Restricted MCC Codes

The following merchant category codes are either completely prohibited or considered high-risk for card transactions. These restrictions help protect your account and ensure compliance with financial regulations.

Transactions with these merchant categories are completely prohibited and will be automatically declined. These merchant categories are considered high-risk and may require additional verification or may be declined depending on your card settings and activity patterns.

6011Prohibited

ATM / Cash Withdrawal

Virtual cards are for digital and contactless mobile payments only. Physical cash withdrawals are not supported.

6051Prohibited

Quasi-Cash / Crypto

Buying crypto or foreign currency directly via card is restricted. Use Paychee's internal swap feature instead.

5966Prohibited

Outbound Telemarketing

Cold-calling sales services are restricted to prevent fraudulent billing and protect account security.

5967Prohibited

Inbound Telemarketing

Services sold strictly over the phone are restricted. We recommend using verified online checkout pages.

6050Prohibited

Quasi-Cash (Member)

Buying "cash equivalents" like travelers' checks is restricted to prevent money laundering risks.

5542Prohibited

Automated Fuel Pumps

Blocked to avoid unpredictable security holds. Please pay the attendant inside the station to complete your purchase.

5816Prohibited

Digital Goods - Games

In-game currency and skins are restricted due to high account-takeover risks in the gaming industry.

7993Prohibited

Video Game Arcades / Betting

Establishments with gambling machines or betting payout games are strictly prohibited by our issuer.

7995Prohibited

Betting / Casino Gaming

All online and physical gambling is strictly prohibited to maintain compliance with global financial laws.

9211Prohibited

Court Costs / Alimony

Legal payments are not supported on Paychee cards to prevent misuse of corporate/team funds.

9222Prohibited

Fines

Traffic tickets or penalties. Restricted by our issuer to minimize legal and financial liability risks.

9223Prohibited

Bail and Bond Payments

Bail bonds are strictly prohibited for virtual cards due to extreme financial and legal risks.

7021Prohibited

Timeshares

Buying or renting timeshare properties is not supported due to high consumer dispute rates in this industry.

7273Prohibited

Dating & Escort Services

Adult dating and escort services are strictly prohibited under our platform's acceptable use policy.

7311High Risk

Advertising Services

Primary Ad Spend Code. Used by Meta, Google, and TikTok. Ensure your balance covers your daily budget plus a 20% "auth hold" buffer.

7372High Risk

SaaS & Programming

Used by AWS, GitHub, and OpenAI. If declined, ensure "International Spending" is active in your Paychee dashboard.

5399High Risk

Digital Wallets (Apple/Google)

Used for linking to Apple/Google Pay. You must have a minimum $1.00 balance for the verification "ping" to succeed.

4816High Risk

Cloud & Network Services

Covers hosting and registrars like GoDaddy. Often flagged for bot-testing; check for a 3D Secure (3DS) prompt.

7375High Risk

Info Retrieval Services

Standard for ChatGPT or Midjourney. Requires a small active balance to link the card to the subscription.

3000-3299High Risk

Specific Airlines

Direct airline buys often trigger security filters.

3500-3999High Risk

Hotels & Lodging

Hotels place large "security holds." Ensure your card balance is significantly higher than the actual room rate.

4121High Risk

Taxis & Rideshare

Uber/Lyft. If declined, check for a pending "test" charge or a tiny unpaid balance from a previous ride attempt.

7319High Risk

Advertising Services (NEC)

Used for niche ad networks. If declined, check your dashboard for a 3D Secure verification request.

5965High Risk

Direct Marketing - Combo

Often used for catalog or hybrid retail. Ensure your billing address matches your Paychee profile exactly.

5968High Risk

Subscription / Continuity

Used for recurring memberships. Ensure 'Recurring Payments' is enabled on your card to avoid interruptions.

5969High Risk

Direct Marketing - Other

If declined, ensure you have sufficient funds to cover the merchant's initial "test" or verification transaction.

7379High Risk

Computer Repair / IT Support

Banks are cautious with remote support. Use only with trusted partners and check your daily transaction limits.

5734High Risk

Computer Software Stores

One-time software license buys. If it fails, disable your VPN; a region mismatch often triggers an automatic security block.

5045High Risk

Computers & Peripherals

Bulk hardware orders. Large amounts may require a one-time approval; contact support for high-value purchases.

