Hearing Aids, Sales, Service, Supply Stores.
Hearing-aid retailers and audiology services.
- MCC
- 5975
- Category
- Miscellaneous Stores
- Cardflo support
- Yes
What MCC 5975 covers
Merchant Category Code 5975 is the ISO 18245 identifier used by the card networks for hearing aids, sales, service, supply stores. Acquirers, issuers and regulators use this code to set interchange, scheme fees, fraud rules and reporting categories for every transaction your business processes.
Hearing-aid retailers and audiology services. 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 5975 are primarily engaged in the sale, service, and supply of hearing aids and related audiology services. This typically involves high-ticket items, often coupled with professional services like fitting, adjustments, and repairs.
Frequency of purchase is low, with initial sales followed by periodic service appointments and occasional accessory purchases.
Chargebacks can occur due to 'service not as described', 'item not received' (for accessories), or disputes regarding warranty claims. Given the high-value nature of hearing aids, customers may be more inclined to dispute if expectations are not met.
There are no specific scheme programmes, but due to ticket size, enhanced dispute evidence submission might be required.
Cardflo's onboarding team works closely with merchants in this sector to ensure proper MID setup, facilitating smoother transactions. Our chargeback management tools assist in compiling compelling evidence for high-value disputes, often leading to successful reversals for the merchant.
Given the high average ticket size and combination of product and service, effective payment acceptance requires meticulous record-keeping. Employ multi-acquirer routing to ensure optimal authorisation rates across your acquirer partners, especially for higher value transactions.
Configuration should prioritise 3DS2 for all CNP sales to balance fraud prevention with compliance. A rolling reserve may be applied by your acquirer partners, so careful cash flow management is key.
Consider flexible payment plans or financing options through third-party providers to reduce the upfront burden on customers, potentially mitigating disputes.
Acquirer and acquirer assessment stance.
Medium-risk standard board with monitoring. Due to high average ticket sizes and potentially complex service agreements, robust KYB and ongoing transaction monitoring are essential.
Dispute and chargeback profile.
Key dispute reason codes are '13.1 / 4853 (services not as described)' and '10.5 / 4855 (goods or services not received)', often stemming from dissatisfaction with fitting services or unreceived accessories.
For 'services not as described', detailed service agreements, signed patient consent forms, and comprehensive notes on adjustments and follow-up care are critical. For 'goods not received', meticulous tracking and delivery confirmation are essential.
Evidence of communicated warranty terms and aftercare instructions also helps defeat disputes.
See also: chargeback management · payment response codes · Compelling Evidence 3.0.
Book a scoping call to see how Cardflo would set you up.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5975
- Placement with acquirers that actively board MCC 5975 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.
- Dedicated onboarding manager rather than a generic ticket queue.
Payment methods typically enabled.
Onboarding checklist.
What acquirers typically ask to see when boarding MCC 5975. 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 pattern.
- Product catalogue extract confirming the MCC covers the goods actually sold.
- Refund, exchange and cancellation policy shown at point of sale and on the website.
- PCI DSS SAQ appropriate to the environment (A, A-EP or D as relevant).
- Chargeback ratio and dispute history covering the last six months, including any Visa or Mastercard monitoring-programme status.
See also: Know Your Customer (KYC) · high-risk merchant · smart routing.
Talk to an acquiring specialist about your MID setup.
Common questions
What are the common chargeback reasons for hearing aid merchants and how can they be mitigated?
Common reasons include 'merchandise not as described' (e. g. , performance issues), 'services not rendered', or 'item not received' (for accessories). Mitigation strategies include providing extensive product information and demonstrations, clear service contracts, documented fitting processes, and tracked shipping for all product deliveries.
Prompt communication on service issues is also crucial.
Are there specific requirements for PCI DSS compliance for audiology practices that also sell devices?
Yes, audiology practices processing card payments for hearing aids or services must adhere to PCI DSS compliance. This involves securing cardholder data throughout its lifecycle – from acceptance to storage and transmission.
Using a PCI-compliant payment gateway like Cardflo greatly simplifies this, as much of the sensitive data handling is offloaded to the processor.
Can Cardflo support instalment payments for high-value hearing aid purchases?
Yes, Cardflo can support instalment payment options for high-value purchases. This can be implemented via integrated 'buy now, pay later' APMs such as Klarna or Afterpay, or by working with the merchant to configure a recurring billing schedule for fixed instalments over a set period.
This can help improve conversion rates for expensive items.
How can I best manage customer expectations regarding hearing aid performance and service to reduce 'service not as described' chargebacks?
To minimise 'service not as described' chargebacks, provide a detailed consultation process that includes realistic expectations about hearing aid benefits and limitations, documented in a signed agreement. Outline all included services, such as fitting, adjustments, and follow-up care, specifying any additional costs.
Maintain thorough records of all appointments, modifications, and customer feedback. Ensure your refund and return policy is transparent and clearly communicated before purchase, particularly concerning trial periods.
Post-sale customer support and accessible channels for queries can also intercept potential disputes early.
What unique considerations should merchants in this MCC have when setting up their payment gateway for high-value CNP transactions and recurring service plans?
For high-value CNP transactions (e. g. , initial hearing aid purchases), ensure your payment gateway is configured to always employ 3DS2, providing strong customer authentication and liability shift protection.
For recurring service plans, utilise tokenisation to securely store card details, enabling seamless subscription billing while maintaining PCI DSS compliance. Your gateway should support robust retry logic for recurring payments to maximise successful collections.
Clearly outline the recurring service terms, including billing frequency and cancellation policy, at the point of sale and in subsequent communications to avoid 'recurring transaction cancelled' disputes.
Other MCCs in Miscellaneous Stores
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