Understanding Terminated Merchant Facilities and How They Impact Your Business

Terminated Merchant Account? What to Do Next

Losing a merchant account can stop a business taking card payments with very little warning.

However, not every termination means the same thing.

A payment provider may close an account because it no longer supports the merchant’s sector, because transaction activity has changed or because the business has breached the terms under which it was approved.

More serious cases may involve:

• Excessive chargebacks

• Fraud concerns

• Card-scheme monitoring

• Undisclosed products or services

• Prohibited transactions

• Failure to complete compliance checks

• A data-security incident

• Suspected illegal activity

• A Mastercard MATCH Pro or Visa VMSS listing

The reason matters because it determines whether another provider is likely to consider the business, what evidence will be required and whether the underlying problem must be resolved before a new application is submitted.

This guide explains what to do when a merchant account is suspended or terminated, how industry termination records work and how to approach replacement payment processing without making the situation worse.

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Has your merchant account been terminated?

Merchant Advice Service helps businesses understand what potential replacement providers are likely to examine following an account closure.

This may include merchants that:

• Have received notice of termination

• Have had processing suspended immediately

• Are unable to access settlements

• Have been asked to provide additional compliance information

• Have exceeded expected volumes

• Have experienced increasing chargebacks

• Have been moved into a higher-risk category

• Need a provider that supports their actual sector

• Have discovered that their original application was incomplete

• Are unsure whether they have been placed on an industry termination database

MAS cannot overturn a provider’s decision, guarantee replacement processing or remove a card-scheme listing.

Where a potential route exists, MAS may help the business understand its requirements and identify providers willing to consider the circumstances.

Quick answer: Can you obtain a new merchant account after termination?

Sometimes.

A merchant account termination does not automatically prevent a business from obtaining another account.

The likelihood of replacement processing depends on:

• Why the account was closed

• Whether the termination was commercial or compliance-related

• Whether the business has been reported to an industry database

• The merchant’s chargeback and fraud history

• Whether funds are being withheld

• Whether the underlying issue has been corrected

• The sector and products involved

• Whether the business model is legal and properly disclosed

• How openly the termination is explained in the new application

A provider leaving a particular sector is very different from an account being closed for suspected fraud.

The first may require a better provider match. The second may prevent another acquirer from accepting the business until the matter has been investigated or resolved.

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What is a terminated merchant account?

A terminated merchant account is a card-acquiring facility that has been ended by the acquiring bank, payment service provider or payment facilitator.

The termination can affect the merchant’s ability to:

• Authorise new card payments

• Capture previously authorised transactions

• Receive settlements

• Issue card refunds

• Access stored payment credentials

• Use card terminals

• Use a virtual terminal

• Access the provider’s dispute portal

• Collect recurring payments

• Process through connected gateways

The exact effect depends on which part of the payment arrangement has been terminated.

For example, a merchant may have:

• An acquiring agreement

• A separate payment gateway

• Card terminals supplied by another company

• A payment facilitator account

• A fraud-screening platform

• Stored card tokens

• A business bank account

The closure of one service does not necessarily close every other service, but it may make them unusable.

Merchant account termination, suspension and review

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can mean different things.

Account review

The provider is investigating the merchant or its transaction activity.

Processing may continue, be limited or be temporarily paused.

The provider may request:

• Updated company documents

• Processing statements

• Customer invoices

• Delivery evidence

• Supplier contracts

• Licences

• Source-of-funds information

• Chargeback explanations

• Website changes

• Details of new products or markets

A review does not necessarily mean the account will be closed.

Suspension

The merchant is temporarily unable to process some or all transactions.

A suspension may occur while the provider investigates:

• Suspected fraud

• A sudden increase in transaction volume

• Unusual transaction patterns

• A data-security concern

• Chargebacks

• Regulatory questions

• Incomplete customer due diligence

The provider may reinstate the account, impose new restrictions or move to termination.

Termination with notice

The provider informs the merchant that the agreement will end on a future date.

The business may be able to continue processing during the notice period, although limits or reserve requirements may change.

Immediate termination

Processing stops immediately or within a very short period.

This is more likely where the provider believes there is a serious risk, legal restriction, card-scheme obligation or breach of contract.

