How to check if you are on the MATCH list
If your merchant account was terminated, or new payment processors keep declining your applications, you may be on Mastercard's MATCH list. Merchants cannot query the MATCH database directly—but there are clear signals and steps you can take to confirm your status.
What is the MATCH list?
MATCH (Mastercard Alert to Control High-risk Merchants) is a database maintained by Mastercard. Acquirers and PSPs are required to add merchants when they terminate an account under specific conditions—excessive chargebacks, fraud, compliance failures, and similar. Processors check MATCH when onboarding new merchants, which is why being listed can block new accounts. See What is MATCH/VMSS? for a full overview.
Can you check the MATCH list yourself?
No. The MATCH database is not publicly accessible. Only licensed acquirers and payment processors can query it as part of their merchant onboarding process. There is no official portal or service that allows merchants to look themselves up.
Be cautious of any third-party service claiming to offer merchants direct MATCH list lookups—Mastercard does not authorise this, and such services may be inaccurate or fraudulent.
Signs you may be on the MATCH list
- Your merchant account was terminated by a PSP, especially citing chargebacks, fraud, or a policy breach.
- Multiple new payment processor applications have been declined without a clear explanation.
- A new processor says you appear in a risk screening database.
- Your termination notice or closing email explicitly mentions MATCH or a reason code (1–14).
How to confirm you are on the MATCH list
The most direct way to confirm a MATCH listing is:
- Contact the PSP that terminated your account. Ask them in writing whether they submitted a MATCH listing, and if so, under which reason code. They are legally entitled to tell you this under Mastercard rules.
- Review your termination documentation. Termination notices or account closure letters sometimes reference MATCH directly or include a reason code. See our MATCH reason codes guide to understand what each code means.
- Ask a new prospective processor. If you apply for a new merchant account and are declined, ask the underwriter whether your file showed a MATCH listing. Some will confirm this.
What to do if you are on the MATCH list
Being on MATCH is not permanent—a listing can be removed if the PSP that added you agrees to submit a removal request to Mastercard. The steps are:
- Identify the PSP or acquirer that submitted your listing.
- Understand your reason code and what it means for your remediation.
- Prepare a structured, professional removal request: root cause, corrective actions, evidence.
- Submit the request to that PSP's risk or compliance team.
We help you build and submit that request. Start your removal request now, or read our MATCH list removal guide for more detail. Listings are typically retained for five years unless removed earlier.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I check if I am on the MATCH list?
- No. The MATCH database is only accessible to licensed acquirers. You can find out by contacting the PSP that terminated your account, or by reviewing your termination notice for a MATCH reason code.
- How do I find out which PSP listed me on MATCH?
- The PSP that terminated your merchant account is typically the one that submitted the listing. Check your termination letter and contact them in writing to ask for confirmation.
- How long do you stay on the MATCH list?
- Typically five years from the date of listing, unless the PSP that added you submits an earlier removal request.
- What should I do if I am on the MATCH list?
- Submit a formal removal request to the PSP that listed you, with root cause explanation, corrective actions, and evidence. If the PSP is satisfied, they will request removal from Mastercard.