Many processor statements separate charges across pages, use abbreviations, or combine pass-through costs with processor markup. The issue is not always that a fee is improper. The issue is whether the business can understand what it pays and why.
Merchant fee review
Hidden merchant statement fees small businesses should know how to spot.
Common merchant statement fees that deserve a closer look include PCI non-compliance fees, monthly minimums, statement fees, batch fees, gateway fees, chargeback fees, AVS fees, annual fees, early termination fees, and equipment lease charges. Some fees may be valid, but they should be clear and explainable.
Review-first boundary
HMG reviews actual statements and payment workflows before making claims about savings, switching, or processor fit.
Useful input
A recent merchant statement and a short note about how customers pay today usually gives the review enough context to start.
Plain-English guide
What to review before making a payment processor decision.
Use this as a practical starting point. It is not a guarantee that a different provider is better.
- PCI non-compliance fee
- Monthly minimum fee
- Statement fee
- Batch header fee
- Gateway fee
- AVS fee
- Chargeback fee
- Retrieval fee
- Annual fee
- Regulatory or compliance fee
- Equipment lease fee
- What is this fee for?
- Is it required or processor-added?
- Can it be reduced or removed?
- Is it tied to a contract term?
- Is there a lower-friction setup for my payment workflow?
FAQ
Common questions before requesting a review.
Are all extra fees bad?
No. Some fees are valid. The problem is when fees are unclear, excessive, duplicated, or mismatched to the business.
What is a PCI non-compliance fee?
It is a fee charged when PCI compliance requirements are not completed or recorded. The fix may be administrative, not a processor switch.
Can HMG remove hidden fees?
HMG can review the statement and identify fees to question or compare. Actual savings depend on the statement and available options.