed products)
- Misrepresentation during underwriting (inaccurate application details)
- Sudden risk escalations the bank can't control
Many of these triggers stem from accounts that were never properly underwritten for peptides in the first place. For a full breakdown of what proper underwriting looks like, see high-risk merchant accounts for peptide companies. To understand what typically causes shutdowns: Why Payment Processors Shut Down Peptide Businesses.
How Chargebacks Lead to MATCH Placement
Chargebacks are the most common path to termination — and termination is what triggers MATCH reporting.
The escalation typically follows this pattern:
- Dispute ratios begin rising above normal levels
- Reserves may increase as the bank tries to cover exposure
- Approval rates may drop as risk systems tighten
- The account enters formal review
- Processing is terminated if metrics don't improve
- The bank reports the merchant to MATCH
The key insight: MATCH is a consequence of termination, and termination is usually a consequence of uncontrolled chargebacks. Preventing disputes is the strongest defense.
For a detailed guide on dispute prevention: How to Reduce Chargebacks in a Peptide Ecommerce Store.
How MATCH Affects Future Merchant Account Approvals
If you are placed on MATCH:
- Applications undergo stricter underwriting — banks will review your history more carefully
- Reserve requirements may increase — expect higher holdbacks to offset perceived risk
- Approval timelines may extend — more documentation and back-and-forth
- Some banks may decline automatically — especially mainstream processors and aggregators
- Processing fees may be higher — reflecting the elevated risk profile
Being on MATCH does not make approval impossible — but it makes it more complex. Working with a processor experienced in high-risk categories becomes critical: High-Risk Merchant Accounts.
Can You Be Removed from MATCH?
MATCH entries remain active for five years from the date they were added. Early removal is possible but uncommon.
Removal typically requires:
- The original reporting bank to initiate the removal — only the bank that placed you on MATCH can request removal
- Evidence of a reporting error — if the listing was made in error, documented proof is needed
- Resolution of the underlying issue — the bank may need to confirm the problem has been corrected
- Formal written request — submitted through proper channels with supporting documentation
In practice, most merchants who get placed on MATCH stay on the list for the full five years. That's why prevention is significantly easier and more cost-effective than reversal.
If you believe your listing was an error, document everything and work with your payment partner to build a case for the reporting bank. Having clean processing history from a subsequent account can help support your position.
How to Avoid Being Placed on MATCH
1) Control Chargeback Ratios
Dispute spikes are the primary risk signal. Stay well below Visa's 0.9% and Mastercard's 1.0% thresholds.
To reduce disputes:
- Use recognizable billing descriptors
- Ship quickly and provide tracking
- Keep refund policies clear and visible
- Respond to support quickly
- Offer proactive refunds when appropriate
If disputes are rising: Chargeback Protection.
2) Stay Within Approved Processing Parameters
Avoid:
- Dramatic, unexplained volume spikes
- Processing through undisclosed URLs or storefronts
- Expanding product lines without notifying your processor
- Deviating from your approved business model
Misalignment between underwriting and actual activity is a major risk trigger. If you're planning growth, communicate with your account manager ahead of time.
3) Strengthen Fraud Controls
Fraud often precedes dispute waves — and fraud-driven chargebacks are the fastest path to termination.
Use:
- AVS + CVV verification to confirm cardholder identity
- Velocity controls to limit repeat attempts
- IP/device monitoring to catch bots and abuse patterns
- 3DS for cross-border orders and higher-risk segments
If your infrastructure needs reinforcement: Payment Gateway Options.
4) Keep Your Website Compliant
Underwriters review your website during onboarding and during periodic reviews. A site that looks compliant at launch but drifts over time can trigger action.
Maintain:
- Clear refund and shipping policies
- Visible contact information
- Consistent product positioning (no implied medical claims)
- Accurate business details matching your application
For a detailed breakdown: Peptide Merchant Account Requirements.
5) Start With Proper Peptide Underwriting
Many MATCH cases stem from accounts that were never structured properly for peptide sales. A dedicated underwriting pathway reduces long-term risk.
See peptide-specific underwriting options: Peptides & Research Chemicals.
For a complete preparation guide: How to Get Approved for a Peptide Merchant Account.
Warning Signs Before MATCH Risk Increases
Watch for these early indicators of escalating risk:
- Rising decline rates without explanation
- Funding delays or payout holds
- Reserve increases
- Repeated compliance document requests from your processor
- Rapidly increasing dispute ratios
- Your processor requesting a "call" or "review meeting"
These are signals — not certainties. But acting early can prevent the chain of events that leads to termination and MATCH placement.
If you're seeing declines or instability: Why Peptide Payments Keep Getting Declined.
If Your Peptide Merchant Account Was Already Terminated
If you've already experienced termination — whether or not you've been placed on MATCH — here's how to move forward:
- Identify the root cause: Was it chargebacks, fraud, compliance, or volume misalignment?
- Stabilize your website and policies: Fix any gaps that contributed to the termination
- Review and document your dispute metrics: Show you understand what happened and what you've corrected
- Correct compliance issues: Remove risky language, add missing policies, ensure consistency
- Prepare documentation carefully: Bank statements, formation docs, processing history, and a clear explanation of changes
- Apply through a high-risk underwriting path: Work with a provider experienced in peptide approvals who can present your case properly
Do not rush random applications to multiple processors — each decline adds friction and can raise additional flags.
For a full step-by-step recovery plan, see Peptide Merchant Account Terminated? What to Do Next. If you need direct guidance: Contact Unison.
The Goal: Long-Term Stability
MATCH is a risk-control tool used by acquiring banks. It exists because the payment industry needs a way to track merchants who posed excessive risk.
The best defense is prevention:
- Stable dispute ratios well below network thresholds
- Strong fraud controls that catch problems before they become chargebacks
- Transparent policies that reduce customer confusion
- Proper underwriting alignment from day one
- Ongoing communication with your processor about growth and changes
When your metrics remain predictable and controlled, the likelihood of MATCH placement decreases dramatically. The goal isn't just to avoid MATCH — it's to build a processing setup stable enough that termination is never on the table.
For a full understanding of how rolling reserves factor into account stability: Rolling Reserves Explained for Peptide Merchant Accounts.