Worldpay terminated your account? What to do next
A Worldpay termination is usually served with 30 days' notice, or immediately for more serious issues, and is often reported under a Mastercard MATCH code that other acquiring banks check for 5 to 7 years afterwards. That makes a fresh mainstream application difficult, but it does not end your ability to take payments. The practical route is a specialist acquirer that will underwrite the specific reason behind the termination directly.
The notice, and why it happened
A standard Worldpay cancellation is typically served with around 30 days' notice. More serious cases, such as a suspected scheme-rule breach, excessive chargebacks or a PCI DSS compliance failure, can be terminated with immediate effect. Check the letter or notice you received for the specific reason given and the effective date, since both affect what a new acquirer will need to see.
The MATCH code, and what it means
Terminations by tier-one acquirers including Worldpay are often reported to Mastercard's MATCH system (Mastercard Alert to Control High-risk Merchants, also called the Terminated Merchant File) under a specific code, for example code 11 (collusion) or code 12 (PCI DSS non-compliance), among others covering fraud, excessive chargebacks and account data compromise. This is shared across acquiring banks, so once listed, mainstream and tier-one providers will generally decline an application automatically once their MATCH check runs, and a listing can remain on file for 5 to 7 years.
Can the listing be removed?
Sometimes, but only where the listing was made in error or the reporting acquirer agrees to withdraw it, which usually needs a formal dispute with supporting evidence and takes real time. It is worth pursuing if you have a genuine case, but do not treat it as the plan for getting back to processing payments in the near term.
The practical route back to taking payments
Our pick
MerchantHQ, specialist high-risk broker and account team
As a broker we hold a panel of UK acquirers that engage with MATCH-listed applicants directly, matching you to the one most likely to underwrite your specific code and history, and disclosing the risk classification upfront so the right underwriter is approached from the start rather than a cold application that fails automatically.
The acquirer pays our commission on completed introductions, so it costs you nothing on top.
Get matched to an acquirer that works with your historyCommon questions
How much notice does Worldpay give before terminating an account?
Typically 30 days for a standard cancellation, though Worldpay (like other tier-one acquirers) can terminate with immediate effect for more serious issues such as a suspected scheme-rule breach or PCI DSS non-compliance. Check the specific notice you received for the effective date and stated reason.
What are the MATCH codes and which ones does Worldpay use?
MATCH (Mastercard Alert to Control High-risk Merchants) codes classify why a merchant was terminated. Worldpay, like other acquirers, has reported merchants under codes including 11 (collusion) and 12 (PCI DSS non-compliance), among others covering excessive chargebacks, fraud and account data compromise. The specific code applied to your case affects how a new acquirer's underwriter will read the file.
How long does a MATCH listing last?
Typically 5 to 7 years. It is shared across acquiring banks, so once listed, mainstream and tier-one acquirers will generally decline an application automatically once their MATCH check runs, regardless of how the rest of the application looks.
Can a MATCH listing be removed early?
Only in limited circumstances, usually where the listing was made in error or the reporting acquirer agrees to withdraw it, which typically needs a formal dispute with evidence. This is a slower, more involved process than most businesses expect, and is not guaranteed to succeed.
Related
See the MATCH/TMF list explained in full, why merchant accounts get declined, or check whether your category is treated as high-risk. If you suspect a MATCH listing specifically, see our MATCH list action runbook.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind MerchantHQ. His career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending, including payments and merchant services. He writes the MerchantHQ library.
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