The story behind mid-month merchant account fees and high-risk payment processing
Are you a website owner who has experienced money being taken out of your merchant account unexpectedly? It can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you’re unsure why it’s happening.
Generally, payment gateway and merchant account fees are debited from a business checking account the first week of each month for the previous month’s activity – but not always. Often, website owners that accept credit cards online for regulated or high-risk items like CBD, pipes and glass, premium cigars, tactical items, vape products, or alcohol can experience more unexpected fees.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common reasons why money is taken out of your business account and what you can do about it.
Why money is taken out of your business account: two common reasons for surprise merchant account fees
- Merchant account chargebacks
Chargebacks occur when a customer disputes a transaction with their bank, often due to dissatisfaction with the product or service received – or due to fraud. When a chargeback is issued, the money you received for the sale is taken out of your account, along with a chargeback fee. As an e-commerce merchant, you may feel the odds are stacked against you in these situations, as the customer’s bank often favors their customer’s side. However, you can fight chargebacks by contacting your processing agent for specific steps to take.
- Customer refunds
When you issue a refund to a customer, the money for that refund has to come from somewhere – your checking account. It’s easy to forget this fact, which is why you may be surprised to see money being taken out of your account when you haven’t experienced any chargebacks. If you’ve issued refunds lately, this could be the reason why money is being withdrawn.
What can you do about surprising or unnecessarily high payment processing fees?
If you’re experiencing surprise merchant account debits, the best course of action is to take a deep breath and investigate the situation. Reach out to your processing agent, payment gateway specialist, or friendly neighborhood payment expert, who can help you figure out what’s going on and provide advice on how to proceed.
At Tasker Payment Gateways LLC, we understand the frustration that can come with surprise debits from your account. That’s why we offer free advice and payment gateway assistance to legal US businesses that need the ability to accept credit cards online. Our About Us page explains what we do and how we can help.
Highly rated with the BBB and Trustpilot, our experienced independent agents specialize in regulated products, including loose tobacco, cigars, CBD, hemp seeds, glass smoking pipes, bongs, nutritional supplements, vape, FFL transfers, knives, and tactical products.
We can help you review your fees for free and often provide higher quality, lower-cost payment gateways, and merchant account recommendations for high-risk and regulated products and services. Contact us, or fill out the short form at the bottom of this page, and we’ll get to work!
In conclusion, while surprise merchant account debits can be jarring, they’re often due to chargebacks or refunds. By taking a deep breath, reaching out to a payment expert, and investigating the situation, you can focus on what you do best: running your online business.
Questions about high-risk payment gateways and merchant accounts? We can help. Fill out the short form below, and we’ll put you in touch with a dedicated independent payment processing expert right away.