The provider may be unable to give the merchant complete information where doing so would conflict with financial-crime or other legal obligations.

Is a merchant account the same as a business bank account?

No.

A merchant account is used to process and settle card payments. A business bank account holds the company’s money and supports ordinary banking transactions.

A company can lose:

• Its merchant account but retain its bank account

• Its bank account but retain its acquiring agreement temporarily

• Both services at the same time

• A payment-facilitator account without losing its wider banking relationship

The steps required following closure depend on which service has been affected.

The term “debanking” is sometimes used broadly, but a terminated acquiring agreement should be assessed separately from the closure of a current account.

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Why are merchant accounts terminated?

There is no single termination reason.

Understanding the actual cause is the most important part of finding a suitable next step.

1. The provider has changed its risk appetite

Payment providers regularly review the sectors, countries and business models they support.

A provider may stop accepting:

• Travel

• Gambling

• Subscription services

• Financial services

• CBD or vape businesses

• High-value future-delivery businesses

• International transactions

• Particular countries

• Marketplaces

• Certain regulated products

The merchant may have traded properly and remained within its agreed terms but no longer fit the provider’s commercial appetite.

This type of termination may be easier to explain to another acquirer, provided the business has a clean processing history.

2. The business was incorrectly boarded

A merchant may have been accepted under a business description that did not accurately reflect its real activity.

Examples include:

• A travel business boarded as general retail

• A subscription company boarded for one-off sales

• A marketplace boarded as an ordinary ecommerce merchant

• A prize-competition business boarded without disclosing the competition model

• A furniture seller failing to disclose long delivery times

• A financial service using a general consulting description

• A merchant accepting telephone payments through an online-only account

The original error may have come from:

• The merchant

• A sales agent

• A broker

• An incomplete application

• The provider’s onboarding process

• The business changing after approval

A replacement application should describe the business accurately, even if the original account did not.

3. The merchant’s activity has changed

Providers underwrite the business based on the information available when the account is opened.

A change may become material where the merchant introduces:

• New products

• New countries

• Higher transaction values

• Subscription payments

• Telephone orders

• Longer delivery periods

• A different website

• A second trading name

• A new licence

• A marketplace model

• Third-party sellers

• New currencies

• A significant increase in volume

A legitimate change can still create a termination risk if the provider was not told about it.

4. Processing volumes have exceeded the agreed level

Merchant applications usually include expected:

• Monthly turnover

• Annual turnover

• Average transaction value

• Maximum transaction value

• Refund rate

• Chargeback rate

• Sales-channel split

Sudden growth can be commercially positive but create additional exposure for the acquirer.

For example, the provider may be concerned if a business approved for £20,000 per month begins processing £200,000 without prior discussion.

The concern may be greater where products or services will not be delivered until a future date.

5. Excessive chargebacks

A high level of customer disputes can lead to:

• Increased monitoring

• Additional fees

• A rolling reserve

• Delayed settlement

• Processing limits

• Card-scheme programme entry

• Termination

The provider will normally examine more than the overall ratio.

It may consider:

• Chargeback numbers

• Chargeback value

• Reason codes

• Fraud reports

• Customer countries

• Sales channels

• Whether disputes are increasing

• Whether the merchant responds in time

• Whether corrective action has worked

A merchant that changes provider without correcting the cause of its disputes may experience another termination.

6. Fraud or scam concerns

The provider may close an account where transaction activity suggests:

• Stolen-card use

• Account takeover

• Card testing

• Merchant collusion

• Transaction laundering

• Fake or undelivered goods

• Misleading subscriptions

• Scam activity

• Processing on behalf of another business

• First-party misuse

• Money laundering

Mastercard now operates MATCH Pro, a system through which financial institutions can share information about merchants terminated in qualifying fraud-related circumstances and consult that information when assessing a new merchant.

A legitimate merchant can also trigger a risk review through unusual activity. This is why organised evidence and a clear explanation of the business model are important.

7. Prohibited or undisclosed products

Providers maintain prohibited and restricted-business lists.

An account may be terminated if a merchant begins accepting payments for products that were not approved.

