Hearing Aids, Sales, Service, Supply Stores
Hearing-aid retailers and audiology services.
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.
Acquirer & underwriting 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.
How Cardflo handles MCC 5975
- Underwriting 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.
Payment methods typically enabled
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.
Other MCCs in Miscellaneous Stores
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