30 answers about processing fees, rate changes, contracts, equipment, payment methods, funding, fraud, customer support, and PCI compliance.
Centurion quotes processing based on your industry, monthly volume, average ticket, card mix, and payment channels. Compare the full cost: interchange, network fees, processor markup, per-transaction charges, and recurring fees. A headline rate alone is not a complete quote.
Understand processing pricingA statement comparison can identify savings opportunities, but lower costs are not guaranteed for every business. Compare proposals using the same transaction volume and card mix, including gateway, equipment, compliance, and cancellation costs.
Review your current statementAsk Centurion whether your proposed program offers interchange-plus and request the markup in writing. This model separates underlying interchange and network costs from the processor’s markup. Flat-rate bundles most costs into a stated rate; tiered pricing groups transactions into categories with different rates. Compare the same sales mix and complete monthly cost, not a base rate or markup alone.
Compare total processing costsA quoted rate is not necessarily fixed for the life of the account. Distinguish changes to interchange or network fees from changes to processor markup and other service charges. Your agreement sets any rate guarantee, adjustment rights, and required notice; notices may appear on statements or through other agreed channels. Ask which components are guaranteed, for how long, and how changes will be communicated.
Review processing pricingA processing quote may include a fixed transaction charge, an authorization charge, or separate gateway charges. Confirm whether declined attempts, refunds, batches, and recurring retries also incur fees. These costs matter most for low-ticket businesses and high retry volumes.
Request an itemized quoteSome merchants can offset eligible credit-card costs through a compliant surcharge or use properly disclosed cash-discount or dual-pricing programs. U.S. Visa and Mastercard debit and prepaid transactions cannot be surcharged, even when processed without a PIN. Network rules and applicable law govern eligibility and disclosures.
Understand cost-offset programsA cash discount reduces the posted standard price for cash payment. A surcharge adds a disclosed fee to an eligible credit-card purchase. Dual pricing displays cash and card prices before purchase. Labels do not establish compliance: the actual price display, checkout calculation, receipts, and applicable rules do.
Explore surcharge requirementsFunding depends on capture and batch timing, your approved settlement schedule, bank business days, and any reserves or reviews. An authorization is not a deposit. Request the first-payout timing and ongoing funding schedule in writing.
Follow a payment to your bankAsk Centurion to check expedited funding eligibility for your proposed account. Availability, cutoff times, added fees, and supported banks depend on the acquiring program. Same-day or next-day funding should not be assumed until it is confirmed in your approved terms.
Ask about funding eligibilityAn acquirer or processor may delay payouts, impose a reserve, or restrict processing under the merchant agreement when risk or compliance concerns arise. Request the reason, required documents, and release conditions in writing. Opening another account does not release previously held funds.
What to do about held fundsA rolling reserve withholds an agreed share of sales for a defined period to cover potential refunds and disputes. It is not required for every account. Industry, delivery time, financial strength, and processing history influence the decision; the agreement governs release and deductions.
Read the rolling reserve guideAn approval can specify monthly volume, average ticket, and maximum ticket limits. Disclose seasonal peaks and large orders during underwriting. Request approval before exceeding limits rather than splitting transactions to avoid controls.
Review high-volume requirementsCompatibility depends on the exact POS provider, terminal model, software version, gateway, and processor certification. Some systems are tied to a single processor. Share those details before signing or buying replacement equipment.
Explore payment solutionsAsk whether hardware is purchased outright, rented, leased, or supplied through a placement program, and compare the total cost over the full term. An equipment lease may be separate from processing and may continue after the merchant account closes. Confirm ownership, eligibility for any “free” terminal, shipping, replacement costs, return requirements, and cancellation obligations before signing.
Explore in-store equipmentConfirm that your approved setup supports the brands you need, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, plus EMV chip and eligible debit transactions. Brand acceptance, pricing, and configuration depend on the program. ACH and e-checks are separate bank-payment services with their own underwriting, authorization, return rules, and fees; a card account does not automatically include them. Confirm mobile-wallet support separately for your checkout or terminal.
Review required payment methodsYes, with a compatible contactless terminal or an enabled online wallet integration and an approved processing setup. In-store NFC acceptance and online wallet checkout are different integrations; confirm support for each channel you use.
