Credit Card Processing Fee Guides

Plain-English explanations of the individual fees that show up on merchant statements — what each one means, why you are charged it, and what you can do about it.

  • What Are Pass-Through Fees in Processing?
    Pass-through fees are card-processing costs your provider passes to your business without adding its own markup. Understanding them can help you separate fixed network costs from negotiable processor pricing. Read More
  • What Is a Convenience Fee?
    A convenience fee is an extra charge a business may add when a customer chooses an alternative payment channel, such as online or by phone. It is different from a surcharge and must usually follow card-network rules and state law. Read More
  • What Is a Payment Gateway Fee?
    A payment gateway fee is a charge for the technology that securely sends online or other card-not-present payment data for approval. It is separate from the actual card processing costs on each sale. Read More
  • What Is a Retrieval Fee in Credit Card Processing?
    A retrieval fee is a charge a processor may bill when a card issuer asks for transaction records. It often shows up during the early stage of a customer dispute and is worth reviewing on your statement. Read More

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