Free Merchant Statement Analysis

A merchant statement is one of the least friendly documents a business receives. It is dense, filled with codes and abbreviations, and arranged to be filed rather than understood. Many owners glance at the bottom-line total and move on. That total, though, is built from dozens of separate charges, any of which might be higher than it needs to be.

MCCPS offers a free, no-obligation savings analysis for exactly this reason. You send two months of statements, and a specialist reviews them line by line. This page explains what is examined, what you receive and what happens afterward.

Why two months of statements

One month can be misleading. A holiday spike, a refund wave or a one-time equipment charge can distort the picture. Two consecutive months show what is regular and what is not, and give the reviewer enough data to calculate a meaningful effective rate.

Send complete statements, including every page, since the important details are often in the back sections: fee summaries, interchange detail and notices about changes.

If you are a seasonal business, mention that, and consider sending a month from your peak and a month from your off season so the reviewer sees the range. The goal is an accurate picture of what you pay across a normal year, not a flattering or unflattering snapshot.

What we look at

The review starts with the effective rate: total fees divided by total card volume. Say your statement shows $1,240 in fees on $40,000 in sales. That is 3.1%, regardless of what the proposal called the rate. Then we break the total into its components to see where the money goes.

Each line is classified as interchange, assessments, processor markup or other fees, and checked for reasonableness. Odd items get a question rather than an assumption, because some charges have legitimate explanations.

Where a charge looks unusual, the reviewer checks it against your agreement or asks you about it. A fee that appeared recently may follow a rate change notice you never saw, which is another reason to send any letters or inserts that came with the statement.

• Pricing model: flat, tiered or interchange-plus
• Share of transactions downgraded to higher-cost categories
• Monthly, statement, gateway and batch fees
• PCI program or non-compliance charges
• Equipment leases and terminal fees
• Chargeback, retrieval and other penalty fees
• Card-present versus keyed volume

Common findings

Reviews often turn up fees that the merchant never knowingly agreed to or that have crept up over time. Examples include a PCI fee charged even though the questionnaire is filed, duplicate gateway charges, equipment lease payments running past the useful life of the terminal, or sales downgraded because of a missing field.

Not every statement hides a problem. Sometimes the finding is that your current pricing is reasonable. An honest review reports what it finds, whichever way it goes.

Keep notes on questions to ask your current processor either way. A clear list of specific line items gives you something concrete to raise, rather than a vague complaint that fees seem high.

What you receive

You get a plain-English walk-through of your current costs, an explanation of the pricing model and the charges that stand out, and a description of options that might apply, such as interchange-plus pricing, a compliant dual-pricing program like Zero Processing Fees, or equipment changes. Rules on dual pricing and cash discount programs vary by state and card network and require proper disclosure.

Savings depend on your statements and how you accept cards. MCCPS does not promise a result in advance, and there is no charge for the analysis.

Because the analysis is a review and not a sales contract, you are free to ask follow-up questions about anything on the report, from a single fee to the whole pricing structure.

What stays the same and what might change

If a change makes sense, MCCPS can often keep terminals you already own, integrate with almost any POS or smartphone and set up next-day funding, subject to your account setup. Existing contracts matter, so the team asks about term dates, early termination terms and equipment leases before recommending a move.

You can also choose to do nothing. The review is yours to keep, and many merchants use it to negotiate with their current processor.

Timing is flexible. You can request the review at any point in your contract, and the information is useful for planning even if your term ends months from now. Many owners schedule it a quarter before renewal so they have time to compare and give any required notice.

How to prepare

Gather two recent consecutive statements in PDF form, your merchant agreement if you have it and a list of how you take payments: in store, online, by phone or in the field. Note any problems you are aware of, such as slow deposits, surprise fees or a terminal that fails often.

Your statements contain account details, so send them through the channel the specialist gives you. Do not post them publicly. Never include full card numbers, which should not appear on statements anyway.

1. Download two consecutive full statements
2. Locate your processing agreement and any equipment lease
3. Write down how and where you take payments
4. Call 844.826.6227 or submit through the channel provided
5. Review the findings with a specialist and decide

Privacy and no obligation

The analysis is free and carries no obligation. Statements are used to review your processing and are handled with care. If you would like to proceed, a specialist explains each next step, including PCI compliance help and free 24/7 technical support, so there are no surprises.

If you only want the information, that is fine. Many owners learn something useful even when they stay where they are.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or compliance advice. Card-network and state rules change — confirm current requirements before acting. Savings depend on your individual statement analysis.