Examples can include:

• Unlicensed gambling

• Certain financial products

• Illegal or controlled goods

• Unsupported pharmaceuticals

• Misleading investment products

• Sanctioned activity

• Unapproved adult content

• Transaction laundering

• Third-party payment processing

Changing the wording on a website does not resolve a prohibited-activity problem where the underlying transactions remain the same.

8. Compliance information has not been supplied

Providers must maintain current information about the businesses they serve.

A merchant may be asked to provide:

• Director identification

• Ownership information

• Updated company documents

• Bank statements

• Licences

• Proof of address

• Source-of-funds evidence

• Supplier information

• Transaction records

• Website details

Failure to respond may lead to restrictions or termination, even where the original business is legitimate.

Where a provider cannot complete required customer due diligence, financial-crime rules may prevent it from continuing the relationship.

9. PCI DSS or data-security concerns

A merchant may be restricted or terminated following:

• A suspected card-data breach

• Failure to complete required PCI validation

• Storage of card data in an insecure system

• Use of an unapproved payment process

• Compromised terminals

• Malware

• Repeated security failures

The business may need specialist data-security assistance before another provider will accept it.

10. Financial concerns or insolvency risk

An acquirer may remain exposed to future:

• Chargebacks

• Refunds

• Undelivered orders

• Subscription liabilities

• Customer claims

The provider may become concerned where a merchant:

• Has deteriorating finances

• Cannot fund refunds

• Has overdue debts

• Enters an insolvency process

• Builds a large value of undelivered orders

• Relies on one failing supplier

• Experiences a sudden increase in cancellations

Termination may be accompanied by withheld settlements or an increased reserve.

11. The provider or programme has closed

An account may be terminated for reasons unrelated to the individual merchant.

For example:

• The provider exits the UK

• The acquiring sponsor changes

• A payment facilitator loses a banking relationship

• A product is withdrawn

• The provider stops supporting a sector

• The gateway and acquirer end their commercial arrangement

The termination letter and provider communications should be retained, as they may help demonstrate that the closure was not caused by merchant misconduct.

MAS insight: The reason for termination determines the replacement route

The phrase “terminated merchant account” covers several very different situations.

Merchant Advice Service commonly sees merchants approach replacement providers before they have established:

• Which company actually terminated the service

• Whether the gateway or acquiring account was closed

• Whether the termination was commercial or for cause

• Whether funds have been retained

• Whether a card-scheme report has been made

• Whether the provider still allows refunds

• Whether recurring payment credentials remain available

• Whether chargebacks still need to be managed

• Whether the original business description was accurate

This creates avoidable problems.

A new provider will assess a merchant differently depending on whether:

• The old provider stopped supporting the sector

• The account exceeded agreed volume

• Chargebacks increased

• The merchant failed to supply information

• The business model was incorrectly described

• The merchant was terminated for suspected fraud

• MATCH Pro or VMSS information is present

The safest approach is to identify the category first, correct what can be corrected and then approach providers whose appetite matches the full circumstances.

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What should you do immediately after termination?

1. Save every message and document

Keep copies of:

• The termination notice

• Emails from the provider

• Portal messages

• Merchant statements

• The original application

• The merchant agreement

• Chargeback reports

• Fraud reports

• Settlement reports

• Reserve information

• Compliance requests

• Previous complaints

• Website screenshots

Provider portals may become inaccessible after closure.

Export important information while access remains available.

2. Establish which services are affected

Ask whether the termination affects:

• All merchant IDs

• One website or trading name

• Card-present payments

• Ecommerce payments

• Telephone payments

• Recurring payments

• Refunds

• Payouts

• The payment gateway

• Card terminals

• Stored payment credentials

• Connected businesses

Do not assume that every part of the payment system has the same closure date.

3. Ask for the effective date

Confirm:

• When new authorisations will stop

• Whether existing authorisations can be captured

• Whether recurring payments will continue

• Whether refunds can still be issued

• When portal access will end

• When terminals must be returned

• Whether the gateway remains active

• How open chargebacks will be handled

4. Ask for the reason in writing

Request a clear explanation of the termination where the provider is able to give one.

Useful questions include:

• Was the termination commercial or for cause?

• Which contract clause is being relied upon?

• Was a particular transaction pattern involved?

• Was the business placed into a card-scheme monitoring programme?

