The merchant-statement fee glossary
A fee name is not an explanation. Classify each charge by who controls it, what triggers it, and whether it appears in the signed agreement.
PCI compliance / non-compliance fee
A provider may list separate PCI program, validation, or non-compliance charges. Ask which requirement triggered the charge, what action changes it, who provides the compliance service, and where the amount appears in the signed agreement.
Regulatory / government recovery fee
A regulatory, government, or recovery label does not identify who receives the money. Ask whether the charge is a pass-through assessment, provider markup, or another contracted fee, then request the source and calculation in writing.
Statement fee
A statement fee is a recurring account charge. Record the amount, whether paper delivery is optional, and whether the fee is part of the quoted provider markup or listed separately.
Batch fee
A batch fee is charged when transactions are settled. Multiply the fee by the business’s actual settlement frequency and include it in the monthly effective cost.
Monthly minimum
A monthly minimum generally charges the difference when eligible processing fees do not reach a stated floor. Seasonal businesses should model quiet months as well as peak volume.
Annual / membership fee
An annual or membership fee should be normalized across twelve months when calculating effective cost. Ask what service it covers, when it is billed, and whether it changes during the agreement.
The test for any fee
Ask what triggers the fee, who receives it, how it is calculated, where it appears in the agreement, and what changes if the fee is removed. A useful statement audit classifies the answer instead of relying on the label.