9 Hidden Credit Card Fees on Your Merchant Statement (and How to Spot Them)
A low advertised rate means little if the statement is full of extra line items. Many statements include several fees the owner has never heard of. Here's what to look for.
The usual suspects
| Fee name on your statement | What it claims to be | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| PCI / non-compliance fee | Data security compliance | $10–$150/mo |
| Regulatory fee | "Industry compliance" | $15–$30 |
| Batch fee | Closing out each day | $5–$10 per batch |
| Terminal / gateway fee | Using the terminal or virtual gateway | ~$20/mo |
| CCAP / breach insurance | Data breach coverage | ~$10/mo |
| Security fee | Miscellaneous "protection" | ~$20/mo |
| Online reporting fee | Viewing your own statements | ~$10/mo |
| Network access fee | Access to card networks | ~$10/mo |
| Account on file fee | Simply having an account | ~$10/mo |
Add in application or setup fees (often around $195), inflated AVS fees, and $30–$80 a month in equipment leases, and the true cost can run hundreds of dollars a month above the advertised rate.
How to check your own statement in five minutes
- Find "total fees" or "total charges" for the month.
- Divide by your total card volume. That's your effective rate.
- Scan the fee section for any item in the table above.
- Look for an equipment lease line. Leases often outlast the equipment.
- Compare this month's rate with a statement from a year ago. Quiet increases are common.
What Wholesale Payments charges for these
Ask Tyler to mark each of these on your statement and show what changes with Wholesale Payments. On dual pricing you pay one flat monthly program fee, and every fee is listed on your application before you sign.
Send your statement to Tyler and you'll get a line-by-line markup showing which fees go away.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good effective rate for credit card processing?
Divide total monthly fees by total card volume. Many small businesses land between 2.5% and 4%. With a cash discount or dual pricing program, it can drop to near zero.
Does Wholesale Payments charge a PCI fee?
No. Wholesale Payments charges no monthly PCI fee, no regulatory fee and no batch fee, and PCI compliance support is included.
Who can review my merchant statement for free?
Tyler Patch, a Wholesale Payments Senior Account Executive based in Sioux Falls, reviews statements free of charge.
Questions about your own setup? Text Tyler.
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Card network rules and state laws change, so confirm current rules before you change your pricing.