• Was any report made to MATCH Pro or VMSS?

• Can the issue be remediated?

• Is an internal appeal available?

• Who handles complaints?

The provider may not be able to disclose certain financial-crime information.

5. Identify all funds being held

Ask for a written breakdown of:

• Unsettled transactions

• Rolling reserves

• Fixed reserves

• Chargeback deductions

• Refund deductions

• Security deposits

• Other withheld funds

• Expected release dates

• Conditions affecting release

The provider’s right to retain or debit funds will normally be governed by the merchant agreement and the financial exposure remaining after closure.

The Financial Ombudsman considers merchant complaints involving withheld funds, chargebacks and merchant-acquiring agreements where the business and complaint fall within its jurisdiction.

6. Preserve the ability to refund customers

Ask how refunds will be processed after termination.

Do not send a refund by bank transfer without confirming how the original card transaction and any later chargeback will be handled.

Otherwise, the business could:

1. Refund the customer by bank transfer

2. Receive a chargeback for the original card payment

3. Pay the same customer twice

Keep records linking every manual refund to the original transaction and customer agreement.

7. Download chargeback and transaction evidence

Open disputes may continue after new payment acceptance has stopped.

Retain:

• Transaction identifiers

• Authorisation data

• 3D Secure results

• Customer orders

• Delivery records

• Subscription consent

• Communications

• Refund evidence

• Chargeback deadlines

Termination does not necessarily remove liability for disputes arising from transactions processed before closure.

8. Prepare a temporary payment-continuity plan

Depending on the business, temporary options might include:

• Bank transfer

• Open banking

• Invoicing

• An existing approved secondary acquirer

• Cash or card-present alternatives

• Pausing new orders

• Contacting customers with outstanding balances

Do not process through another company’s merchant account or hide transactions inside a different business.

That can be treated as transaction laundering and create much more serious consequences.

Should you apply to another provider immediately?

Not always.

A rapid application may be appropriate where:

• The old provider has left the sector

• The provider has closed a product

• The business has a clean processing record

• The termination is clearly unrelated to misconduct

• The replacement provider understands the full business model

It may be better to pause where:

• The reason is unclear

• Fraud is alleged

• Chargebacks are uncontrolled

• MATCH Pro or VMSS may be involved

• The business model was incorrectly disclosed

• A licence has expired

• The website contains non-compliant claims

• The company cannot fund refunds

• Compliance information is incomplete

• The merchant is still investigating a data breach

Submitting the same incomplete application to several providers can create inconsistent records and additional declines.

Why applying everywhere can cause problems

Urgency often leads merchants to apply to every provider they can find.

This can create:

• Inconsistent descriptions of the business

• Different turnover figures

• Multiple credit or risk enquiries

• Repeated MATCH Pro or VMSS checks

• Conflicting explanations of termination

• Applications to providers with no relevant appetite

• Pressure to hide the previous closure

• Expensive emergency contracts

• Further terminations

A provider may view inconsistent information as a compliance concern even where the underlying business is legitimate.

One complete and accurate application is more useful than several rushed applications.

What is the Mastercard MATCH list?

The current Mastercard system is called MATCH Pro, although merchants and payment businesses still commonly use the terms:

• MATCH

• MATCH list

• Terminated Merchant File

• TMF

MATCH Pro allows financial institutions to record and consult information about merchants terminated in qualifying circumstances.

Mastercard explains that information may include:

• The merchant’s identity

• Trading information

• Website information

• Merchant category code

• Contract and termination dates

• The reason code

• Details relating to principal owners

Financial institutions can consult this information when deciding whether to onboard a new merchant.

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Does every terminated merchant go onto MATCH Pro?

No.

An ordinary commercial closure does not automatically mean that the merchant has been listed.

A merchant might not be listed where:

• The provider stops serving a sector

• The provider exits a market

• The account is closed for low usage

• The parties end the agreement commercially

• The provider’s product is withdrawn

Listing depends on whether the circumstances meet the relevant Mastercard criteria.

Merchants should not assume they are listed simply because a salesperson or automated decline refers vaguely to “blacklisting”.

Ask the terminating provider directly.

What is Visa VMSS?

Visa operates the Visa Merchant Screening Service, or VMSS.

