MCC
Merchant Category Code — a four-digit classification used to describe the merchant’s primary business activity.
High-risk merchant
An informal industry label for merchants that an acquirer or processor considers to require higher scrutiny or loss controls. It is not one universal network status.
MATCH
Mastercard Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants, an acquiring-side screening database for specified prior merchant terminations.
Rolling reserve
A percentage of transactions held for a defined period, with older held amounts released as new transactions enter the reserve.
Capped reserve
A reserve that accumulates until a stated balance is reached; release mechanics depend on the agreement.
Chargeback ratio
A dispute metric comparing chargebacks with a transaction or sales denominator over a defined reporting period.
VAMP
Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program, an acquirer-focused framework for fraud and dispute monitoring.
BRAM
Mastercard Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation, commonly referenced in connection with acquiring risk and compliance monitoring.
Descriptor
The text a cardholder sees on the card statement for a transaction.
Acquirer
The financial institution or acquiring participant that contracts to accept card transactions for the merchant.
ISO
Independent Sales Organization, a term used for sales/service organizations in the acquiring ecosystem.
Payment facilitator
An entity that can onboard sponsored merchants under an acquiring relationship, subject to network rules.
Future delivery
A model where payment is collected before the promised service or product is delivered, creating refund and insolvency exposure.
Friendly fraud
A common industry term for disputes on transactions the cardholder may have authorized but later challenges.
Enumeration
Automated testing of card credentials or account details through repeated authorization attempts.
Retrieval request
A request for transaction information that may precede or accompany a dispute workflow, depending on network and market.
Chargeback
A reversal/dispute process initiated through the cardholder’s issuer under applicable network rules.
Underwriting
The process used by an acquirer or processor to assess the merchant before or during the processing relationship.
Enhanced due diligence
Additional verification or monitoring applied when risk factors require more evidence than standard onboarding.
Merchant monitoring
Ongoing review of merchant activity, including changes in volume, disputes, fraud, products, licensing or other risk indicators.