What happened to Mastercard codes 4807 and 4812?

Both were consolidated into 4808. Warning Bulletin violations (4807) and account-number-not-on-file disputes (4812) are now filed as authorization-related chargebacks under the single 4808 code, with the specific defect identified in the dispute detail.

Can I get a 4808 even though I received an approval code?

Yes, if the approval did not cover the transaction as cleared: the amount exceeded the authorization, settlement happened after the authorization expired, or the capture referenced a different transaction. Your defense is the authorization log showing a valid, matching approval for the cleared amount and date.

Why did my chargeback arrive in under 90 days when others allow 120?

Mastercard gives issuers a shorter filing window for authorization disputes than for fraud and consumer disputes. Timelines also vary by scenario, so always confirm the applicable window in the dispute documentation rather than assuming 120 days.

Mastercard · Authorization

Reason code 4808: Authorization-Related Chargeback

Code 4808 is the consolidated authorization chargeback, filed when a transaction settled without valid authorization approval. Mastercard folded several legacy codes into 4808, including 4807 (Warning Bulletin File) and 4812 (Account Number Not on File), so all authorization defects now arrive under this single code. Common triggers include transactions that were never authorized, were declined and forced through, or settled after the authorization expired.

Issuer filing window

typically 90 days from the central site business date for authorization disputes

Merchant response window

typically 45 days to respond via second presentment

Why 4808 chargebacks happen

A transaction was submitted for clearing without any authorization request, often from offline batch processing or a manual entry workaround.
An authorization was declined and the merchant forced the sale through anyway or split it into smaller amounts to get approvals.
The clearing amount materially exceeded the authorized amount without a valid reason such as permitted gratuity tolerance.
Settlement occurred after the authorization's validity window lapsed, leaving the transaction technically unauthorized at clearing time.
The account number in the clearing record did not match any open account, a scenario formerly charged back under 4812.

How to fight a 4808 chargeback

Pull the authorization log and provide the approval code, date, amount, and response for the exact transaction; a matching valid approval defeats the chargeback.
For incremental or delayed charges, show each supplemental authorization tied to the original transaction identifier.
If the amount differed from the authorization, document the rule permitting the variance, such as gratuity or delayed-delivery tolerances for your MCC.
Verify the issuer's claim against your processor's authorization records before conceding; mismatched transaction IDs on the issuer side are a real and winnable defect.
Submit the second presentment through Mastercom within 45 days with the full authorization trail attached as supporting documentation.

How to prevent 4808 chargebacks

Never force-post declined transactions; treat a decline as final and route the customer to an alternative payment method instead.
Automate reversal of unused authorizations and re-authorize any order that will not ship within the authorization validity window.
Match clearing amounts exactly to authorized amounts in your capture logic, and flag any variance above tolerance before submission.
Audit batch processing jobs so stale or duplicate captures cannot settle without a live authorization behind them.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Mastercard codes 4807 and 4812?: Both were consolidated into 4808. Warning Bulletin violations (4807) and account-number-not-on-file disputes (4812) are now filed as authorization-related chargebacks under the single 4808 code, with the specific defect identified in the dispute detail.
Can I get a 4808 even though I received an approval code?: Yes, if the approval did not cover the transaction as cleared: the amount exceeded the authorization, settlement happened after the authorization expired, or the capture referenced a different transaction. Your defense is the authorization log showing a valid, matching approval for the cleared amount and date.
Why did my chargeback arrive in under 90 days when others allow 120?: Mastercard gives issuers a shorter filing window for authorization disputes than for fraud and consumer disputes. Timelines also vary by scenario, so always confirm the applicable window in the dispute documentation rather than assuming 120 days.

Related Mastercard codes