What Mastercard reason code 4812 means
The issuer raises 4812 when it cannot find the primary account number that was cleared on your transaction. Mastercard folded this code into the broader authorization related chargeback, 4808, so newer disputes usually arrive under 4808. Some processors and older reports still display 4812, and the logic has not changed. If the transaction received a valid approval for that exact card number, the issuer had the account on file at that moment and the dispute should not stand.
Typical triggers for a 4812 chargeback
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A card number keyed in by hand on a phone or mail order, with one digit wrong.
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A transaction settled without any authorization request, often in offline or fallback processing.
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A stored card used for a recurring charge after the issuer closed or replaced the account.
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A capture that was presented with a different card number than the one approved.
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A batch or terminal error that changed the account number between authorization and clearing.
Time limits for Mastercard 4812
Authorization related disputes typically allow the issuer around 90 days from the settlement date, shorter than many other Mastercard codes, though exact rules depend on how your processor classifies the case. Your own response window is set by your processor and is often between 7 and 21 days. In Stripe the exact deadline appears as the evidence due date on the dispute, and missing it loses the case automatically.
Evidence that answers a 4812 dispute
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The authorization record with approval code, date, time, amount and the full or masked card number that was approved.
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The clearing record showing the same card number was presented for settlement.
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Proof that the authorization was still valid on the settlement date.
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For recurring billing, the approval for this specific renewal, not only the first charge.
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Customer communication or account history confirming the card belongs to the buyer.
What to avoid when you respond
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Do not argue that the customer received the goods. Delivery does not answer an authorization dispute.
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Do not submit an approval from an earlier transaction as proof for this one.
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Do not refund after the dispute is opened, because the funds are already withdrawn.
How to prevent Mastercard 4812 chargebacks
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Request an authorization for every transaction, including small and recurring ones.
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Use card updater services and network tokens so stored cards stay current after replacement.
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Avoid manual card entry where possible, and validate card numbers before submission.
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Retry or cancel subscriptions when a renewal is declined instead of settling anyway.
How 4812 appears in Stripe
Stripe usually shows this case under the reason general, and the raw code, 4812 or 4808, is always in the network reason code field on the dispute. NoChargeback reads that field, pulls the authorization, card fingerprint and capture timestamps from the charge, and lines up approval and settlement in one evidence pack. See Stripe chargeback protection and dispute automation.
Rebuttal letter opening for Mastercard 4812
We are responding to the dispute filed under Mastercard reason code 4812. The card number presented for clearing received an approved authorization from the issuer, shown below with its approval code, date and amount. The same account number appears on the authorization and clearing records, which confirms the account was on file when the transaction was processed.
Is Mastercard 4812 still in use?
Mastercard merged 4812 into the authorization related code 4808, so most new disputes of this kind arrive as 4808. Some processors and older reports still show 4812, and the same evidence answers both.
Can a merchant win a 4812 chargeback?
Yes, when you can show an approved authorization for the exact card number that was cleared. If no authorization was requested, the dispute is very hard to win.
Does proof of delivery help with 4812?
Not much. This code is about the card account and the authorization, so the approval and clearing records matter far more than delivery tracking.