The Hidden Risks of Ignoring Payment Discrepancies—And How to Fix Them
Many businesses assume their payment processing fees stay consistent, but the truth is processors quietly add fees, increase rates, and change pricing structures over time—often without clear notice.
If you’re not regularly auditing your processing statements, you could be losing thousands in unnecessary fees, markup increases, and hidden charges. Here’s why businesses need to review their statements, what to look for, and how to take control of processing costs.
1. Why Payment Processors Quietly Increase Fees
🚨 “Routine” Rate Increases That Go Unnoticed
Many processors gradually raise rates over time through small 0.05% to 0.20% increases, knowing most businesses won’t notice on a per-transaction basis.
🚨 Hidden Monthly & Statement Fees
Some processors charge unnecessary fees labeled as:
Account Maintenance Fees
Technology or Security Fees
PCI Non-Compliance Fees (even when businesses are compliant!)
🚨 Interchange Downgrades That Increase Costs
Transactions can “downgrade” to a higher interchange rate if missing certain data—such as address verification (AVS), CVV codes, or Level 2/3 data for B2B payments.
🚨 Chargeback & Risk-Based Fee Adjustments
If a business has too many chargebacks, some processors increase per-transaction fees or hold a percentage of deposits in a reserve fund without prior notice.
💡 If businesses don’t audit their statements, these hidden costs add up quickly.
2. How to Identify Hidden Fees & Overcharges
✅ Review Your Processing Statements Every 3–6 Months
Compare fees to past months to catch gradual rate increases.
Check for new or unexplained fees that weren’t originally disclosed.
✅ Ensure Transactions Aren’t Downgrading to Higher Fees
Use Level 2 & 3 data for B2B payments to qualify for lower interchange rates.
Enable AVS and CVV matching to avoid unnecessary downgrades.
✅ Verify That PCI Compliance Fees Are Justified
Many processors charge PCI non-compliance fees incorrectly—even when a business is compliant.
Ensure your PCI compliance is up to date and request refunds for wrongful charges.
✅ Negotiate Rate Adjustments & Remove Unnecessary Fees
If fees have increased, push back on the processor and request fee reductions.
Some businesses can negotiate better rates simply by asking for a reassessment.
💡 Regular audits don’t just save money—they prevent overcharges from continuing unnoticed.
3. How PlutosPay Helps Businesses Audit & Optimize Their Payment Processing
At PlutosPay, we help businesses take control of processing costs by:
🔹 Auditing payment statements for hidden fees & overcharges.
🔹 Negotiating better rates & eliminating unnecessary charges.
🔹 Ensuring transactions qualify for the lowest interchange rates.
🔹 Providing ongoing monitoring to prevent future rate increases.
💡 The result? Lower costs, better transparency, and no more surprise charges.
4. Key Takeaways
✅ Processors quietly raise rates and add hidden fees over time.
✅ Many businesses overpay due to interchange downgrades & unnecessary fees.
✅ Regular statement audits can prevent overcharges and reduce processing costs.
✅ PlutosPay helps businesses eliminate hidden fees & optimize processing terms.
💰 Want to make sure you’re not overpaying? Let’s talk.
Conclusion: Stop Overpaying on Payment Processing Fees
Payment processors don’t always disclose rate increases or added fees. Without regular audits, businesses end up paying thousands more than necessary.
At PlutosPay, we help businesses uncover hidden costs, optimize transactions, and negotiate better processing terms—so they only pay what’s necessary.
📩 Contact us today for a free payment statement audit.