Mastercard Reason Codes

Last updated 24 October 2026. Copy page as text

This page covers Mastercard's dispute codes, the four-digit ones like 4853. Looking for Visa, Amex or Discover?

A dot in the code means Visa (10.4), one letter and two digits is Amex (C08), two letters at the front is Discover (UA02, RG). Newer Discover codes have four digits too, so go by the card brand on your notice.

TL;DR

• Fraud (4837): No cardholder authorization. Fight with compelling evidence
• Authorization (4808; older notices 4807): Authorization not obtained or not valid
• Cardholder Disputes (4853): Goods not provided or not as described. Check the subreason
• Chip Liability (4870/4871): EMV liability shift. Counterfeit or lost/stolen chip cards
• Use the response date on your notice

Know what the customer said, but haven't found the code? Use the claim chooser.

Code labels: Mastercard's chargeback guide NETWORK, Stripe's code categories VENDOR.

Every Mastercard dispute carries one of these codes. The code is the claim the cardholder made, and it's what decides the evidence you'll need. They're all below, from the Mastercard Chargeback Guide.

Reason Code Categories

Authorization Issues (4800s)

Code	Name	Description
4807	Warning Bulletin File (older label; confirm 4808 case)	Card on warning bulletin at transaction time
4808	Authorization-Related	Authorization required but not properly obtained
4812	Account Number Not on File (older label; confirm 4808 case)	Transaction on invalid or closed account

Fraud (4830s-4870s)

Code	Name	Description
4837	No Cardholder Authorization	Primary fraud code - cardholder denies participation
4863	Cardholder Does Not Recognize (retired, now 4837 or 4853)	Cardholder doesn't recognize the transaction
4870	Chip Liability Shift	Counterfeit chip card fraud
4871	Chip/PIN Lost/Stolen/NRI	Chip card lost, stolen, or never received

Point of Interaction Errors (4834)

Code	Name	Description
4834	Point of Interaction Error	Transaction processing errors at terminal

Cardholder Disputes (4853-4855)

Code	Name	Description
4853	Cardholder Dispute	Goods/services not provided, not as described, or other disputes
4854	Cardholder Dispute (US Region)	US domestic catch-all dispute code
4855	Goods or Services Not Provided (older label; see edition note)	Non-receipt of merchandise or services

Time Frame Quick Reference

Stage	Standard	ATM/Maestro Europe
Chargeback	Confirm the claim, region and start event	Confirm the product and regional rule
Second Presentment	Use the notice's merchant response date	Use the notice's merchant response date
Pre-Arbitration	Confirm whether available and the case deadline	Confirm whether available and the case deadline
Arbitration	Confirm the escalation route and deadline	Confirm the escalation route and deadline

The current 2026 guide wasn't retrievable in this check. Mastercard publishes the Chargeback Guide; ask your acquirer for the edition and provision behind your notice. The network's issuer window isn't your response deadline.

Regional Variations

Time frames move by region, sometimes a lot. Don't count days off this table if you're outside the US - the individual code pages carry the detail.

Shortened Windows

• Nigeria domestic: 2 business days for representment
• Costa Rica domestic: 10 calendar days for representment
• Tanzania domestic: 20 calendar days for representment

Do next

• Representment - Fighting chargebacks
• Chargeback Prevention - Stop disputes
• Chargeback Alerts - Ethoca for MC

Look up

• Mastercard ECP Program - Monitoring thresholds

Deeper

• 4853 - Cardholder Dispute - Goods/services not provided or not as described
• 4808 - Authorization - Auth not obtained properly
• 4834 - Processing Error - Duplicates and processing errors
• 3D Secure - Identity Check authentication
• EMV & Contactless - Chip liability
• Friendly Fraud - First-party abuse
• AVS & CVV - Verification tools
• Reduce Chargebacks Fast - Crisis response