Non-qualified surcharge
Understand tiered-pricing labels and the details to request.
Explore →Merchant intelligence library
The Statement Decoder
Every line item deserves an explanation. Learn what processing statements show—and what they still leave out.
New · Interactive tutorial
Go inside a fictional processing statement.
Click line items, see where a made-up $620 fee total goes, and follow a guided five-step reading. No real merchant information—just a clearer way to learn.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE$620Illustrative total fees
$25,000 in fictional processing volume
2.48% observed ratioThe flagship reference
Turn a statement into useful questions.
Begin with sales volume, transaction count, fee categories, adjustments, and the total charges for the period. Then connect the numbers to the way your business accepts payments.
A fee name alone is not proof of misconduct. Definitions, contractual authorization, transaction mix, and provider context matter.
How to read a statement →A simple reading order
- Confirm statement period and merchant account
- Identify gross processing volume and count
- Separate percentage and per-item charges
- Identify recurring or conditional fees
- Reconcile deposits, returns and adjustments
- Write down unexplained line items
Look up a fee
The Fee Glossary
PCI-related fees
Separate charges from PCI obligations and documentation.
Explore →Regulatory compliance fee
Understand a broad merchant statement label.
Explore →Monthly minimum
Learn how a minimum charge may be calculated.
Explore →Batch fees
Understand settlement and per-batch costs.
Explore →Early termination fee
Check exit obligations before making a decision.
Explore →New: Merchant Reality Workbench
Explore the Money Trail →Follow the money from checkout to deposit.
Six stages, three fictional scenarios, and transparent funding math. No private data or processor recommendations.