Petroleum & Petroleum Products
Wholesale of petroleum products and fuels.
What MCC 5172 covers
Merchant Category Code 5172 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for petroleum & petroleum products. 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 petroleum products and fuels. Choosing the right MCC is critical: an incorrect code can lead to higher interchange, surcharges, or, in regulated categories, declined transactions and account holds.
MCC 5172 covers merchants primarily engaged in the wholesale of petroleum and petroleum products, including fuels, lubricants, and other related derivatives. These are typically B2B transactions, often involving large volume purchases.
Ticket sizes are generally high due to bulk ordering, and purchase frequency can be regular for established supply chains or sporadic for project-based needs.
Chargebacks are less common than in B2C environments but can occur due to disputes over product quality, quantity discrepancies, or delivery issues. 'Services Not Rendered' or 'Merchandise Not As Described' are typical reasons.
Due diligence on both sides and clear contractual terms are crucial.
Scheme rules for B2B transactions often permit higher minimum 3DS thresholds or exemptions, reducing friction. Cardflo's tailored B2B acquiring solutions, leveraging robust KYB and flexible MID routing, can help these merchants optimise transaction approvals and manage large-ticket payments efficiently.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Medium-risk standard board with monitoring for most established players, though newer or very high-volume businesses may require enhanced due diligence. Expect standard security and compliance checks.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5172
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5172 businesses in your region.
- High-volume, low-ticket processing tuned for retail authorisation patterns.
- Omnichannel routing across in-store, ecommerce and click-and-collect.
- EMV, contactless and wallet acceptance enabled on a single integration.
- Refund, void and partial-capture flows aligned with retail operations.
Payment methods typically enabled
Common questions
How do B2B transaction limits and authorizations work for MCC 5172?
B2B transactions under MCC 5172 often exceed typical consumer card limits. Acquirers usually support higher authorisation limits for commercial cards.
Merchants should ensure their processing setup can handle large amounts and negotiate appropriate limits with their acquirer. Using Level 2/3 data for commercial cards can help reduce interchange fees and improve approval rates.
Are there specific chargeback prevention strategies for petroleum wholesalers?
Chargeback prevention for MCC 5172 focuses on meticulous record-keeping: signed delivery receipts, quality control documentation, and clear invoicing. Any discrepancies in quantity or product specification are the primary drivers of disputes.
Implementing a robust pre-arbitration strategy and detailed communication with customers can mitigate many issues.
What regulatory considerations impact payment processing for petroleum products?
While direct payment regulations are less complex than in some sectors, merchants in MCC 5172 must adhere to general financial compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, especially for large international transactions.
Ensuring the identity of the counterparty and the legitimacy of the transaction is key for KYB compliance, which Cardflo strengthens via its enhanced onboarding process.
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