Glossary
These terms are not just definitions — they are signals Stripe uses to evaluate risk.
Understanding them helps you recognize what may be happening in your account.
Dispute ratio is the share of card payments that become disputes in a period; sustained elevation can trigger stricter controls or account actions.
MATCH List is a card-network alert file used to share terminated merchant risk records; being listed can block or delay new processing approvals.
An additional security layer for online credit and debit card transactions that provides explicit customer authentication.
A type of fraud where an unauthorized user gains access to a merchant's or customer's payment account.
A financial institution that processes credit or debit card payments on behalf of a merchant.
A set of laws, regulations, and procedures designed to prevent criminals from disguising illegally obtained funds as legitimate income.
The average dollar amount spent each time a customer places an order on a website or mobile app.
The final and most expensive stage of the dispute process where the card network decides the outcome of a contested transaction.
- – dispute increase + refund spike
- – identity mismatch + verification delay
- – transaction anomalies + payment failures
A security tool used to verify that the billing address provided by a customer matches the address on file with their card issuer.
The merchant name and information that appears on a customer's credit or debit card statement.
The first six to eight digits of a credit or debit card that identify the issuing bank.
The process of analyzing the Bank Identification Number to detect fraud and routing patterns.
A type of challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether or not the user is human.
A payment transaction where the card and the cardholder are not physically present at the time of purchase.
A payment transaction where the card and the cardholder are physically present at the time of purchase.
A type of fraud where attackers attempt to determine the validity of stolen card information by making small transactions on a merchant's site.
A chargeback is a cardholder-initiated reversal via the issuing bank, often treated as a high-severity risk signal by payment platforms.
A security verification that checks if the Card Verification Code provided during a transaction matches the code on file with the bank.
A dispute is a claim that a transaction should be reversed; disputes can escalate to chargebacks and increase platform risk posture.
A type of fraud where a customer makes a legitimate purchase and then disputes the charge with their bank.
A fee paid by the merchant's bank to the cardholder's bank for every transaction.
The bank or financial institution that provides the payment card to the customer.
The mandatory process of identifying and verifying the identity of clients to prevent fraud and financial crimes.
A change in responsibility for chargeback costs from the merchant to the card issuer, typically via 3D Secure.
A four-digit number used to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they provide in the payment ecosystem.
The financial institution that processes credit and debit card payments on behalf of a merchant and manages the settlement of funds.
A security process requiring more than one method of authentication to verify a user's identity.
A unique identification number assigned to a merchant by their payment processor.
A business practice where a customer's silence or failure to take a specific action is interpreted as acceptance of a recurring financial charge.
A total and temporary pause on the transfer of funds from a payment account to a merchant's bank account.
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of security standards for businesses that handle card data.
A phase in the dispute process where an issuer challenges a merchant's second presentment.
The early window where a customer initiates a claim with their bank but a formal dispute has not yet been processed by the merchant.
A specific alphanumeric code assigned by a bank to explain the cause of a chargeback or dispute.
Refund rate is the percentage of successful charges that later become refunds; sustained increases can signal intent or delivery mismatch.
An inquiry from a card issuer asking for more information about a transaction before filing a formal chargeback.
A measurement of how certain a payment platform is that a business will operate predictably and cover its reversal liabilities.
A risk management strategy where a percentage of a merchant's sales is held temporarily to protect against potential reversals.
The process by which funds are transferred from the cardholder's bank to the merchant's bank account.
The period of time after a transaction is processed during which reversals, refunds, or disputes are most likely to occur.
A security process that replaces sensitive card data with a non-sensitive 'token'.
The total amount of potential reversals (refunds/disputes) that a payment platform might be responsible for if a merchant's account balance is zero.