Reference pagesReason codes

Reason codes · Mastercard

Mastercard reason codes

Every Mastercard dispute reason code, what it means, and what the network says wins it. 13 current, and 11 the network has retired.

Fraud

Mastercard Fraud reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4837No Cardholder AuthorizationFraudulent
4849Questionable Merchant ActivityFraudulent
4870Chip Liability ShiftFraudulent
4871Chip Liability Shift - Lost/Stolen/NRI FraudFraudulent

Authorization

Mastercard Authorization reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4808Authorization-Related ChargebackGeneral

Point-of-interaction error

Mastercard Point-of-interaction error reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4834Point-of-Interaction ErrorDuplicate

Consumer dispute

Mastercard Consumer dispute reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4853Cardholder DisputeProduct not as described

Miscellaneous

Mastercard Miscellaneous reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4850Installment Billing DisputeNot in the processor map
4854Cardholder Dispute - Not Elsewhere Classified (US)Not in the processor map
4999Domestic Chargeback Dispute (Europe only)General

Mastercard-initiated dispute

Mastercard Mastercard-initiated dispute reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4804Transaction Multiple ProcessingNot in the processor map
4809Transaction Not ReconciledNot in the processor map
4811Stale TransactionNot in the processor map

How long you have

  • Second presentment: 45 days from the chargeback

    Chargeflow, Mastercard reason codes, updated 3 September 2026, Chargebacks911 reason-code pages: Visa 28 January 2025, Mastercard 7 April 2026, American Express 1 April 2025, Discover 17 April 2019, Chargeflow, Mastercard rules and time limits, 18 August 2025

  • Issuer pre-arbitration: 45 days from the second presentment

    Chargeflow, Mastercard rules and time limits, 18 August 2025, Chargebacks911, Mastercard chargeback process, 5 November 2025

  • Acquirer reply: 30 days

    Chargeflow, Mastercard rules and time limits, 18 August 2025

    Sources differ. Another reading is 10 days. The inventory records this as an unresolved conflict and says to confirm with your acquirer. Chargebacks911, Mastercard chargeback process, 5 November 2025

  • Arbitration: 30 to 75 days after the second presentment

    Chargebacks911, Mastercard chargeback process, 5 November 2025

These are the network limits. Your acquirer often sets a shorter one, and theirs is the deadline that applies to you.

After you respond

  • There is no second chargeback. After a second presentment the issuer can only go to pre-arbitration and then to arbitration, where fees run from 15 to 500 US dollars. Chargeflow, Mastercard rules and time limits, 18 August 2025, Chargebacks911, Mastercard chargeback process, 5 November 2025

What changed recently

  • First-Party Trust: merchants share device, delivery, identity and purchase-history data at authorization or at dispute. Mastercard matches it against prior transactions and, where it validates, grants chargeback protection on 4837. Mastercard press release, First-Party Trust expansion, 25 June 2025, Justt, Mastercard First-Party Trust
  • The US launch date for First-Party Trust is disputed: one source says October 2024, another October 2025, and Mastercard's own June 2025 release calls it already successful. It is expanding to Canada, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Chargeflow, Mastercard reason codes, updated 3 September 2026, Mastercard press release, First-Party Trust expansion, 25 June 2025, Justt, Mastercard First-Party Trust

Retired codes

Mastercard no longer files disputes under these. They are here because a dispute raised before the change still carries its original code, and because some processors still map them.

Mastercard retired reason codes
CodeNameFiled as
4841Cancelled RecurringSubscription canceled
4855Goods Not ProvidedProduct not received
4860Credit Not ProcessedCredit not processed
4859Addendum/No-showNot in the processor map
4863Does Not RecognizeUnrecognized
4831Amount DiffersGeneral
4842Late PresentmentGeneral
4846CurrencyGeneral
4840Legacy codeNot in the processor map
4807Legacy codeNot in the processor map
4812Legacy codeNot in the processor map

Related

Sources read 2026-09-08.

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