Subscription and direct marketing merchant category codes
Subscription and continuity sellers use merchant category code 5968, catalogue and mail order sellers 5964, inbound telesales 5967, outbound telesales 5966 and other direct marketers 5969. These codes describe how a business sells, not what it sells, which is why a subscription box and a direct selling company can share them.
Merchant category codes for subscriptions and direct marketing
The codes businesses in this sector come across most. Your provider sets the code when your account is opened, based on what you tell them about how you trade.
| Code | Industry | More |
|---|---|---|
| 5968 | Subscription and continuity sellers | Industry guide |
| 5964 | Catalogue and mail order sellers | Recurring payments |
| 5965 | Catalogue and retail combined | Recurring payments |
| 5966 | Outbound telesales | Recurring payments |
| 5967 | Inbound telesales and premium services | Recurring payments |
| 5969 | Other direct marketing | Recurring payments |
| 5963 | Door to door sales | Recurring payments |
| 7278 | Buying and shopping clubs | Recurring payments |
Recurring billing done properly
A subscription that the customer understands and can cancel easily is one of the most stable revenue streams in business. Tokenised recurring billing, a reminder before each charge and a simple cancellation route are the three essentials.
Telesales and phone payments
Card details taken over the phone should go into a secure virtual terminal, never onto paper or a spreadsheet. Recording the customer's agreement to the terms protects both sides.
Direct selling
Product led direct selling businesses sell real products through distributors. Retail and wholesale orders through the same checkout are normal for the model.
Card payments for subscriptions and direct marketing, opinions from our specialists
Short views from our specialists, published to start a conversation. Agree or disagree, tell them on LinkedIn.
Subscriptions get a bad name because of the businesses that hide them. Show the price, send the reminder, make cancelling one click. You will lose a few customers and keep your merchant account.
One click cancelling is the right standard. I would add a short confirmation email, so the customer has proof it was done.
What to check in a card payments setup for subscriptions and direct marketing
Three questions worth asking any provider, and the eCom Pay answer.
Reminders before renewals
Fewer surprises, fewer disputes.
Secure phone payments
Virtual terminal, never paper.
No rolling reserve
Next working day settlement on recurring revenue.
Questions about merchant category codes for subscriptions and direct marketing
What is the MCC for a subscription business?
Subscription and continuity sellers use 5968. Subscription boxes, memberships and auto renewing products often sit here.
What MCC is used for telesales?
Inbound telesales uses 5967 and outbound telesales uses 5966.
What MCC does a direct selling company use?
Commonly 5969 for other direct marketers or 5963 for door to door sales, depending on how the business sells.
More industry guides
Card payments for subscriptions and direct marketing, set up properly
Approved in 24 hours once your documents are in, settled the next working day with no rolling reserve, and a UK team on the phone 24/7.