Men's, Women's & Children's Uniforms & Commercial Clothing.
Wholesale of uniforms and commercial clothing.
- MCC
- 5137
- Category
- Retail Outlets
- Cardflo support
- Yes
What MCC 5137 covers
Merchant Category Code 5137 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for men's, women's & children's uniforms & commercial clothing. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Wholesale of uniforms and commercial clothing. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
This MCC is assigned to wholesale distributors of men's, women's, and children's uniforms and commercial clothing. These merchants supply businesses (e. g. , hotels, hospitals, security firms, schools) with branded or functional attire.
Sales cycles can be project-based (large initial orders followed by smaller replenishment orders) or ongoing contractual agreements. Ticket sizes are generally high due to bulk orders.
Chargebacks typically arise from 'merchandise not as described' (e. g. , incorrect sizing, material, or logo embroidery), 'goods/services not received' (e. g. , delayed or incomplete delivery of large orders), or 'defective merchandise' if a batch shows quality issues.
There are no specific scheme programmes for this MCC. Cardflo's robust KYB and anti-fraud tools are critical for vetting B2B customers, particularly for branded goods, and our chargeback management system helps merchants represent disputes effectively using order and delivery documentation.
Merchants in this sector should favour CNP processing via a multi-acquirer gateway, optimising for specific B2B payment methods like level 2/3 interchange data, virtual cards, or purchase orders.
Given higher ticket sizes and potential for customisation, ensure the payment gateway supports detailed order descriptors to aid reconciliation. Implement robust fraud screening tailored to B2B patterns, as disputes often relate to specification mismatches rather than outright fraud.
Negotiate terms with your acquirer to reflect the typically lower fraud rates but potential for high-value contractual disputes, influencing reserve expectations.
Acquirer and acquirer assessment stance.
Low to medium-risk standard board. Risk is influenced by order customisation levels and batch quality control.
Monitoring for repeat disputes relating to product errors is common. Reserves are generally not imposed unless specific contractual or quality issues are identified.
Dispute and chargeback profile.
The primary dispute reasons are "13.1 / 4853 (merchandise not as described)" and "13.3 / 4855 (damaged goods)". These typically arise from incorrect sizing, material, branding, or quality issues in bulk orders.
To defeat these, provide detailed order confirmations, signed delivery receipts, specification sheets, quality control reports, and photographic evidence for large orders. For "13.6 / 4855 (goods/services not received)", submit proof of delivery, tracking information, and recipient sign-off.
See also: chargeback management · payment response codes · Compelling Evidence 3.0.
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How Cardflo handles MCC 5137
- Placement with acquirers that actively board MCC 5137 businesses in your region.
- High-volume, low-ticket processing tuned for retail authorisation patterns.
- Omnichannel routing across in-store, e-commerce and click-and-collect.
- EMV, contactless and wallet acceptance enabled on a single integration.
- Refund, void and partial-capture flows aligned with retail operations.
- Dedicated onboarding manager experienced with multi-location retail brands.
Payment methods typically enabled.
Onboarding checklist.
What acquirers typically ask to see when boarding MCC 5137. 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 in-store and e-commerce split.
- Refund, exchange and returns policy visible at point of sale and on the website.
- PCI DSS SAQ appropriate to the environment (A, A-EP or D as relevant).
- Store-front address list for multi-location operators.
- 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 evidence should be collected to defend a 'merchandise not as described' chargeback for customised uniforms?
For customised uniforms, strong evidence includes original design approvals (signed proofs, mock-ups), precise order specifications, production quality checks (e. g. , samples, photos at different production stages), and comprehensive delivery receipts. This proves the uniforms matched the agreed specifications.
Cardflo's chargeback system facilitates document upload for representment.
How do merchants in MCC 5137 mitigate chargebacks related to sizing discrepancies?
Sizing discrepancies are mitigated by providing clear, detailed size charts, encouraging clients to measure carefully, and offering pre-production samples where feasible. Documenting client acceptance of sizing guides and disclaimers regarding customisation can help defend against 'merchandise not as described' claims related to fit.
Can Cardflo help manage fluctuating seasonal demand for wholesale uniform businesses?
Cardflo's platform is built for scalability, capable of handling varying transaction volumes without service interruption, which is crucial for businesses with seasonal spikes (e. g. , school uniform suppliers).
Our load-balanced infrastructure and real-time transaction monitoring ensure consistent performance during peak periods, maintaining high approval rates.
How can we best manage disputes related to custom uniform specifications?
To manage disputes over custom specifications, ensure that every order's precise requirements, including sizing charts, material types, colour codes, and branding guidelines, are documented and signed off by the client prior to production.
Implement a clear, written return and alteration policy specific to customised items, detailing acceptable variations and the process for reporting discrepancies. When a dispute arises, provide this signed specification alongside production records and despatch notes to your acquirer, demonstrating that goods were produced as agreed.
This greatly strengthens your position against "merchandise not as described" claims.
What payment features should we prioritise to handle the large, infrequent orders common in uniform supply contracts?
For large, infrequent B2B uniform orders, prioritise a payment gateway that supports Level 3 data processing. This allows you to submit extensive transaction details, such as commodity codes, freight amounts, and tax, which can lead to lower interchange fees for corporate cards.
Also, consider integrating with virtual card programmes favoured by large organisations for expense management. Ensure your system can handle partial payments or staged invoicing if your contracts require it, and provides clear reconciliation for accounts departments on both sides.
Reliable multi-acquirer routing can also prevent single-acquirer downtimes disrupting critical order placements.
Other MCCs in Retail Outlets
Related industries.
Related guides.
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