https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/Guides on merchant statements, card fees and switching provider.en-gb https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-read-a-merchant-statement/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-read-a-merchant-statement/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA plain-English walkthrough of every part of a merchant statement, with a worked example, the effective rate formula and a checklist for missing fees. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/effective-rate-explained/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/effective-rate-explained/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat the effective rate is, how to calculate it from any statement, and why a lower headline rate can still cost more. Includes worked examples and charts. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/hidden-fees-on-a-merchant-statement/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/hidden-fees-on-a-merchant-statement/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe card machine and statement fees that are easy to miss, where each one hides and what to ask your provider. Includes a worked example and a checklist. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/monthly-fees-on-a-card-machine-bill/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/monthly-fees-on-a-card-machine-bill/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA clear guide to the fixed monthly charges on a card machine bill, including rental, gateway, PCI and statement fees, and how they weigh on small turnover. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/minimum-monthly-service-charge/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/minimum-monthly-service-charge/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat a minimum monthly service charge on a card account is, how the top-up is calculated, why it hits seasonal businesses and how to negotiate it away. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/find-a-missing-rate-turnover-or-fee/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/find-a-missing-rate-turnover-or-fee/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTStatements often leave out the rate, turnover or fee. Learn the simple maths that recovers the missing figure, with worked examples and traps to avoid. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/refunds-chargebacks-and-turnover/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/refunds-chargebacks-and-turnover/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow refunds and chargebacks affect turnover, fees and your effective rate, what a chargeback really costs you and how to read them on your statement. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/bill-check-statement-total-vs-amount-charged/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/bill-check-statement-total-vs-amount-charged/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTCompare the total on a merchant statement with what left your bank. Learn the five usual causes of a gap and how to chase each one with your provider. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/interchange-fees-explained/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/interchange-fees-explained/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA plain-English guide to interchange fees: who gets them, why rates differ by card type, how caps work in the UK, US and Australia, and how to spot them. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/scheme-fees-explained/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/scheme-fees-explained/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat scheme fees and assessments are, how they differ from interchange and provider markup, how they show on a statement and how much of a bill they are. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/interchange-plus-vs-blended-vs-flat-rate/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/interchange-plus-vs-blended-vs-flat-rate/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTCompare interchange plus, blended and flat-rate pricing: how each shows on a statement, what the same month costs on each and which suits which business. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/tiered-pricing-qualified-mid-qualified-non-qualified/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/tiered-pricing-qualified-mid-qualified-non-qualified/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow tiered pricing works, how a payment lands in the qualified, mid-qualified or non-qualified tier, what it costs against interchange plus and spotting. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/flat-rate-vs-interchange-break-even/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/flat-rate-vs-interchange-break-even/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWork out when interchange plus beats a flat rate. A worked break-even calculation, a chart across turnovers and a table of how average sale size moves it. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/debit-credit-and-commercial-card-fees/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/debit-credit-and-commercial-card-fees/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhy debit, credit, commercial and international cards cost different amounts to accept, how regulation caps some and what your card mix does to your rate. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/pci-compliance-fees-explained/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/pci-compliance-fees-explained/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat PCI compliance and non-compliance fees are, why providers charge them, how to complete the questionnaire and how to get the extra fee removed. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/authorisation-and-per-transaction-fees/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/authorisation-and-per-transaction-fees/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow per-transaction and authorisation fees work, why they hit small sales hardest, how declines are charged and how to cost them for your business. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/acquirer-markup-explained/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/acquirer-markup-explained/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to find your provider's markup on any card statement, what it is made of, how to judge if it is fair and how to compare markups between quotes. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-much-does-a-card-machine-cost/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-much-does-a-card-machine-cost/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat a card machine really costs once you add the terminal, monthly fees, per-payment charges and contract. Buying, renting, leasing and pay-as-you-go. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/surcharging-cash-discounts-and-dual-pricing/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/surcharging-cash-discounts-and-dual-pricing/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTCard surcharging, cash discounts and dual pricing explained, with the rules in the UK, Australia and the US as of late 2026 and what each choice costs you. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-cancel-a-card-machine-contract/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-cancel-a-card-machine-contract/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA step-by-step guide to cancelling a card machine contract: check the term, give written notice, sort out the terminal and avoid traps that add extra fees. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/early-termination-fees-card-machine/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/early-termination-fees-card-machine/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow early termination fees on card machine contracts are calculated, what they cost, why terminal charges add to them and how to reduce or avoid the bill. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/contract-length-auto-renewal-and-notice-periods/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/contract-length-auto-renewal-and-notice-periods/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow contract terms, automatic renewal and notice periods work on card machine agreements, and a simple diary system so you never get locked in again. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-switch-card-machine-provider/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-switch-card-machine-provider/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA practical plan for switching card machine provider without losing sales: what to gather, how to compare quotes, how long it takes and what to check. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/is-switching-worth-it/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/is-switching-worth-it/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWork out if switching card machine provider pays off: add the monthly saving, subtract exit and set-up costs, find the payback month and test a bad month. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/double-contracts-terminal-lease-and-processing/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/double-contracts-terminal-lease-and-processing/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMany firms have one contract for card processing and another for the terminal. See how double contracts work, the lease risks and how to untangle them. