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What Does Merchant Category Code Mean?

You might be losing out on valuable reward points or/and cashback on your credit card if you don't know the Merchant Category Code (MCC) for each transaction. If you’re serious about maximizing your credit card rewards points and cashback, understanding MCCs is crucial. The MCC assigned to a merchant can directly affect the rewards you earn.

For example, imagine you’re booking a stay on Airbnb using your Axis Atlas Credit Card. Now, what if instead of earning accelerated Edge Miles (5 EDGE Miles per ₹100), you only earn the base reward points (2 EDGE Miles per ₹100) because the merchant’s MCC isn’t categorized under “travel”? In this case, you would miss out on 3 EDGE Miles per ₹100, which can add up quickly over time. That’s a big deal, especially if you’re aiming for high rewards.

How to Check MCC on Credit Card?

So, how can you check the MCC for each transaction on your credit card? Here are 3 reliable methods to ensure you're not missing out:

1. Small Test Transaction:

Perform a small transaction with the merchant and call your credit card’s customer care to ask for the MCC associated with that merchant. Once the reward points have been credited for the test transaction, you can proceed with the full payment confidently.

2. Temporarily Block Your Card:

Temporarily disable your card using the mobile banking app, then attempt a small transaction (it will be declined). Afterward, you can call customer care to check the MCC for that specific merchant, ensuring that your transactions are correctly categorized.

3. Google Search:

For a specific transaction, look up the merchant name on Google to find the associated MCC code. For example, search “Zepto MCC code,” and you’ll find the exact category.

Bonus Tip

If you want to know which category a specific MCC falls under, you can search for "HDFC MCC Code PDF" on Google. The first result typically links to an internal PDF that lists all MCC codes and the merchant categories they correspond to.

Now, What to Do Next?

Once you know the MCC for your transaction, cross-check it with your credit card’s MITC (Most Important Terms & Conditions). This will tell you whether you’ll receive accelerated rewards for the purchase or not. Keep in mind, many credit cards (even premium ones) exclude certain categories like utilities, education, and tax payments from earning rewards.

Always check the MCC code for each transaction, it can make or break your credit card rewards journey. By ensuring your transactions fall under the right categories, you can maximize your rewards and avoid missing out on what you’re entitled to!

SaveSage Can Help

At SaveSage, we’re enabling our users to optimise their credit card rewards and loyalty programs! No jargon or confusing statements; just clear, actionable insights when you need them most!

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