Can My Merchant Provider Increase My Fees?

As a business owner, managing your finances is a constant balancing act. Among the many costs that require careful attention, merchant fees are often one of the most significant and, at times, one of the most confusing. This concern is common, especially as businesses grow and evolve. In fact, many business owners feel uncertain about the possibility of hidden charges or unexpected increases, leaving them frustrated and worried about the transparency and fairness of their current merchant services.
 
At Bespoke Merchant Solutions, we understand the anxiety that can come with unclear or fluctuating fees. It’s crucial to partner with a provider who values trust and transparency, and unlike some companies in the industry, we strive to offer clear, honest pricing without the fine print or surprise hikes. In this blog, we’ll dive into what merchant fees are, if your merchant provider can increase them, and why they probably won’t if you choose to partner with BMS.

But First, What Are Merchant Fees?

Merchant fees are charges that businesses pay to their payment processor or merchant services provider for handling transactions made via credit or debit cards. These fees typically cover the costs of processing payments, including interchange fees from card brands (like Visa or Mastercard), transaction costs for the technology used, and any associated service fees from the merchant provider. Merchant fees can vary depending on factors such as transaction volume, card type, and the terms of your agreement with the provider. Understanding these fees is crucial for managing costs and maintaining profitability in your business.

What Are Transaction Fees?

Transaction fees are a fee charged for each payment processed. It is typically a percentage of the transaction amount plus a fixed fee per transaction. Conventionally, transaction rates are between 1.5%-3.5% but have been known to reach heights of 6% per transaction, additionally, the fixed fee is typically around 20p per transaction. this might not sound like a lot, but when these charges are added onto every transaction, it will add up fast. Typically, these fees won’t change mid-contract, however the merchant provider does have the ability to do so.

Luckily for your pockets, BMS can offer transaction rates as low as 0.30%! Plus, our average fixed fee is 4p, saving you money that can be re-invested back into your business.

What Are Terminal Rental Charges?

A terminal rental charge is a charge associated with the use of a physical POS system, (card machine), provided by the merchant services provider. This fee is typically a recurring cost, such as a monthly rental fee and is usually between £14 to £35 per month. Typically, these fees won’t change mid-contract, however the cost is tied to whichever card machine the provider gives you.
 
With Bespoke Merchant Solutions, you can enjoy terminal rental charges of £25, and an additional 10% off when you sign up to our BMS membership, meaning you pay £22.50 for our flagship model, the PAX A920, equipped with Android OS, a five-inch high-definition touchscreen, 9GB of storage, a long-lasting battery, WIFI, 4G, and Bluetooth.
woman paying for a product in a shop with the PAX A920 card machine from Bespoke Merchant Solutions

What Are Interchange Fees?

Interchange rates are fees charged by the card-issuing bank, such as VISA or MasterCard, to the merchant’s bank every time a customer makes a credit or debit card payment. These fees are a crucial part of the payment processing ecosystem, as they compensate the bank that issued the card for handling the transaction and the associated risks. Interchange fees can only be increased by the card-issuing bank, however if they do increase, the merchant provider will adjust their prices to match.
 
Many people are wary of interchange fees due to the apparent lack of control that the merchant provider has over the rates. However, with Bespoke Merchant Solutions, we will only alter your transaction fees if the card-issuing bank increases the interchange fee by 5% or more, which is very rare and usually reserved as a reaction to major world events such as Brexit. This means fewer fluctuating costs and greater peace of mind for your businesses’ finances. Moreover, you don’t even need to worry about interchange fees, as with BMS, they’re already included within our already low transaction fees!

Overall, we understand that managing merchant provider fees can feel overwhelming, especially with the possibility of fluctuating costs. That’s why understanding the different types of merchant provider fees is essential in empowering you to make informed decisions about your merchant services. At Bespoke Merchant Solutions, we believe in giving you greater freedom with your finances, through transparency, fairness, and most importantly, low transaction rates and terminal rate discounts.