Dating

Why dating sites are high risk

Dating sites and apps sell subscriptions and credits for messaging, often to users who later dispute charges out of embarrassment or forgotten renewals. Some models — paid chat, "pay per letter", adult-leaning features — raise fraud and brand-protection concerns for card schemes. That is why dating is usually processed as high risk, frequently under MCC 7273 (dating services), with closer monitoring.

What dating merchants usually need

• Recurring billing with transparent trial terms and easy cancellation — recurring payments.
• Credit packs sold as one-off purchases with high approval on mobile.
• Wallets and in-app alternatives: Apple Pay, Google Pay, e-wallets.
• Cascading across several MIDs (aggregators).
• Chargeback prevention: alerts, descriptors, refund on request (chargeback management).
• Fraud screening against romance scams and stolen cards (antifraud).

Questions to ask a dating PSP

• Is your business model (subscription, credits, paid chat, adult features) accepted in writing?
• What chargeback ratio thresholds and rolling reserve apply?
• Which GEOs and currencies are supported for cardholders?
• Can it handle refunds and partial refunds automatically?

Adult-oriented dating has its own requirements — see adult. The wider group is high-risk, and subscription logic is covered in subscriptions.

Using the page

Dating merchants post requests with traffic sources, GEOs, billing model and monthly volume; providers answer or publish an offer. Merchants can post a request; PSPs can filter this hub by GEO and open Requests to find dating projects looking for a processor.