Help Articles & FAQ

Rates Vary By Industry Type

RETAIL

face to face vendors

MOTO

mail order or telephone order

ECOMMERCE

all internet based transactions

RESTAURANT

Including quick purchase, small ticket

SUPER MARKET

grocery stores with over 20% perishable

FUEL

gas, propane, incl. pay at pump

HOTEL

motel, lodging with deposit reservations

AUTO RENTAL

advanced deposit 
on reservations

EMERGING MARKETS

education, charity, government, utilities

Of course it’s confusing!

The Credit Industry is Self Regulated.

THERE is an underbelly of credit card processing. It can be sneaky, conniving, and crooked. Fees are hidden or created without explanation. How can it be legal? Credit card processing is almost completely unregulated.

With the industry in its infancy, it’s as if credit card processing were the wild west—especially as electronic authorization technology changes at a rapid pace.

Processors and banks are quick to excuse their fees by complaining about risks of fraud. Most of the time, the plain truth behind high fees is simply greed.

The purpose of this page is to let you ask questions, and get answers. Our help is fast, free of charge and no strings attached.

Whether you’ve been in business for 20 years or are planning on starting a business that needs to take credit cards, help is here!

So please post here or send an email using the “Apply Now” contact form at the top of nearly every page. You absolutely do not need to apply or sign up and be a customer to get free help.

• Who Gets All Those Fees?
  Where’s all the fees on my statement going? Just one company or many? If you think your processor gets all of those fees or even Visa or MasterCard? Think again. Most goes to the bank that issued the cardholder their card.
• I Can’t Understand My Statement!
  If you wonder whether your statement is deliberately confusing, you’d be 100% correct most of the time. Most merchants don’t want to look dumb and ask for an explanation, but all merchants should.
• How do I know if my fees are legit?
  There’s always an explanation for all those fees or codes on your statement, but sometimes there are extra or unnecessary fees, or those which can be reduced.
• Tricks of the Trade: Tier Billing
  Many merchants believe the simpler their bill or the fewer the fees, the better. They’d be sadly mistaken. This is one case where the more rates, the better for you. Got Mid-Qualified or Non-Qualifed rates? Then you’re on Tiers.
• What is Interchange Plus?
  The only truly fair, honest, transparent billing method: this is why we price no other way. The biggest companies in the world enjoy Interchange Plus pricing, shouldn’t yours?
• What is Straight Pass Through?
  It’s more complicated than it may seem, but all fees come from interchange. Straight pass through is like paying invoice on a car. Find out if your processor is “double dipping” on your fees.
• Tricks of the Trade: Delay Billing/BillBacks
  If your bill doesn’t seem to add up each month, or seems to refer to transactions two months back or refers to Billback (BB), you’re being deliberately deceived. Learn why delayed billing is lose-lose and put an end to it.
• Tricks of the Trade: Cancellation Penalties
  Some cancellation fees are reasonable and understandable: it costs a lot to board a new merchant. But some processors hide grotesque cancellation fees (ETFs) in the fine print of their contracts.
• Tricks of the Trade: Gift Cards
  Most gift cards are ridiculously expensive to the merchant, so much so that they’re not worth having. Signing up for the wrong deal or company can be a mistake that can never be fixed! Here's why.
• Where’s My Debit Rebate?
  What, didn’t you know your processor gets money back when your customers pay with a debit card? If you didn’t know, they may be keeping it for themselves. Learn the real debit card rates and how to see if you're getting the rebate.
• Should I Get a PinPad? ...or use it more?
  You see them at every grocery store. If it’s good for them, isn’t it good for my business? Actually, unless you’re a supermarket, it may not be good for your business at all. Learn how PIN based debit has changed.