Prohibited and Restricted Businesses

Pay Theory cannot support every type of business. Prohibited businesses cannot use Pay Theory's services. Restricted businesses need Pay Theory's prior written approval and may be asked for more information, licenses or controls before onboarding. Approval can be limited to certain services and can be changed or withdrawn. These lists are representative, not complete, and supplement the merchant's agreement with Pay Theory, card network rules and our processors' requirements. If you are unsure where your business fits, contact support@paytheory.com before applying.

Prohibited businesses

General

• Any product, service or practice that is illegal, deceptive, unfair or predatory, or that violates card network or Nacha rules
• Businesses located outside the United States, or outside Canada where Pay Theory offers Canadian processing
• Persons or entities on a sanctions list, or located in a sanctioned country or region
• Processing payments for another business, including acting as a payment facilitator, processor or aggregator
• Counterfeit goods or products that infringe intellectual property rights
• Accepting a card for a dishonored check, a debt deemed uncollectible, or at a scrip-dispensing terminal
• Loan payments on a Visa credit card

Industries and activities

• Adult content and services, escort services and mail-order brides
• Bidding fee and penny auctions
• Cannabis and marijuana products illegal under US federal law; drug paraphernalia; substances designed to mimic illegal drugs
• Check cashing, money orders, traveler's checks and peer-to-peer money transmission
• Cryptocurrency mining, staking and initial coin offerings
• Debt collection, debt relief, debt settlement and credit repair
• Gambling, including casinos, internet gaming, lotteries, daily fantasy sports, prize sweepstakes, sports forecasting and odds making
• Investment or "get rich quick" schemes; multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes
• Negative-option or continuity billing that is deceptive or poorly disclosed, including free or low-cost trials that convert to charges without clear consent
• Payday, title and other high-interest consumer loans
• Sale of social media engagement (followers, likes, reviews)
• Timeshare resale and related marketing

Restricted businesses (prior approval required)

• Airlines, charter flights, cruise lines and other travel services with future delivery
• Alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and vaping products
• CBD and hemp products
• Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets
• Firearms, ammunition, firearm parts and other weapons
• Money services businesses, including money transmitters and currency exchanges
• Pawn shops
• Pharmaceuticals, telehealth and other regulated health products
• Prepaid cards, stored value, prepaid phone services and sale of mobile minutes
• Real estate, including distressed property sales
• Securities, commodities and other investment services
• Subscription and membership billing, including discount clubs and identity protection services
• Telemarketing, infomercial, up-sell and rebate-based sales
• Psychic and fortune-telling services