Eating Places & Restaurants
Full-service restaurants, bistros and dining.
What MCC 5812 covers
Merchant Category Code 5812 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for eating places & restaurants. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Full-service restaurants, bistros and dining. 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 5812 encompasses a broad range of businesses providing food and beverage services for immediate consumption, including full-service restaurants, cafes, bistros, and fast-casual establishments. Ticket sizes can vary from small coffee purchases to large group dining bills.
Transaction frequency is generally high, particularly during peak hours, and cash flow is regular.
Chargebacks are often due to 'services not as described' (e. g.
, food quality, incorrect order), 'duplicate processing' (common in busy environments), or 'fraud' where stolen cards are used for dining. Non-receipt of a gratuity added after the fact can also generate disputes.
For smaller ticket sizes, chargebacks are less frequent due to customer's choice to not dispute incidental charges.
Cardflo's acquiring network provides robust authorisation rates and fast settlement for high-volume transactions common in restaurants, ensuring reliable cash flow. Its specific chargeback tooling allows for rapid response to 'duplicate processing' or 'not as described' claims with transactional details and receipts.
Acquirer & underwriting stance
Low-risk standard board for most businesses. High-end restaurants with large average tickets may see increased fraud monitoring.
Clear pricing displays and efficient transaction processing are key to minimise disputes.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5812
- Underwriting with acquirers that actively board MCC 5812 businesses in your region.
- MCC review during onboarding to confirm the right code for your products.
- Reclassification support if scheme rules or product mix change post-launch.
- Multi-acquirer routing to keep approvals stable for broad merchant categories.
- Dispute support tuned to the mixed-product chargeback profile this MCC sees.
Payment methods typically enabled
Common questions
How can restaurants effectively handle 'duplicate processing' chargebacks due to errors during busy periods?
To defend against 'duplicate processing' (Visa Reason Code 12. 6, Mastercard 4834), restaurants should immediately issue a refund for the erroneous duplicate charge and notify the customer.
Providing the acquirer with clear evidence of the single intended transaction (e. g.
, POS logs showing one order, customer receipt) and proof of the refund for the duplicate will resolve the dispute quickly. Proactive reconciliation and staff training on POS usage help prevent these errors.
What are the scheme rules regarding disputed gratuities or service charges added to a restaurant bill?
If a customer disputes a gratuity or service charge (often falling under 'not as described' or 'no authorisation'), the restaurant must prove the customer authorised the amount. This typically requires a signed receipt clearly showing the tip or service charge included in the total.
For mandatory service charges, these must be conspicuously displayed on menus or price lists. For discretionary tips, cardholders can dispute if they claim it was added without their consent, in which case the restaurant faces liability if no signature is present.
Are there specific scheme rules for 'dine and dash' scenarios where a customer leaves without paying?
If a customer 'dines and dashes' and a card transaction was attempted but declined (or no card was presented), this is not typically a chargeback scenario. Chargebacks occur when a valid card transaction is processed, and the cardholder later disputes it.
If a restaurant manager manually keys in a card number when a declined transaction occurs to force a payment, this is against scheme rules and would almost certainly result in a 'no authorisation' or 'fraud' chargeback against the restaurant,
with a high chance of merchant liability.
Other MCCs in Miscellaneous Stores
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