Overview
MCC 5968 covers merchants operating continuity programmes, subscription boxes, and recurring delivery services where products or services are shipped or provided on a regular schedule until the customer cancels.
Transaction Profile
Low to mid value, high frequency from recurring billing, card-not-present only, credential-on-file, free trial conversions, monthly billing cycles
Card Network Notes
Visa and Mastercard both impose strict requirements on continuity merchants including clear disclosure, easy cancellation, and trial conversion transparency. Enhanced chargeback monitoring thresholds apply.
Risk & Compliance
High risk. Continuity and subscription models carry elevated chargeback rates due to forgotten subscriptions, unexpected charges, and difficulty cancelling. Free trial conversions to paid subscriptions are a significant dispute driver. Regulatory scrutiny of negative-option billing practices is increasing.