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How do I read the Fees Charged section on my statement?

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Each fee on your statement supports a specific part of your payment processing. The Fees Charged section on your merchant statement is where you can review the pass-through cost. To understand what you’re paying for, check out the table below, showing a few examples from a sample statement:

Fee DescriptionWhat it CoversExample Calculations (fictitious)
License RateSoftware licensing for your payment platform3138.15 × 0.0000540 = -$0.17
DatawireSecure communication network between your terminal and the processor9.00 × 0.0700 = -$0.63
Preauth Card Present USPre-authorization checks for card-present transactions (ensures card holder has the means to pay)Flat fee = -$0.02
NABU FeesNetwork Access and Brand Usage fees from card networks like Visa or Mastercard5.00 × 0.01950 = -$0.10
Kilobyte Auth/Clearing FeesData transmission fees based on the size of the transaction data2.55 × 0.00229 = -$0.01
Program FeesBundled service fees for network and processor programsFlat fee = -$545.10
AMEX Acquirer Transaction FeeFee for processing American Express transactions2.00 × 0.02000 = -$0.04
Network FeeCard network infrastructure and routing costs21796.07 × 0.00165 = -$35.96
DISC 1 (Discover Fees)Discover network transaction fees41026.92 × 0.00050 = -$20.51
Dues & AssessmentsCard brand fees for using their network (Visa, Amex, Discover, Mastercard)41026.92 × 0.00140 = -$57.44
Digital Commerce ServiceSupport for online or digital payment servicesFlat fee = -$1.23
Commercial Solutions FeeSpecialized services for B2B or commercial card processingFlat fee = -$0.25
Fixed Network CP FeeFixed fee for card-present transactionsFlat fee = -$2.00
Acquiring Processor FeesFees from your acquiring bank or processor15.00 × 0.01950 = -$0.29

Why are there so many fees?

Each fee supports a different part of the payment ecosystem: from verifying cardholder data to securely routing transactions and maintaining compliance. While many of the fees are small, they ensure your transactions are processed quickly, securely, and reliably.

Can I reduce these fees?

Some fees (like PCI Non-Validation) can be avoided by completing compliance requirements. Typically, aside from the PCI Non-Validation Fee, fees are set by the card brands and processing banks and are directly passed through at cost. For more information, check out our dedicated FAQ below.

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