A solution even when the bank has said no
Some sectors are declined not because of what they do, but because of the category they fall into. We review each case individually and give a straight answer.
Individual assessment
We look at the actual business: chargeback history, sales model, documents, not just the MCC code.
Terms stated upfront
If the profile requires a reserve or a limit, we say so in the quote, not after the first month.
A real answer, on time
We answer even when the answer is no, so you do not lose weeks waiting.
How we assess risk
The assessment rests on several factors: sector, chargeback history, average order value, the gap between payment and delivery, and the quality of your documentation.
Based on these we set the terms: rate, any reserve, settlement period and limits.
- Sector and regulatory regime
- Chargeback history
- Average order size and volume
- Time between payment and delivery
- Transparency of the site and terms
- Financial standing of the company
What we expect from you
A high-risk profile demands more discipline on both sides. The cleaner your site and documentation, the better the terms we can offer.
Clear return policies, visible contact details and an accurate product description cut chargebacks more than any filter.
- Published refund and cancellation terms
- Visible contact and company details
- Accurate product and price descriptions
- A clear descriptor on the customer's statement
- Enquiries answered within a reasonable time
- Compliance with applicable regulation
What high-risk actually means
The term sounds like an accusation but it is an accounting category. High-risk means that on your profile the likelihood of a chargeback, a refund or a dispute is statistically higher, and the acquiring bank reflects that in the terms.
The reasons are several and most have nothing to do with honesty. A gap in time between payment and delivery, as with subscriptions and prepaid services. A high average transaction value. Selling to customers in many countries. A sector with historically higher returns. Or simply an activity the bank does not understand well enough to assess.
Many entirely reputable businesses land here: travel agencies, training centres running long courses, subscription services, supplement retailers, transport companies, event organisers.
How the assessment is made
We look at the actual business rather than only the MCC code, because one code covers both a stable company with fifteen years of history and one registered last month.
We want the chargeback history, if you have processed cards before. The number matters more than the explanation, but the explanation counts when the number spiked in a particular period.
We want the sales model: how long passes between payment and delivery, what the return terms are, how fulfilment is evidenced.
We want the documents and the company's transparency: who stands behind it, how long it has traded, whether terms are published on the site.
And we want to know what happened before, if you have already been declined. A decline elsewhere is not a verdict, but it is information better heard from you than discovered after approval.
What conditions there may be
On higher risk, approval often comes with conditions. We state them in advance, with specific numbers and terms rather than in general language.
A reserve: a percentage of turnover held for a period as cover against future disputes. It has a specific percentage and a specific term, after which amounts are released on schedule.
A monthly volume cap: a ceiling that lifts after a few clean months. The purpose is not to restrict you but to let the profile prove itself gradually.
More frequent monitoring: a review of the indicators at shorter intervals, with a warning as the scheme thresholds approach.
If any of those conditions makes the deal pointless for you, it is better that we find that out at this stage than after signature.
An answer on time, including when it is no
The most expensive thing in looking for a processor is not a decline but silence. Three weeks waiting for someone to decide is three weeks not taking payments and unable to look elsewhere.
So we answer on time, including when the answer is no. If the profile is not for us we will say so quickly, and where we can we will point you toward where to look.
If the answer is yes but with conditions, you will see exactly what they are before you sign. There are no conditions that surface in month three.
How you leave the high-risk category
The profile is not a life sentence. Conditions are revisited and in most cases eased when the numbers support it.
The strongest argument is a clean period. A few months with a low chargeback rate and no unusual patterns weigh more than any explanation. That is why the first months are worth working carefully, even when it is inconvenient.
The second thing that helps is narrowing the gap between payment and delivery. If you can shorten the timescale or evidence fulfilment better, the risk genuinely falls rather than merely appearing to.
The third is transparency. Published return terms, clear correspondence with customers and a recognisable name on the statement reduce disputes before they become chargebacks.
When those are in place, the reserve is reduced or removed and the cap lifts. The review does not wait to be asked for, but if you think it is time, say so and we will look.
What to prepare before the assessment
The more of this is ready, the faster and more accurate the answer.
- A description of the activity in your own words, not just an MCC code
- A statement of volume and chargebacks from the previous provider
- How long passes between payment and delivery
- Published returns and complaints terms on the site
- The stated reason for any decline elsewhere
- Expected monthly turnover and seasonal profile
Questions about this
Will I get a higher rate because I am high-risk?
The margin is the same. What may differ are the conditions: a reserve, a cap or more frequent monitoring. All of it is stated before signature.
I have been declined elsewhere. Is it worth asking?
It is. Different acquiring banks assess differently, and a decline in one place does not mean a decline everywhere. Tell us the stated reason if you know it, because that shortens the process.
How long does assessment take on a riskier profile?
Longer than the standard 24 hours, usually a few business days, because more than documents is reviewed. You will know where it stands rather than waiting in silence.
What if my chargebacks rise after launch?
We will contact you before it becomes a problem. The schemes have thresholds above which a monitoring programme begins, and a timely warning is usually enough to avoid it.
Ready to start accepting payments?
Send us an enquiry and you will get a concrete quote with calculated fees for your business, usually within one business day.