Masonry, Stonework, Tile, Plastering & Insulation.
Specialty trade contractors for masonry, tile and plastering work.
- MCC
- 1740
- Category
- Contracted Services
- Cardflo support
- Yes
What MCC 1740 covers
Merchant Category Code 1740 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for masonry, stonework, tile, plastering & insulation. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Specialty trade contractors for masonry, tile and plastering work. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
Merchants in MCC 1740 typically include specialist contractors for masonry, stonework, tile installation, plastering, and insulation services. These are 'job-to-job' businesses, often family-run or small to medium enterprises.
Ticket sizes vary significantly, from small repair jobs (hundreds of pounds) to substantial new build components (tens of thousands of pounds or more).
Transaction frequency is generally low to medium, tied to project completions or interim payment schedules. Chargebacks are relatively uncommon, but when they occur, they often relate to service disputes – quality of work, incomplete work, or perceived overcharging.
Card-present transactions for deposits or final payments, or card-not-present over the phone, are typical.
There are no specific scheme programmes targeting this MCC. Visa and Mastercard generally treat these transactions as standard retail.
Cardflo's chargeback management tooling, particularly its dispute reason code analysis and evidence submission features, assists these merchants in effectively addressing service-related disputes by streamlining the process of submitting contracts, photos, and completion certificates.
Merchants in this sector should favour card-not-present processing for larger invoices, coupled with clearly itemised quotations and contracts signed by the cardholder.
For ticket sizes exceeding a few thousand pounds, consider splitting payments into milestones, securing deposits via card, and collecting final balances via bank transfer. This approach aligns with typical project-based payment schedules and reduces card-related risk on large sums.
Maintain detailed job logs, photographic evidence of work, and customer sign-offs to pre-empt disputes.
Given the varying ticket sizes, multi-acquirer routing can optimise processing costs by directing smaller, card-present transactions to acquirers with favourable debit rates and larger CNP payments to those offering better tiered pricing for high-value transactions.
Acquirer and acquirer assessment stance.
Low-risk standard board. These merchants typically present a low fraud risk and stable transaction patterns.
No specific reserves are usually required, given the nature of the services provided.
Dispute and chargeback profile.
The most common chargeback reason codes for stonework and plastering contractors are 13.1 / 4853 (services not as described) and 13.3 / 4863 (cancelled recurring transaction), often occurring when a client claims the work is substandard or was never completed.
To defeat these, provide signed contracts and work orders detailing the scope of work, photographic evidence of completion, customer sign-off sheets, and any communication logs confirming client satisfaction or agreement to terms. For 13.3, demonstrate the service was delivered per the agreed schedule.
See also: chargeback management · payment response codes · Compelling Evidence 3.0.
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How Cardflo handles MCC 1740
- Placement with acquirers that actively board MCC 1740 businesses in your region.
- Placement for trades, contractors and project-based businesses with variable ticket sizes.
- Job-deposit and progress-payment flows supported on a single MID.
- Card-present and card-not-present routing for site visits and remote invoicing.
- Dispute support tuned to the documentation contractors actually keep.
- Dedicated onboarding manager who knows the trade-services risk profile.
Payment methods typically enabled.
Onboarding checklist.
What acquirers typically ask to see when boarding MCC 1740. Cardflo collects this once and reuses it across every acquirer we route you through.
- Business registration and beneficial-owner documentation (KYB, UBO).
- Six months of processing statements or bank statements demonstrating trading volume.
- Standard-form contract, quotation template and change-order template.
- Refund, cancellation and deposit-handling policy shown at point of sale and on the website.
- Public liability and, where relevant, professional indemnity insurance certificates.
- Six months of processing statements or bank statements demonstrating trading pattern.
See also: Know Your Customer (KYC) · high-risk merchant · smart routing.
Talk to an acquiring specialist about your MID setup.
Common questions
What are common reasons for chargebacks in MCC 1740 and how can I mitigate them?
Common chargeback reasons include 'Services Not as Described' (Reason Code 4855 / 13.3) and 'Credit Not Processed' (Reason Code 4834 / 13.1). Mitigation involves clear contracts, detailed specifications, photographic evidence of work before and after, documented change orders, and prompt refunds if agreed.
Obtaining customer sign-off on completed stages can significantly reduce disputes.
Are there any specific scheme compliance requirements I should be aware of for construction services?
While no specific scheme programmes target general construction services, ensure PCI DSS compliance for handling card data. For large transactions, consider using 3D Secure to shift liability for 'Card Not Present' fraud.
Maintain detailed records to comply with any scheme retrievals or chargeback inquiries, especially for service delivery documentation.
Given the varying ticket sizes, what payment setup is most efficient for MCC 1740 merchants?
Merchants in this MCC benefit from a multi-channel payment acceptance approach. For deposits and larger interim payments, a virtual terminal for card-not-present transactions or bank transfers are efficient.
For smaller, on-site payments, mobile POS devices or payment links can be useful. Cardflo's flexible acquiring network allows for optimal routing based on transaction specifics, aiming for lower interchange.
What specific payment methods should I offer for large-scale masonry projects over £10,000 to manage risk effectively?
For projects exceeding £10,000, while accepting card payments for deposits is common and convenient, consider encouraging bank transfers for final balances. This strategy significantly reduces your exposure to chargebacks on large sums, as bank transfers are irreversible once cleared.
Our multi-acquirer network can help you manage different payment types efficiently, routing initial card deposits to acquirers offering competitive CNP rates and providing robust reconciliation for varied payment streams.
Ensure all terms, including payment schedules and acceptable methods, are explicitly detailed in a signed contract to set clear customer expectations and provide strong evidence in case of any dispute.
How can I best handle partial payments or progress billing for multi-stage tiling or insulation jobs to minimise chargebacks?
For multi-stage jobs requiring progress billing, clearly document each completed stage and obtain client sign-off before requesting the next payment. When processing card payments for these instalments, use unique transaction identifiers referencing the specific stage of work.
Implement robust 3D Secure authentication for all card-not-present transactions to shift liability where possible. Maintaining detailed records – including dates of service, evidence of completion, and customer communications – is crucial.
If a dispute arises, this evidence demonstrates that specific, agreed-upon services were rendered for each partial payment, effectively countering claims of 'services not as described' or 'incomplete work'.
Other MCCs in Contracted Services
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