Why was my GoDaddy Payments account closed?

Thank you for your interest in using GoDaddy Payments. To keep our services legal and support as many businesses and entrepreneurs as we can, there are regulations that we need to follow and that all companies that use GoDaddy Payments must adhere to. If a business doesn’t follow these requirements, their GoDaddy Payments account will be closed.

Eligibility is based on a variety of factors. While we can’t provide the reason for your case specifically, here are some common reasons why an account could be closed.

Note: If your account was closed, but you have pending payments or hardware orders (like the GoDaddy Poynt Smart Terminal), please contact us for assistance. Our GoDaddy Guides are here to help.

The merchandise or service is a prohibited business type

GoDaddy Payments is partnered with different payment networks (like Mastercard or Elavon) with their own rules and regulations to minimize risk. As a result of these regulations, some categories of merchandise or businesses aren’t eligible to use GoDaddy Payments.

To see if your business falls into this category, please review the list of prohibited business types.

Please keep in mind that this isn’t personal or a judgment about your business specifically. The same regulations don’t necessarily apply to your online store outside of payment processing, and we’re happy that you’ve chosen GoDaddy to build your website and your online store. Your Websites + Marketing or Managed WordPress Ecommerce online store has several different options to process your customers’ payments. Every company is different, so if your business isn’t eligible for GoDaddy Payments, it still may be eligible for a different processor like PayPal, Square or Stripe.

A company is on a High-Risk Merchant List (MATCH list)

The MATCH (Mastercard Alert to Control High-Risk) list is a tool used by credit card processors to screen potential merchants. Companies with a history of high-risk activity – like excessive chargebacks, fraud, or card brand rule violations – are placed on the MATCH list by their previous payment processor when their account is terminated.

When a company or individual has a GoDaddy Payments account, we check the list to verify whether the company has had issues with payment processors in the past. If your company is on the list, your account could be closed.

• How do I know if I’m on the list?
  Due to privacy and security regulations, there isn’t a way to check the list yourself. However, you can review Mastercard’s Security Rules and Procedures (SRP), Section 11.5 for a list of reasons that companies are placed on the list. If your company’s history falls into any of the scenarios outlined in the reason codes, it’s likely that you’re on the list.
• How do I remove my company from the list?
  Usually, companies remain on the list for about 5 years. GoDaddy can’t remove an account from the MATCH list. If you think you’re on the list in error, contact the banking institution that added your company to the list. They may be able to assist you with next steps to resolve any outstanding issues.

Due to restrictions set by our banking partners, GoDaddy is generally unable to offer GoDaddy Payments to companies on the MATCH list. However, you may be able to set up an account with a different payment processor that specializes in supporting higher risk businesses.

Suspicious, fraudulent or prohibited behavior

All GoDaddy Payments accounts are monitored for policy compliance. If your company engages in inappropriate, suspicious or risk-exposing activity, if multiple customers file chargebacks with your company, or if you begin selling prohibited products or services, your GoDaddy Payments account could be closed.

For more information about what constitutes high-risk behavior, please review the Commerce Services Agreement, Sections 8 and 9.

What’s next?

We understand that a closed GoDaddy Payments account can be frustrating, and we want to support you. As long as your online store adheres to GoDaddy’s Terms of Service, you can continue to use your Websites + Marketing or Managed WordPress Ecommerce online store after your GoDaddy Payments account is closed.

If your GoDaddy Payments account has been closed, we recommend that you apply to use a different payment processor. Remember, you’ve got options:

• If you’ve got a Websites + Marketing online store, you can also apply to process payments through Square, Stripe or PayPal or accept offline payments.
• Online stores hosted through Managed WordPress Ecommerce have several different options for payment processors, including some that work with higher risk businesses. Check out our info for selecting the best payment processor for your business.

More info

• Learn more about prohibited business types for GoDaddy Payments.
• Set up a different payment processor in your Websites + Marketing online store.
• Learn about available payment options in your Managed WordPress Ecommerce online store.