MCC, Risk, and Reviews: How to Pass Payment Platform Screening Faster
Screening isn’t guesswork. Pick the right MCC, publish clear refund/chargeback policies, and ship a tidy documentation pack. Here’s the practical checklist IRent Agency uses to help merchants pass Stripe or Shopify Payments reviews quickly.
What is MCC and why it matters
The Merchant Category Code (MCC) classifies what you sell. Processors use it to assess risk, set monitoring thresholds, and decide what documentation to request. A mismatched MCC is a fast track to manual review, longer underwriting, or account limits.
| Area | How MCC affects you |
|---|---|
| Risk tier | Higher-risk MCCs face tighter velocity limits and more evidence requirements. |
| Descriptors | Your statement name must reflect the MCC/business (no misleading wording). |
| Refund SLAs | Certain categories expect longer/shorter windows—publish them clearly. |
| Prohibited items | Some MCCs simply can’t process certain products/claims; avoid edge cases. |
Choosing the correct MCC (and common mistakes)
Good choices look like…
- The MCC aligns with your primary catalog, not a niche add-on.
- Your site copy, policies, and images match the MCC (no medical claims on “general retail”).
- Descriptor and support email reinforce the same brand and domain.
Common mistakes
- Picking a low-risk MCC that doesn’t fit the product—review teams will reclassify you.
- Using “general merchandise” when 70% of sales are a single risky category.
- Running multiple brands under one MCC with mixed descriptors.
Tip: If you’re between two codes, pick the one a risk analyst would choose after reading your product pages and policies. That’s usually the right answer.
Refunds, chargebacks, and fulfillment policies
Underwriting reviews your pages as if they were evidence. Publish them like you expect to be audited:
Must-have pages
- Refund & Returns (window, eligibility, how to start a return)
- Shipping & Delivery (carriers, cut-off times, tracking, delays)
- Contact page (email + phone or WhatsApp; response time SLA)
- Terms & Privacy (plain language + legally sound)
Signals reviewers like
- Photos/specs that match what’s shipped (no exaggerated claims)
- Order confirmation and tracking emails configured
- RMA flow that doesn’t require “support to approve first”
- Clear warranty language (if mentioned in ads)
The documentation pack that speeds approvals
Gather these before you hit “Submit”. We call it the Review Pack:
Business identity
- Company registration, address, and tax ID (matches domain/legal footer)
- Bank letter or voided check (legal name matches KYB)
- Beneficial owner IDs (legible, up-to-date)
Operational proof
- Supplier invoices / distribution letters
- Sample order evidence (packing slip + tracking)
- Refund policy link + screenshots of live pages
- Marketing samples (ad creatives/landing pages)
Dispute evidence playbook
Disputes under 0.6% keep you in the “stable” bucket. When one arrives, respond like this:
- Proof of delivery: tracking, carrier, delivery scan, signature for high-value orders.
- Product truth: listing screenshots/specs used at the time of sale.
- Customer comms: timestamps showing fast replies and remedies offered.
- Refund decision: either processed or justified denial with policy cite.
Pro move: Tag orders by risk (new geo, high AOV, no history) and require signature on those segments only.
Launch plan to avoid holds
Week 0–1: Warm start
- 1–3 test orders (live cards, real addresses)
- Cap daily volume (processor limits or your own)
- Ship on-time and upload tracking within 24 hours
Week 2–4: Smooth ramp
- Increase limits only after clean tracking and no refund backlog
- Watch descriptors/fees reconcile with gateway reports 1:1
- Aim for response time < 24h on support channels
Quick FAQ
Can I switch MCC later?
Yes, but expect a new review. Switching to avoid rules is a red flag—fix the catalog/policies first.
Does generous refund policy increase abuse?
Not if you verify high-risk orders and publish clear conditions. Generosity reduces disputes and speeds approvals.
What causes immediate holds?
Velocity spikes, mismatched MCC vs. site, no tracking, or inconsistent legal name/domain/bank.
Need a neutral agreement review?
We match and operate on warmed payment lanes under dual KYC and signed agreements— we don’t sell or rent accounts. Our job is clean approvals, stable payouts, and disciplined scaling.
Talk to a specialist or WhatsApp us at +1 (807) 804-0208
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