5 Hidden Fees on Your Card Statement

If you process card payments in the UK, you're paying fees. But are you paying the right amount? Most business owners assume their statement is straightforward: transaction rate, maybe a terminal fee, done. The reality is far more complex.

Hidden fees are the industry standard. They're not necessarily illegal or unethical-they're just buried under layers of jargon and tiny print. Interchange fees, assessments, chargeback fees, PCI compliance fees, statement fees, gateway fees-the list goes on. By the time you realise what's happening, you've already overpaid by thousands.

The 5 Most Common Hidden Fees

1. Interchange Fees (The Big One)

These are charged by the card issuer (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) every time a card is processed. They're often hidden because providers bundle them into their headline rate. An interchange fee for a Visa credit card might be 0.5%, for a Mastercard business card 0.8%, and so on. These vary by card type and aren't something you can negotiate-but you should at least know you're paying them.

2. Assessment Fees

Visa and Mastercard charge card networks a percentage of your turnover, typically 0.11% to 0.13%. Your provider passes this on. It's not optional, and it's not usually spelled out in your quote. Check your statement under "assessments" or "network fees".

3. PCI Compliance Fees

A charge for maintaining PCI DSS compliance (payment security standards). Some providers charge £0 to £50 per month for this, others hide it in their base rate. Teya includes PCI compliance in the standard rate-no surprise charges.

4. Chargeback and Dispute Fees

When a customer disputes a transaction, you're charged a fee to process it. Typical range: £10 to £25 per chargeback. If you run a high-volume or high-risk business, these add up fast. Some providers charge monthly fees just to have a dispute resolution team available.

5. Terminal Rental & Maintenance

Often quoted as a small monthly fee (£15 to £30), but if you've got three tills, that's £45 to £90 every month. And if your terminal breaks, some providers charge replacement fees. Teya offers terminals with no rental fee on qualifying accounts.

How to Spot Hidden Fees

• Request a detailed statement from your provider showing all deductions, not just percentages.
• Ask specifically: "What am I paying for interchange? Assessments? PCI compliance?"
• Look for line items you don't understand-your provider should explain every charge.
• Compare your effective rate: Total fees paid ÷ Total turnover. This is the real rate you're paying.
• Check the small print in your contract for monthly minimums, termination fees, or auto-renewal clauses.

The Teya Difference

Teya's pricing is transparent. No assessment fees hidden in the fine print. No surprise PCI charges. You see what you pay. Our rates typically range from 0.50% to 1.59% depending on your card mix and business type, and that's what you pay. Everything else is included.

Most UK businesses could save 30-40% by switching to transparent pricing. Upload your statement to our calculator to see how much you could save.