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/card-machine-rental-vs-buying/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/card-machine-rental-vs-buying/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTCompare renting and buying a card machine over one to five years, with a worked example, when rental wins and the traps of locked terminals and long terms. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/uk-card-machine-fees-guide/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/uk-card-machine-fees-guide/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat UK card machine fees include, the three types of provider, how cost changes with turnover and a checklist for finding the cheapest card machine. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/uk-interchange-caps-and-the-psr-review/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/uk-interchange-caps-and-the-psr-review/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat the UK interchange caps cover, why UK to EEA online card payments cost more since Brexit, what the PSR proposed and what it means for merchants. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/us-credit-card-processing-fees-guide/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/us-credit-card-processing-fees-guide/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA US guide to credit card processing fees: interchange, assessments, markup and monthly charges, plus the Durbin cap, surcharge rules and a checklist. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/australia-2026-rba-surcharge-ban-and-interchange-cuts/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/australia-2026-rba-surcharge-ban-and-interchange-cuts/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat the RBA's March 2026 decision means for Australian merchants: the surcharging ban from 1 October 2026, lower interchange and what to ask providers. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/australia-eftpos-machine-and-merchant-fees/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/australia-eftpos-machine-and-merchant-fees/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat an EFTPOS machine costs in Australia, how merchant service fees work, the main types of provider and how to compare offers on the all-in rate. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/new-zealand-merchant-fees-guide/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/new-zealand-merchant-fees-guide/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow New Zealand card fees work after the Commerce Commission's interchange caps, what is still unsettled on surcharging and how to check your savings. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/south-africa-card-machine-fees-guide/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/south-africa-card-machine-fees-guide/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow card machine fees work in South Africa: regulated interchange, the merchant service fee, VAT, monthly costs and how to compare providers on your sales. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/yoco-vs-ikhokha-vs-snapscan-vs-paystack/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/yoco-vs-ikhokha-vs-snapscan-vs-paystack/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA fair way to compare Yoco, iKhokha, SnapScan and Paystack fees on your own sales, using published rates, and what to check before you choose a provider. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/south-african-bank-card-machine-quotes/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/south-african-bank-card-machine-quotes/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to read and compare a bank card machine quote in South Africa, the questions to ask the major banks and how to test a quote on your own sales. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/europe-interchange-caps-and-card-fees/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/europe-interchange-caps-and-card-fees/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow the EU Interchange Fee Regulation caps consumer interchange at 0.2% and 0.3%, what is not capped, how unblended pricing works and what to check. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/merchant-statement-analysis-in-five-minutes/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/merchant-statement-analysis-in-five-minutes/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA repeatable five-minute method for analysing a merchant statement and finding the most defensible saving without overclaiming. For consultants and agents. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-ask-a-merchant-for-their-statement/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-ask-a-merchant-for-their-statement/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTPractical ways to get a merchant statement: where statements live, what to ask for, scripts for calls and visits, and what to do when a merchant says no. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/building-a-savings-quote-merchants-trust/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/building-a-savings-quote-merchants-trust/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat goes into a merchant savings quote that gets signed: the headline, side-by-side, ten-year view, assumptions and honest caveats, with a worked example. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-win-a-card-machine-switch/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-to-win-a-card-machine-switch/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA practical guide for payment consultants to win a card machine switch: timing, trust, the bill check, exit fees, paperwork and follow-up after the sale. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/handling-im-happy-with-my-provider/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/handling-im-happy-with-my-provider/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow consultants can answer "I am happy with my provider" and other merchant objections, with scripts, the reasons behind them and when to walk away. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/honest-comparisons-and-misleading-claims/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/honest-comparisons-and-misleading-claims/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to make savings claims in merchant services that are accurate, fair and defensible: what counts as misleading, a claims checklist and safe wording. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/isos-agents-and-residuals-how-merchant-services-sales-pays/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/isos-agents-and-residuals-how-merchant-services-sales-pays/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow ISO agents and consultants earn in merchant services: residuals, upfront payments and equipment margins, with a worked example and conflicts to manage. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/first-90-days-as-a-payment-consultant/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/first-90-days-as-a-payment-consultant/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA week-by-week plan for your first 90 days in merchant services: what to learn, how to practise on real statements, find merchants and what to track. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/merchant-services-sales-pipeline/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/merchant-services-sales-pipeline/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to build a merchant services pipeline around contract end dates and notice windows: the stages, what to record, follow-up timing and numbers to track. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-a-card-payment-works/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/how-a-card-payment-works/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow a card payment moves from tap to bank account: authorisation, clearing and settlement, who gets paid what and why money arrives a day or two later. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/acquirer-vs-iso-vs-payfac-vs-gateway/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/acquirer-vs-iso-vs-payfac-vs-gateway/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA plain guide to acquirers, ISOs, payment facilitators, gateways and PSPs: what each does, how each charges and how to tell which you deal with. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/payment-terms-glossary/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/payment-terms-glossary/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA plain-English glossary of 79 card payment and merchant statement terms, grouped by topic: players, fees, pricing, statements, contracts and security. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/can-ai-read-your-merchant-statement/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/can-ai-read-your-merchant-statement/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat AI and OCR tools can and cannot do with merchant statements: extracting figures, error and privacy risks, and a workflow to verify the results safely. https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/excel-vs-web-calculator-for-merchant-statements/https://checkmyrates.co.za/blog/excel-vs-web-calculator-for-merchant-statements/Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAn honest comparison of spreadsheets and web calculators for merchant statements: accuracy, speed, quotes, sharing and when each is the right tool.