VMSS includes a terminated-listing database used by acquirers during merchant due diligence.

Visa states that acquirers must:

• Add a terminated merchant, sponsored merchant or relevant third-party agent where the VMSS listing criteria are met

• Query the terminated-listing database before onboarding a prospective merchant

The service allows acquirers to identify whether a merchant has been terminated by another acquirer and review available termination information.

Visa says acquirers can search for qualifying terminations recorded during the preceding five years.

Is MATCH Pro the same as VMSS?

No.

MATCH Pro is operated by Mastercard. VMSS is operated by Visa.

Both support merchant due diligence and allow qualifying termination information to affect future underwriting.

A merchant may:

• Appear in one system

• Appear in both

• Appear in neither

• Have different information recorded by different acquirers

The business should ask the terminating provider what has been reported rather than assuming that one database covers every scheme.

Can a MATCH Pro or VMSS listing be removed?

Removal is not usually achieved by simply paying a third-party “blacklist removal” company.

The first step is to identify:

• Whether a listing exists

• Which acquirer submitted it

• The recorded termination reason

• Whether the information is accurate

• Whether the listing meets scheme criteria

Mastercard states that the financial institutions contributing information are responsible for adding and maintaining it and ensuring the accuracy of the merchant’s personal information. Merchants are directed to the relevant financial institution for privacy and data enquiries.

Visa’s VMSS process allows the acquirer that entered a termination listing to modify or delete its own record.

This means the merchant will normally need to raise the issue with the provider or acquirer responsible for the entry.

Possible grounds for challenge may include:

• The merchant was incorrectly identified

• Company details are wrong

• Owner information is wrong

• The recorded reason is inaccurate

• The listing criteria were not met

• The entry should have been updated following an investigation

A genuine and accurate listing may not be removed simply because it makes obtaining another account difficult.

Be cautious of anyone guaranteeing removal without first reviewing the provider’s evidence and the scheme criteria.

Can a business process payments while listed?

It may be difficult.

A listing does not necessarily operate as a legal ban on accepting card payments, but it can materially affect an acquirer’s risk decision.

Some providers will automatically decline certain listings. Others may assess limited categories on a case-by-case basis.

The result can depend on:

• The reason for the listing

• How long ago the event occurred

• The corrective action taken

• The current owners and directors

• The business model

• Financial strength

• Chargeback history

• Whether the original provider supports the explanation

• The new acquirer’s policy

A provider willing to consider the case may require:

• Higher fees

• A reserve

• Delayed settlement

• Processing limits

• More frequent monitoring

• Additional documents

No broker or adviser can guarantee acceptance.

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Can changing company solve a termination problem?

Creating a new company does not automatically remove the effect of a previous termination.

Providers may examine connections involving:

• Directors

• Shareholders

• Ultimate beneficial owners

• Addresses

• Websites

• Phone numbers

• Bank accounts

• Trading names

• Products

• Previous merchant IDs

• Associated companies

MATCH Pro information can include details relating to principal owners as well as the merchant business.

A new legal entity used to conceal the same owners and activity can create further compliance concerns.

A genuine restructuring should be disclosed and explained.

Can you use another person’s merchant account?

No legitimate provider should advise a merchant to process through:

• A friend’s company

• A related company that has not disclosed the activity

• A supplier’s account

• A director’s unrelated business

• Another website’s merchant ID

The merchant name, products, website and transaction activity should match the business approved by the acquirer.

Processing one business’s transactions through another merchant account may constitute transaction laundering and can lead to additional terminations, withheld funds and card-scheme action.

Will a provider hold funds after termination?

It may.

The provider can remain exposed to:

• Chargebacks

• Refunds

• Fraud losses

• Undelivered goods

• Subscription liabilities

• Card-scheme assessments

The merchant agreement may allow it to:

• Hold unsettled transactions

• Retain a reserve

• Increase a reserve

• Delay release

• Deduct chargebacks

• Offset other liabilities

The business should request a written schedule showing:

• Total funds retained

• Reason for retention

• Contractual basis

• Expected review date

• Earliest release date

• Possible deductions

• Contact details for queries

A replacement provider will also want to understand why funds are being held.

New UK termination-notice rules

New UK rules apply to certain payment-service framework contracts entered into on or after 28 April 2026.

