A method begins by receiving at least a portion of a merchant master file. The method continues, for a merchant data file, by determining whether a corresponding merchant profile record exists within a merchant profile database. The method continues, when the corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, by comparing the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record. The method continues, when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the merchant data file, by determining status of the merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file. The method continues, when the status of the merchant data file is a first status level, by generating an inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency.