Articles on Fees & costs
Interchange, scheme fees, gateway margin, and store commissions: what charging really costs.
13 articles
Apple Pay and Google Pay without the marketing: network tokens and fraud reduction
Far from simple digital wallets, Apple Pay and Google Pay rely on network tokens and dynamic cryptograms. We examine their technical mechanics and fraud impact.
What changes with PSD3 and the PSR: spoofing fraud, refunds, and transparency
The EU's updated payment framework splits its rules between a directive and a directly applicable regulation. Here is what it means for merchants, gateways, and consumers dealing with social engineering fraud.
Free versus paid trial periods: technical impact on conversion, payment failures, and churn
Choosing between a free or paid trial alters sign-up rates, card processing workflows, payment failure frequency, and exposure to dispute costs.
The hidden cost of failed payments: return fees, retries, and lost customers
When a recurring transaction fails or a customer disputes a charge, the problem goes far beyond unpaid invoices. Direct processing fees, operational overhead, and involuntary churn multiply the true financial impact.
Bizum, card, or bank transfer: which method to offer and what each one costs
We analyse the operational differences, processing fees, fraud risks, and settlement times of cards, Bizum, and bank transfers for an online store in Spain.
Friendly fraud: when cardholders dispute legitimate charges and the evidence that defeats them
Friendly fraud occurs when genuine customers dispute real purchases with their banks. We examine how this mechanism works, the evidence regulations require, and how to contest unjustified claims.
Flat rate or interchange++: which payment gateway pricing model is cheaper for your sales
Choosing between a flat rate and interchange++ determines whether you overpay on transaction fees. We examine how card types and European regulations shape the final cost.
Cancelling a subscription in one click: consumer regulations and the true cost of retention tricks
Obstructing digital subscription cancellations not only breaches European consumer law, but also drives bank chargebacks. We examine what the rules demand and how to design clean cancellations.
Digital goods, physical goods, and external links: charging inside and outside mobile apps
The boundary between what must be processed via in-app purchases and what can be steered to the web causes ongoing technical and regulatory friction. We analyze Apple and Google rules in Europe and the true cost of each route.
Subscription invoicing in Spain: VAT, recurring payments and the VeriFactu era
Managing subscription invoicing in Spain involves understanding the application of VAT (always included or added as appropriate), the mechanics of recurring invoices, and the implications of the new VeriFactu regulation. This article details how to adapt these processes to current legislation.
Refunds and chargebacks: managing disputes to protect your online business
Understanding the difference between refunds and chargebacks is crucial for any e-commerce business. We analyze deadlines, necessary documentation, and effective strategies to reduce dispute rates, minimizing losses and optimizing your business operations.
In-app payments: app store and google play commissions, and external billing options
App stores set the rules for payments within their platforms, charging commissions for transactions. Understanding these policies is key for developers and businesses. This article details App Store and Google Play commissions, and explores the possibilities and limitations of offering alternative payment systems or directing users outside the app.
In-app payments: what the store takes, and when you can charge outside it
App Store and Google Play commissions don't apply to everything you sell from an app. The dividing line is what kind of product you deliver, and knowing where your case falls decides whether you pay 15%, 30%, or your own gateway's fee.