Mastercard 4808 says your sale went through without a valid approval from the bank. The claim comes from the customer's bank, and the customer may not know it was filed. The bank says there was no approval on file, or the approval had expired, been declined, or did not match the amount collected.
How it arrives
Your payment company (Stripe, Shopify Payments and the like) sends a notice that names an approval problem, along with the dispute reason (the code on your notice). Respond before the date on that notice. Your payment company sets it, and it comes before the card network's own limit. A missed deadline closes the dispute against you.
The bank wants the approval record that matches the amount, currency, and date of the sale, plus an explanation of any gap.
What the issuer is looking for
The bank wants the full approval record: approval code, time, amount, currency, and your merchant ID. The record of the sale going through must match it line by line. If the amounts differ, Mastercard's rules on the amount allowed over the first approval apply. You then need to show the final amount stayed within what is allowed, or that you obtained an extra approval for a higher amount.
For saved cards and recurring charges, the customer's original agreement counts as much as the approval. It shows you had a right to the money even where a technical defect exists.
Common scenarios and the evidence for each
- Subscription renewal where the original approval expired. The recurring agreement plus a current approval on the disputed date.
- Charge forced through that the bank never approved. These are rare with modern payment companies, and they are usually not winnable.
- Charge for more than the original approval. Hotel and rental extras, restaurant tips, and shipping adjustments are the usual sources. Mastercard allows some extra, so the case depends on whether you stayed inside it.
When the buyer disputes the purchase
A 4808 asks a narrow technical question. Proof of delivery and the customer's identity belong to 4837 and 4853 cases. Building the response around those is the most common way 4808 disputes are lost.
How we help
4808 responses are short and technical, and they depend on your approval records matching the amount collected. If you have received one, your first response is free. Try free.
Common questions
Mastercard's reason for sales collected without a valid approval, which the bank can raise whether or not the customer disputes the purchase itself.
Official source: Mastercard rules. Last reviewed 14 May 2026.