Certain card transactions are restricted based on merchant category, merchant country, or currency. If a payment is declined and falls into one of the categories below, this is why — it's not something support can override.
Restricted Merchant Categories (MCC)
Transactions at merchants with the following category codes are not permitted:
MCC | Category |
5122 | Drugs, drug proprietaries, druggist sundries |
5169 | Chemicals and allied products |
5960 | Direct marketing — insurance services |
5962 | Direct marketing — travel services |
5966 | Direct marketing — outbound telemarketing |
7273 | Dating and escort services |
7297 | Massage parlors |
7801 | Government-licensed gambling |
Restricted Merchant Countries
Transactions at merchants located in the following countries are not permitted:
Country | ISO-3 |
Afghanistan | AFG |
Belarus | BLR |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | BIH |
Central African Republic | CAF |
Cuba | CUB |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | COD |
Ethiopia | ETH |
Iran | IRN |
Iraq | IRQ |
Lebanon | LBN |
Libya | LBY |
Myanmar | MMR |
Nicaragua | NIC |
North Korea | PRK |
Palestine | PSE |
Russia | RUS |
Sudan | SDN |
Syria | SYR |
Venezuela | VEN |
Zimbabwe | ZWE |
Restricted Currencies
Transactions in the following currencies are not permitted:
Currency | Code |
Bangladeshi Taka | BDT |
Bahraini Dinar | BHD |
Belarusian Ruble (new) | BYN |
Belarusian Ruble (old) | BYR |
Pakistani Rupee | PKR |
Russian Ruble | RUB |
Saudi Riyal | SAR |
FAQ
My payment was declined — is this why? If the merchant falls into a restricted category, is located in a restricted country, or the transaction currency is on the list above, the payment will always be declined — this is a platform-wide restriction, not something specific to your account.
Can support make an exception? No — these restrictions apply to all users and cannot be lifted on request.