5046High Risk

Commercial Equipment

Wholesale office machinery. These often require a "Business Verified" status on your Paychee account.

6012High Risk

Financial Services

Buying stocks or securities. This category is often restricted due to market volatility and regional regulations.

6530High Risk

Stored Value Load

Topping up other digital wallets. Check if your card allows "Person-to-Person" transfers in your security settings.

6540High Risk

POI Funding Transactions

Funding brokerage or investment accounts. Often blocked by issuers to prevent high-risk debt accumulation.

7011High Risk

Hotels / Motels / Resorts

General lodging. If declined, the hotel likely requires a physical plastic card for the security deposit.

7512High Risk

Car Rental Agencies

Most agencies require a physical card for deposits. We recommend using Paychee only for the final invoice at checkout.

4511High Risk

Air Carriers (General)

High-value flight transactions may trigger a fraud lock. Contact Paychee support to pre-authorize large travel buys.

4411High Risk

Cruise Lines

Cruise bookings are high-risk for fraud. Use a verified travel agent or aggregator for the best success rates.

4722High Risk

Travel Agencies

Booking.com/Expedia. Ensure your billing zip code matches your account to pass the merchant's security check.

4214High Risk

Freight & Shipping

For FedEx, UPS, or DHL. High-value freight may require 3D Secure verification to be completed via the Paychee app.

5541High Risk

Service Stations

Full-service gas stations. If paying outside, ensure you have a balance for a $100+ temporary "pre-auth" hold.

5552High Risk

Electric Vehicle Charging

EV stations. Frequent small charges can trigger "velocity" alerts; wait a few minutes between charging sessions.

5262High Risk

Online Marketplaces

Platforms like eBay. If declined, the specific third-party vendor may not be verified by the marketplace.

5300High Risk

Wholesale Clubs

Bulk retail (Costco/Sams). These often require a membership card that matches the name on your virtual card.

5411High Risk

Grocery Stores

Common for mobile pay. Ensure the merchant supports contactless payments and your wallet is correctly linked.

5699High Risk

Miscellaneous Apparel

Designer clothing. High return rates trigger fraud filters; verify your account before making large fashion purchases.

5732High Risk

Electronics Sales

Gadgets and TVs. These purchases almost always require a 3D Secure (3DS) code sent to your Paychee app.

5815High Risk

Digital Goods - Media

Used for iTunes or Kindle. Often flagged for "accidental" purchases; check your app store's payment settings.

5818High Risk

Large Digital Merchants

Amazon Digital / Google Play. If declined, you may have reached your daily "Digital Goods" spending limit.

5912High Risk

Drug Stores / Pharmacies

Requires strict verification. Virtual cards are often restricted here unless used via Apple/Google Pay.

5921High Risk

Liquor Stores

Restricted on most business-coded cards. Check your card's "Merchant Restrictions" in your account settings.

5931High Risk

Used Merchandise / Thrift

High risk of non-delivery. Ensure the merchant has a high reputation score and uses a secure payment gateway.

5942High Risk

Book Stores

Standard retail. If declined, it is likely a card-testing filter; try again in 10 minutes or use a different site.

5943High Risk

Stationery Stores

Office supplies. If it fails, verify that your card is not restricted to "Software & Ads" categories only.

5944High Risk

Jewelry & Watches

High-value, portable goods. Merchants often require extra identity verification for virtual card payments.

5970High Risk

Artist Supply Stores

Used by creative agencies. Generally safe, but large equipment orders may trigger a manual review call for your safety.

5998High Risk

Tent & Awning Shops

Often used as a "masking" code for high-risk goods. Use only with well-known, verified vendors.

8931High Risk

Accounting & Auditing

SaaS tools like QuickBooks. If billing fails, ensure your card allows "Recurring Subscriptions" in settings.

8999High Risk

Professional Services (NEC)

Used by Upwork/Fiverr. For large payments, ensure your card's single-transaction limit is set high enough.

8111High Risk

Legal Services / Attorneys

Retainers and legal fees. Often requires a "Business" tier card; check your account status in the dashboard.

7399High Risk

Business Services (NEC)

General B2B category. Declines are often due to a mismatch between the merchant's country and your card's region.

7392High Risk

Consulting & PR

Large professional fees. Contact support if you need to authorize a transaction exceeding $1,000 for these services.

