VISA Merchant category database
 

I think this is pretty interesting.

This website:

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...r/NewSearch.do

Shows what spending categories of Visa considers each merchant to be in. This can be a useful website for figuring out which companies are counted as "office-supply stores" for the Ink cards, for example.

And, furthermore, if you think you're going to be purchasing gift cards at Staples and telling Chase that these were regular office supplies, you may be interested in learning what level of data that merchant provides to the card company.

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...DLDisplay.html

Thanks for sharing, this is very useful intel.

Previous discussions:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...chase-ink.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...-cc-spend.html

Very useful.... Thanks for sharing.

Do Visa and MC have the same categories is the question. Ink Bold/Plus products are MC to my knowledge.

They are definitely different companies, so I wouldn't think that they would match 100%. I do believe you can get the Ink products in Visa or MasterCard, if you ask Chase. My own ink card is a MasterCard, so while I do find the information this database interesting, I don't rely on it 100%.

Credit card merchant category codes
 

Is there a list anywhere of each merchant and what merchant code they classify their credit card transactions as?

I'm trying to figure out if my Slacker Internet Radio subscription should be moved to my INK Bold for the 5X points. Does anyone know if that merchant qualifies as cable/internet?

Here is the master database that nearly everybody uses. It is supplied by Visa, but it is used industry wide.

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...tLoadAction.do

I quickly tried to look up slacker but couldn't find it as it appears to want a City/Zip. You can play around with it and see if you can find it.

Moderator action
 

elbombo's question has been appended to the thread discussing this tool.

Help to determine if a supplier is "office suppies" for 5x points with Chase
 

I am trying to determine if on of my suppliers would be classified as "office supplies" for 5x points with Chase Ink Bold.

I cannot find this information.

So...is there a place to go to see if a merchant is the correct "category" for 5x points??


I searched google, etc, but couldn't find an answer.

I'm interested in one supplier, but, really, would like to know the best/correct way to go about searching this information (If such a method exists).

Any help would be appreciated...

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...r/NewSearch.do

Do a Name Search for your supplier and see what they show up as. Industry Segment "OFFICE SUPPLIES/STATIONERY -5943" is 5X on Chase Ink.

I've seen this link shared a number of places, but I have a tough time believing it.
It says my nearby private school is coded as Office Supplies/Stationary and will get 5x...

Edit: I did another check and it says my closest OD is 'General Merchandise'

I'm not able to access the Visa merchant look-up links provided above. Does anyone know whether they've been moved --- and if so, do you have their new web address? TIA!

Any one knows if there is a Visa Supplier Locator web page for non-US countries? I am mostly interested in Japan, but other countries would be useful in the future too. Thanks!

If a merchant has two MCC, is there a way for them to select which MCC they want to use before swiping the card?

I currently live in an apartment that also runs a hotel. I paid my rent last month, and the transaction used the personal service category instead of the hotel category. I asked the office and no one knows what I'm talking about... I'm hoping someone in flyer talk who has experience with this can give me information about how this process work. Thanks.