Direct marketing and subscriptions · Merchant category codes
What is MCC 5966 (Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing)?
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MCC 5966 (Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant) is the merchant category code for merchants that sell using outbound telemarketing, where the merchant contacts buyers by phone or mailing and asks them to respond. It does not fit a store whose customers come through its website or ads. Charities that telemarket are excluded by Visa's definition. Visa treats card-absent sales under it as high-integrity risk, so the acquirer must register the merchant with Visa first. Stripe allows it only after you contact Stripe.
- Visa name
- Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant
- Stripe name
- Direct Marketing - Outbound Telemarketing
- Restricted by Stripe
- Yes: contact Stripe before using it
- Visa high-integrity risk
- Yes, for card-absent sales
- Visa 3D Secure rule for online sales
- No rule tied to this code
- In PlatformDTC's Industry picker
- No
- Typical products
- Outbound telemarketing sales
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC's Industry picker does not offer 5966, so a store cannot choose it during payments setup; the closest choices there are 5999 ("Miscellaneous and specialty retail"). Stripe reviews each account's category and can move a store to 5966 itself, and Stripe's documentation says the platform cannot then change it back.
What sells under MCC 5966
Visa uses 5966 for merchants that sell using outbound telemarketing, where the merchant contacts buyers by phone or mailing and asks them to respond.
It does not fit a store whose customers come through its website or ads. Charities that telemarket are excluded by Visa's definition.
- Outbound telemarketing sales
Codes it is confused with
Choose the code for the line of business that makes up most of your sales. Visa also allows a separate code for each line of business.
| Code | Name | Use it instead when |
|---|---|---|
| 5969 | Direct Marketing – Other Direct Marketers (Not Elsewhere Classified) | Customers contact you through other direct-response methods |
Risk, 3D Secure and Stripe rules
5966 is on Visa's high-integrity risk list for card-absent sales. Before processing for such a merchant, the acquirer must be approved by Visa for high-integrity risk acquiring and register the merchant with Visa.
Stripe's list of supported codes marks it restricted: you must contact Stripe to use it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is MCC 5966 high risk?
- Yes. Visa lists 5966 as high-integrity risk for card-absent sales, so the acquirer must register the merchant with Visa before processing. Stripe also marks it restricted, so Stripe must approve it first.
- Can a PlatformDTC store use MCC 5966?
- Not by picking it: PlatformDTC's Industry picker does not offer 5966. Stripe can still assign it after reviewing the account.