7338High Risk

Quick Copy / Printing

Bulk marketing assets. If declined, ensure you aren't exceeding your daily "Marketing Expenses" limit.

8299High Risk

Educational Services

Online courses and webinars. Often flagged for "Friendly Fraud"; keep your digital receipt for verification.

8398High Risk

Charitable Organizations

Restricted by some issuers to prevent unauthorized use of company funds; check your user permissions.

8661High Risk

Religious Organizations

Non-profit payments. Often require manual approval to ensure the merchant is a verified non-profit entity.

7299High Risk

Misc. Personal Services

A "catch-all" for local services. Often declined if the merchant is not properly registered with their bank.

4812High Risk

Telecom Equipment

Buying hardware like phones. Usually requires 3D Secure verification to confirm the purchase is authorized.

4814High Risk

Telecom Services

Monthly bills. Some carriers block virtual cards for contracts; try using a "One-Time" payment option instead.

4899High Risk

Cable & Pay TV Services

Streaming (Netflix/Hulu). Ensure "Recurring Payments" is toggled ON to prevent monthly service cut-offs.

4900High Risk

Electric / Gas / Water

Utility bills. Many providers require a physical billing address that matches your card profile exactly.

7622High Risk

Radio/TV Repair

Electronic repairs. Use only with verified businesses to avoid unauthorized "remote repair" scams.

7623High Risk

A/C & Refrigeration Repair

Home maintenance. High-value service calls may trigger a security hold; ensure your balance is sufficient.

5111High Risk

Stationery & Office Supplies

Wholesale goods. If buying in bulk, notify support to avoid a fraud block on unusually large orders.

5811High Risk

Caterers

Event food services. Large deposits may require a "Business Verified" card; check your limits before booking.

5812High Risk

Restaurants / Dining

General dining. If declined at a restaurant, the merchant likely tried to add a 20% "tip hold" to the total.

5814High Risk

Fast Food Restaurants

Quick service. Frequent small charges can trigger a "Security Lock"; try to combine orders where possible.

7832High Risk

Motion Picture Theaters

Cinema tickets. Generally safe; if declined, ensure the theater supports online/contactless bookings.

7841High Risk

Digital Movie Rentals

Netflix/Amazon rentals. High dispute rates; ensure you authorize the purchase in your account settings.

7922High Risk

Theatrical Producers

Live event tickets. Secondary ticket markets are high-risk; use only with verified platforms like Ticketmaster.

7991High Risk

Museums

Cultural venues. Generally safe for virtual cards; if declined, ensure the venue supports online bookings.

7994High Risk

Video Game Arcades

Family entertainment centers. Small, frequent charges can trigger a fraud alert; wait between game swipes.

7997High Risk

Membership Clubs

Gym or social clubs. Ensure your card is set to "Subscription Mode" to allow for monthly automated billing.

8011High Risk

Doctors / Physicians

Medical co-pays. Some providers block virtual cards to prevent data leaks; check with your clinic first.

8062High Risk

Hospitals

Emergency care. Large bills may exceed virtual card limits; contact support for specialized limit increases.

8099High Risk

Medical Services

Labs or specialty clinics. Ensure the merchant is based in your card's approved region to avoid declines.

9405High Risk

Intra-Government Services

B2B government fees. Often require a "High-Trust" account status; contact support to verify your business identity.

9399High Risk

Govt Services (NEC)

Miscellaneous fees. If declined, the government portal may only accept cards issued in its specific country.

9311High Risk

Tax Payments

Paying taxes. Some government portals block "Virtual" cards to ensure the payer's verified identity.

6513High Risk

Real Estate / Rentals

Rent payments. High-value and high-risk; verify the landlord's account and your card limits before sending funds.

7296High Risk

Clothing Rental

Formal wear rentals. Often requires a "security deposit" hold; ensure you have at least $100 extra available.

7297High Risk

Massage Parlors

Wellness services. Often flagged if the merchant is categorized incorrectly; use with caution.

5122High Risk

Drugs & Proprietaries

Wholesale medical supplies. Restricted to verified business accounts to prevent illegal distribution.

5964High Risk

Catalog Merchants

Direct mail sales. High shipping delay risks; ensure the merchant uses tracked shipping for transaction approval.

5962High Risk

Direct Marketing - Travel

Travel clubs. Historically high chargeback rates; use only with well-established and verified brands.