Explore mobile and contactless paymentsAn approved setup can include a terminal for in-person sales, a gateway for online checkout, and a secure virtual terminal for phone orders. Disclose all channels during underwriting because pricing, fraud controls, and permitted transactions can differ.
Explore online payment processingCenturion can review recurring billing and gateway requirements for your business. Token storage, account updating, retry logic, webhooks, and API access vary by gateway and approved industry. Confirm capabilities and subscription consent requirements before migrating.
Explore recurring billingA merchant agreement is required even when a program is month-to-month. Check the actual term rather than assuming a standard 36-month commitment; review automatic renewal, notice deadlines, guarantees, and separate gateway or equipment agreements. Verify provider identity, relevant experience, independent reviews, and available references before signing. Your signed documents, not a sales headline, define the commitment.
Request written termsCancellation costs depend on the agreement. Check for early termination fees, liquidated damages, equipment return requirements, and independent leases or software subscriptions. Ask your current provider for a written exit-cost calculation before switching.
Plan your processing transitionNot automatically. Some agreements provide a limited cancellation window after certain processor fee increases, while excluding interchange or card-network changes. Check the exact clause, notice deadline, required cancellation method, and which charges qualify. Obtain written confirmation of any waiver; separate equipment leases, gateway contracts, or outstanding obligations may still remain.
Ask about cancellation and rate-change termsStart with underwriting and compatibility checks, then configure your terminal or checkout, test payments and refunds, and confirm the first deposit. Subscription businesses also need a secure token-migration plan. Keep access to old statements and dispute tools after the switch.
See the onboarding processA staged transition can reduce disruption, but zero downtime cannot be guaranteed. Keep the current service active while the new setup is approved and tested, schedule the cutover, and check refunds, subscriptions, and settlement reconciliation.
Plan subscription continuityCenturion can assess eligible high-risk businesses for multi-bank placement. The acquiring bank makes the approval decision based on the actual business model, ownership, financials, compliance controls, and processing history. Approval, rates, reserves, and limits are not guaranteed.
Read high-risk merchant FAQsCommon requests include business registration, tax identification, beneficial-owner identification, bank account evidence, recent bank and processing statements, and a functioning website with billing and refund policies. New businesses and specialized industries may need additional financial or compliance documents.
See the document checklistAsk whether your gateway supports address verification (AVS), card security-code checks (CVV), 3-D Secure, fraud screening, and dispute alerts, and which features cost extra. Confirm chargeback, retrieval, alert, and representment fees, including whether fees remain after a dispute is won. Use clear descriptors and delivery evidence, respond before deadlines, and never retain CVV after authorization. No tool prevents every fraudulent payment or guarantees a dispute win.
Read the chargeback management guideA previous shutdown does not automatically decide a new application, but the underlying reason matters. Provide the closure notice, accurate processing history, and evidence that any problems were corrected. MATCH listings, prohibited products, fraud, and unresolved disputes can limit eligibility.
Explore processing after a shutdownBefore choosing a program, ask which team handles terminal failures, declined payments, gateway problems, funding questions, and disputes. Confirm phone, email, or chat availability, business hours and time zones, after-hours escalation, response expectations, and any support charges in writing. Do not assume 24/7 live support or every contact channel is included; coverage depends on the provider and service agreement.
Explore support resourcesAsk which PCI validation steps apply to your payment setup, who helps select and complete the appropriate self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ), and whether vulnerability scans or other evidence are required. Confirm annual validation, assistance, scanning, and noncompliance fees separately; support is not necessarily free. Hosted checkout and tokenization can reduce exposure, but the merchant remains responsible for its applicable obligations. Never retain card security codes after authorization.
Understand PCI compliance requirementsYour next step
Tell Centurion your industry, monthly volume, sales channels, and current challenge. We’ll review the fit before recommending a processing path.
Approval, pricing, reserves, limits, and funding are subject to underwriting and written agreement. No guaranteed approval or savings.
Educational guidance from Centurion Payment Services, published October 15, 2026. Network rules and provider terms can change; confirm current requirements with your acquirer. Provider examples are not Centurion funding commitments. This is not legal advice.