Reason code

This reason code encompasses disputes in the following scenarios:

• Addendum Dispute: The cardholder claims they were charged additional fees (addenda) that were not agreed upon at the time of the transaction.
  
  
• No-Show Charge: The cardholder was billed a penalty for failing to cancel or show up for a reservation (commonly in the hotel industry) and disputes the legitimacy of this charge.​
  
  
• ATM Dispute: The cardholder asserts that an ATM transaction resulted in no cash or only a partial amount being dispensed, despite the full amount being debited from their account.

It’s important to know that Mastercard is currently changing its reason codes. Although issues can currently still use 4859, it will soon be eliminated Addendum disputes and no-shows are being incorporated into 4853 and ATM disputes will be incorporated into 4834.

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Your response depends on the type of transaction being challenged. Here's what to include:

• For Add-on Charges: A signed check-in agreement, invoice, or dated documentation showing the cardholder was told about—and accepted—the added charge before or during the stay.
  
  
• For No-Show Fees: Reservation terms showing a no-show penalty was part of the booking, and proof that the customer didn’t cancel within the allowed window.
  
  
• For ATM Issues: Terminal logs or reconciliation reports showing the machine dispensed the full cash amount and wasn’t out of balance after the transaction.

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To prevent potential chargebacks under reason code 4859:

• For Add-on Charges: List all potential fees up front—on booking confirmations, signage, or receipts. Don’t assume a verbal agreement is enough.
  
  
• For No-Shows: Make the cancellation policy visible and get acknowledgment (email, checkbox, or signature). Send reminders before check-in to reduce surprises.
  
  
• For ATM Disputes: Set up automatic monitoring on your machines for cash discrepancies and service faults. Post contact info clearly so cardholders can report issues before disputing.

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