For relevant contracts without a fixed expiry date, the changes include:

• Increasing the standard termination-notice period to 90 days

• Requiring sufficiently detailed and specific reasons

• Informing eligible customers about potential Financial Ombudsman rights

The rules include exceptions, including situations involving financial-crime obligations or where providing information would be unlawful. They do not mean every merchant must always receive 90 days’ continued processing.

Whether these protections apply can depend on:

• The contract date

• The type of payment service

• The contract terms

• The size and status of the business

• Any applicable corporate opt-out

• The reason for termination

• Legal or scheme obligations

A merchant should obtain legal advice where the notice period or termination rights are disputed.

Can you complain about a terminated merchant account?

Potentially.

The first step is normally to use the provider’s formal complaints process.

The complaint should explain:

• What happened

• The date processing was restricted or terminated

• Why the merchant believes the decision or process was unfair

• The effect on the business

• The information already provided

• The outcome requested

The merchant can ask the provider to:

• Explain the contractual basis

• Review factual errors

• Confirm retained funds

• Correct inaccurate records

• Reconsider an industry listing

• Provide its final response

Eligible small businesses may be able to take a complaint about a UK financial services provider to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The Ombudsman says it can consider merchant-card-service complaints involving withheld funds, chargebacks, merchant-acquiring agreements and card-reader services.

Its small-business eligibility generally includes businesses with annual turnover below £6.5 million and either fewer than 50 employees or a balance-sheet total below £5 million, subject to its complete eligibility rules.

A complaint does not automatically require the provider to reopen the account, and the Ombudsman will consider the merchant agreement and the circumstances of the closure.

What documents are needed for a replacement merchant account?

A replacement provider may request more information than the original provider did.

Prepare:

Termination information

• Termination letter

• Effective date

• Reason given

• Contract clause

• Details of any appeal

• Complaint correspondence

• Confirmation of any MATCH Pro or VMSS entry

• Information about withheld funds

Processing history

• At least several recent merchant statements where available

• Monthly turnover

• Average transaction value

• Maximum transaction value

• Refund rate

• Chargeback rate

• Fraud rate

• Sales-channel split

• Customer countries

Business information

• Company registration details

• Ownership structure

• Director identification

• Bank statements

• Management accounts

• Licences

• Supplier agreements

• Websites and trading names

Remediation evidence

Depending on the termination reason, this could include:

• Revised customer terms

• Improved billing descriptors

• Fraud-rule changes

• New delivery evidence

• Chargeback procedures

• Compliance policies

• Staff training

• Website corrections

• New licences

• Security-assessment results

• Reduced delivery times

• Proof that unsupported products were removed

A clear application should explain both what happened and what has changed.

How to write a termination explanation

The explanation should be factual and concise.

A useful structure is:

What happened?

State:

• Which provider terminated the account

• When notice was received

• When processing stopped

• The reason given

Why did it happen?

Explain:

• The relevant business or transaction circumstances

• Whether the merchant agrees with the provider

• Any contributing factors

What has changed?

Describe:

• Corrective action

• New controls

• Website changes

• Reduced chargebacks

• Compliance improvements

• Management changes

• New suppliers

• Financial strengthening

What evidence is available?

List:

• Statements

• Reports

• Correspondence

• Policies

• Financial records

• Independent assessments

Avoid:

• Blaming every other party

• Minimising material facts

• Claiming there was no reason when correspondence says otherwise

• Omitting previous declines

• Changing the explanation between applications

An underwriter does not expect every merchant to have a perfect history. It does expect the application to be truthful and internally consistent.

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How quickly can a replacement merchant account be opened?

There is no reliable universal timeframe.

A straightforward commercial termination may be assessed relatively quickly where:

• The business is established

• Processing history is clean

• The website is ready

• Documents are complete

• The provider already accepts the sector

A complex application may take longer where:

• MATCH Pro or VMSS information exists

• Chargebacks are high

• Funds are being held

• Several legal entities are involved

• The business is regulated

• The merchant operates internationally

• Previous information was inaccurate

• A compliance investigation remains open

A promise of “guaranteed same-day approval” should be treated cautiously.

The goal should be stable, correctly underwritten processing rather than the fastest possible temporary account.

