Are PCI Compliance Fees Negotiable?

By RatesNegotiator Team

If you accept credit cards, you are required to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Your processor charges PCI-related fees to cover the cost of managing your compliance validation. But these fees vary wildly from processor to processor, and many of them are inflated or completely unnecessary.

Types of PCI Fees on Your Statement

The PCI compliance fee typically ranges from $4.95 to $14.95 per month and is negotiable — many processors include PCI compliance at no additional cost. If your processor charges more than $6.95 per month, you are paying too much. The PCI non-compliance fee ranges from $19.95 to $99.95 per month and is a penalty charged when you have not completed your annual PCI compliance validation. Complete your Self-Assessment Questionnaire and the fee goes away. Some processors also charge an annual PCI fee of $59 to $149, which is negotiable and can often be waived especially if you already pay a monthly fee.

Warning Signs Your PCI Fees Are Padded

You are paying both monthly and annual PCI fees (double-dipping). You completed compliance but are still being charged the non-compliance fee. Your PCI fee is above $9.95 per month. You cannot find the compliance portal. If your processor does not make it easy to complete your SAQ, they may be profiting from non-compliance fees.

How to Negotiate PCI Fees Down

First, complete your PCI compliance and verify the non-compliance fee is removed. Then call your processor and request a reduction in your monthly PCI fee. If paying an annual fee on top of a monthly fee, request the annual fee be waived entirely. Get all changes confirmed in writing before your next billing cycle. If your processor is padding PCI fees, they are likely padding other areas too. It is worth reviewing your entire statement for other hidden markups. Upload your statement for a free analysis and we will flag every inflated charge.