UK high-risk merchant accounts
Mainstream UK acquirers (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Dojo, Worldpay, Barclaycard) decline several legal-but-restricted categories at onboarding or terminate post-launch. Specialist acquirers exist for each. These guides cover the UK options.
CBD merchant accounts UK
CBD products (oils, capsules, topicals)
Mainstream UK acquirers classify CBD alongside cannabis-related products and decline or terminate accounts on category. The product is legal but the underwriting risk is similar to high-chargeback verticals.
Vape and e-liquid merchant accounts UK
Vapes, e-liquids, nicotine pouches, accessories
Card networks classify nicotine and tobacco-adjacent products as high-risk. Mainstream UK acquirers decline.
Adult industry merchant accounts UK
Adult retail, content, services (legal categories only)
Card networks treat adult content and services as the highest-chargeback-risk vertical outside gambling. Mainstream acquirers decline categorically.
Gambling merchant accounts UK
Online and retail gambling, lotteries, prize draws
Heaviest regulated vertical with the most complex chargeback and fraud profile. Card networks impose specific MCC codes and processing rules.
Firearms and ammunition merchant accounts UK
Firearms, ammunition, archery, gun smithing (legal categories only)
Mainstream acquirers exclude on category despite the legality of regulated UK firearms retail. International card schemes have specific rules.
Health supplements merchant accounts UK
Vitamins, supplements, sports nutrition, weight-loss products
Subscription billing and weight-loss claims drive high chargeback rates. Card networks watch this vertical closely.
Travel agency merchant accounts UK
Travel agencies, tour operators, ATOL-protected operators
Travel agencies hold customer money for delivery in the future. Card schemes treat the long delivery gap as elevated chargeback risk; collapses (Thomas Cook, Monarch) sharpened the rules.
Crypto-adjacent merchant accounts UK
Crypto exchanges, on-ramp services, NFT marketplaces, crypto-adjacent retail
Card networks treat crypto purchases as the highest-fraud-risk vertical alongside gambling. Mainstream UK acquirers decline categorically. Specialist acquirers exist but pricing is high and reserves substantial.
Subscription-billing merchant accounts UK
Subscription boxes, continuity billing, recurring-charge SaaS-adjacent retail
Subscription chargeback rates run materially above one-off retail. "I cancelled but you charged me" disputes are the dominant chargeback reason. Card schemes scrutinise this vertical closely.
Pawnbroker merchant accounts UK
Pawnbrokers, second-hand goods retailers, gold buyers
Card networks treat pawnbroking as adjacent to high-risk consumer-credit verticals. Some mainstream acquirers decline; specialist programmes more comfortable.
Dating site merchant accounts UK
Dating sites, matchmaking services, social-discovery apps
Subscription-billing chargeback rates run high on dating verticals. Catfishing complaints, dispute-rate spikes around Valentine's, and consent-capture complexity drive acquirer caution.
AcceptCard does not publish routing for activities that are illegal in the UK. The verticals above are all legal categories where specialist acquirers replace mainstream onboarding.