Understanding TMF or MATCH List – A Guide by "How to Get Off Match

The TMF (Terminated Merchant File) or MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-risk) list is a database maintained by MasterCard. It serves as a record of businesses that have been flagged for engaging in risky or fraudulent activities. When a merchant is added to this list, it can cause serious repercussions for their business, particularly in obtaining merchant accounts to process credit card transactions. Most commonly, businesses land on this list due to violations related to fraud, chargeback ratios, or regulatory issues. Unfortunately, once a business is listed, it becomes difficult for them to work with banks or payment processors.

Why is it Important to Know About the TMF or MATCH List?

For businesses that rely on credit card processing to operate, being added to the TMF or MATCH list can result in devastating consequences. Payment processors use this list to evaluate the risk of doing business with merchants. A company listed on the MATCH list will face rejection from almost all acquiring banks, making it nearly impossible to find a processor willing to provide services. In short, this list brands your business as high-risk, and the impact is often long-lasting.

Reasons Businesses Get on the TMF or MATCH List

Fraudulent Transactions: If your business is flagged for participating in fraud, the payment processor may add you to the TMF or MATCH list.

High Chargeback Ratios: A large number of chargebacks (customer disputes) can lead to being placed on this list, as this indicates poor merchant practices or misleading product claims.

Regulatory Violations: Non-compliance with industry regulations can also lead to being listed, especially in industries with stricter financial laws.

Data Breaches: If your business experiences a security breach leading to compromised cardholder data, you may face being added to the TMF or MATCH list.

How to Know If You’re on the TMF or MATCH List

Most business owners discover they’ve been added to the TMF or MATCH list after being notified by a bank or payment processor. If you’ve been consistently rejected by credit card processors, it’s highly likely you’re on the list. Unfortunately, you won’t be directly informed about this by MasterCard, as the list is only accessible by payment processing institutions.

How to Get Off the MATCH List
If your business has been placed on the TMF or MATCH list, the first step is identifying why you’ve been listed. Depending on the reason, there are strategies to potentially get removed. Here's where How to Get Off Match can help.

1. Identify the Reason for Listing

The first step in getting off the TMF or MATCH list is understanding the reason your business was flagged. Sometimes, it’s a case of misinformation or errors in reporting by a payment processor. In this case, you can reach out to the processor who added you to the list and request removal, provided you can show evidence that you’ve corrected any violations.

2. Work with a Professional

Getting off the TMF or MATCH list is a complex and often time-consuming process. It requires communication with banks and payment processors, and you need to demonstrate your business has resolved the issues that led to your listing. How to Get Off Match specializes in helping businesses navigate this tricky situation. Our team of experts has a proven track record of successfully negotiating with payment processors and banks to remove businesses from the list.

3. Implement Preventative Measures

Once you’re removed from the TMF or MATCH list, it’s important to avoid the mistakes that got you there in the first place. Implementing measures such as reducing chargebacks, improving fraud detection, and ensuring compliance with all regulations will help safeguard your business from landing back on the list.
If your business has been placed on the TMF or MATCH list, don’t lose hope. While the process of getting removed can be complex, professional help from How to Get Off Match can significantly increase your chances of success. Contact us now for a free consultation, and let us help you restore your business's reputation and get back to processing payments smoothly. Call us now!