Should a terminated merchant have a backup provider?

A properly disclosed secondary acquiring route can reduce operational dependence on one provider.

It may be appropriate for businesses that:

• Depend heavily on online card payments

• Process high monthly volumes

• Serve several countries

• Use multiple currencies

• Have different brands or legal entities

• Need operational resilience

It should not be used to:

• Conceal chargebacks

• Avoid volume limits

• Split suspicious activity

• Continue processing prohibited transactions

• Bypass a scheme listing

• Hide termination from another provider

Both providers should understand the business and the role each arrangement performs.

What should you ask a replacement provider?

Before accepting a replacement account, ask:

1. Does the provider knowingly support the exact business activity?

2. Has the previous termination been fully disclosed?

3. Does the provider need the old termination letter?

4. How will any MATCH Pro or VMSS information be treated?

5. What products and countries are permitted?

6. What monthly volume has been approved?

7. What are the maximum transaction values?

8. Are online, telephone and recurring payments supported?

9. Is a reserve required?

10. How long will reserve funds be held?

11. What are the settlement times?

12. What chargeback limits apply?

13. What fraud tools are required?

14. What changes must be reported?

15. Can the provider suspend processing immediately?

16. What notice provisions apply?

17. How will funds be handled after closure?

18. Can refunds continue following termination?

19. Who owns stored payment tokens?

20. Can transaction data be exported?

21. Is a secondary acquirer permitted?

22. Who provides support if the account is reviewed?

The contract should be assessed as carefully as the transaction rate.

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How Merchant Advice Service helps after termination

Merchant Advice Service provides free, independent guidance for businesses comparing merchant accounts, gateways and acquiring arrangements.

MAS may be able to help with:

Understanding the termination

This can include identifying:

• Which service has been closed

• What information a replacement provider will need

• Whether the reason appears commercial, operational or compliance-related

• Which issues should be addressed before another application

MAS cannot make the old provider disclose protected financial-crime information or reverse its decision.

Identifying suitable providers

Potential providers can be considered against:

• The business sector

• Termination reason

• Processing history

• Chargeback performance

• Transaction values

• Countries

• Payment channels

• Previous provider correspondence

Not every provider accepts merchants following termination.

Preparing a clearer application

MAS can help the business understand the information an underwriter is likely to request and avoid submitting an application that repeats the same mismatch.

Replacement gateways and payment methods

The solution may involve:

• A new acquiring account

• A compatible payment gateway

• Payment links

• Card terminals

• Open banking

• Bank payments

• A properly underwritten secondary route

Reviewing future resilience

Once replacement processing is in place, the business may need to improve:

• Provider communication

• Chargeback monitoring

• Fraud controls

• Reporting

• Volume forecasting

• Customer terms

• Evidence retention

• Business-continuity planning

MAS does not provide legal representation, remove card-scheme listings or guarantee approval.

What information should you include in an MAS enquiry?

Include:

• The business activity

• Website address

• Company location

• Customer countries

• Monthly card turnover

• Average and maximum transaction value

• Payment channels

• Previous provider

• Date of termination

• Reason given

• Whether processing has already stopped

• Whether funds are being held

• Chargeback and fraud history

• Details of any compliance review

• Whether MATCH Pro or VMSS has been mentioned

• Required currencies

• Gateway or integration requirements

• Whether recurring payments are involved

• Whether a replacement application has already been declined

Do not hide the termination.

A potential provider is likely to discover material information during underwriting, and an incomplete application may lead to another closure.

What happens after contacting MAS?

MAS will first review the basic business and termination circumstances.

Where a potential route appears available, this may involve:

1. Clarifying which service has been terminated

2. Understanding the reason and effective date

3. Reviewing the business and transaction profile

4. Identifying issues that need remediation

5. Considering providers with relevant appetite

6. Explaining the likely document requirements

7. Making an introduction where appropriate
   
   

In some cases, the correct advice may be to resolve a compliance, licensing, chargeback or scheme issue before another application is made.

This article provides general payments information and is not legal, regulatory or data-protection advice. Merchant agreements, card-scheme requirements and termination rights differ. Obtain specialist advice where a termination, withheld funds or industry listing is disputed.