As credit card processing fees rise, cutting costs is crucial for retailers. Merchant Advocate CEO Eric Cohen shares strategies like updating payment software, ensuring PCI compliance, reviewing statements for hidden fees, and optimizing processor setup to reduce charges.

Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, which bans interchange fees on taxes and gratuities, is facing legal challenges. Experts, including Merchant Advocate CEO Eric Cohen, warn that the law creates major complications for businesses, while banks argue it conflicts with federal...

Visa is cracking down on its 3% surcharge cap with mystery shoppers and fines to ensure compliance. While larger merchants work to adapt, smaller businesses may be unaware of the rules and put themselves at risk for penalties. Payments Dive...

Our CEO, Eric Cohen, shares insights with USA Today on how rising credit card swipe fees are impacting merchants and consumers alike—and what can be done about them. Increasing credit card swipe fees are costing the average household over $1,100...

The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, set to take effect in July, could create significant market disruptions, including more complex transactions and reduced card rewards for consumers. Eric Cohen of Merchant Advocate highlights the challenges merchants face, from increased transaction...

The Credit Card Competition Act faces slim chances of passing in the current congressional session, with key lawmakers signaling a lack of support. Our CEO was interviewed by Digital Transactions to discuss the bill’s challenges, its potential impact on swipe...

The U.S. Justice Department is suing Visa, alleging antitrust violations that could reshape the debit card industry. In this episode, our CEO, Eric Cohen, explores Visa’s powerful role in the market, the stakes of this lawsuit, and what it could...

Credit card processing fees present a significant challenge for medical practices, often hidden beneath layers of complex charges. Merchant Advocate’s team specializes in helping practices uncover these hidden costs and maximize savings—all without requiring a processor switch. Discover how we...

As software companies increasingly integrate payment processing into their platforms, businesses may unknowingly face hidden fees. Exclusive processor relationships and outdated software can drive up expenses.

Surcharging is a hot topic for restaurants navigating razor-thin margins and rising card payment costs. While some businesses pass these fees to customers, others consider cash discounts. Understanding the pros, cons, and regulations of each approach is vital to making...

PCI DSS version 4.0 introduces key updates that dental practices must adopt by March 2025 to stay compliant and secure patient payment data. With the deadline approaching, understanding and implementing these changes is crucial to avoid breaches and penalties. Read...

Illinois’s new Interchange Fee Prohibition Act requires merchants to separate taxes and tips on card transactions, posing challenges for businesses. Compliance by the July 2025 deadline could require costly upgrades and training, making preparation crucial. Our own Eric Cohen spoke...

Veterinary practices are facing new challenges as states continue to introduce laws limiting credit card surcharges. These regulations aim to protect consumers, but they also put pressure on businesses to remain transparent while managing rising operational costs. Veterinary practices must...

In this article for Medical Economics, our CEO answers common questions from medical practices, including why it is important to optimize your processing costs, what you should expect to pay in fees, and issues surrounding surcharging and PCI/HIPAA compliance. Read...

Our own CEO Eric Cohen was interviewed by Digital Transactions to discuss the impact of interchange fees on merchants. His take? It’s actually processing fee increases, not interchange, that are hitting business’s bottom lines the hardest. Read More

In this episode, Eric Cohen of Merchant Advocate explains the critical need for orthodontic practices to understand credit card processing fees. He emphasizes the impact of hidden fees and offers strategies to monitor and reduce costs, ultimately enhancing practice profitability...

Ensuring good payment processing hygiene is essential for maximizing the valuation of your orthodontic practice, especially when considering a sale to private equity investors or outside buyers. Poor payment processing can lead to unnecessary costs, impacting your practice’s long-term value....

Orthodontic practices increasingly rely on practice management and EMR software to enhance efficiency and data security. However, these platforms can lock practices into specific payment processors, increasing costs. In this third article with Orthodontics Products, we explore how regular software...

Orthodontic practices face unique challenges in navigating Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, which is crucial for protecting payment information and avoiding significant fines. While HIPAA covers patient medical records, it does not ensure PCI compliance, necessitating adherence to both sets...

In this article for Modern Retail Management, our CEO weighs in on the rejection earlier this week of a $30 billion proposed settlement over credit card transaction interchange fees. “Eric Cohen, CEO of payment processor negotiation service Merchant Advocate, said...

Orthodontic practices often incur high costs from credit card processors due to inflated fees and additional charges, significantly impacting their finances. By understanding and auditing merchant statements, practices can mitigate these expenses and optimize financial outcomes. In this first article...

Restaurants are grappling with rising credit card processing fees, which have become a significant financial burden. Luckily, there are proactive approaches restaurant owners can take to cut these costs and achieve greater financial stability. This article explores some of these...

Small businesses have faced numerous economic challenges in recent years, from COVID-19 to inflation and supply chain issues. It’s become increasingly difficult to achieve and maintain profitability, but there are proactive measures small business owners can take to improve their...

Even after a recent proposed $30BN settlement which aimed to lower merchant fees from Mastercard and Visa, the former still increased transaction fees last month. Between these fee increases and the settlement being far from approved, businesses may only see...

The possible merger between Capital One and Discover has kept the financial industry buzzing. Find out what our CEO, Eric Cohen, thinks about how this can affect the credit card industry—and some of the benefits it may have for businesses...

Our CEO, Eric Cohen, shared with Hospitality Technology different avenues businesses can take to revamp and invest in payment suites, and how best to protect themselves–and their customers–from rising credit card fees. Read More

A new state law went into effect Sunday that will help increase transparency for New Yorkers who pay by credit card and are charged a surcharge fee. The new law requires business owners to either advertise the higher credit card...

Credit card surcharging and its related programs – cash discount, non-cash transaction and zero fee – have been a hot topic over the last few years and are only growing in popularity. Some see them as a way of offsetting...

“Restaurant owners and managers are thinking about how to improve their bottom lines every day, especially with the continued increase in overhead and a hard labor market. One way these establishments try to increase profits is by cutting expenses, and...

When it comes to credit card payments, dental offices face particular issues that make them prime targets for increased fees and security breaches. Learn how to protect your practice and patients, and reduce costs. Read More

Have you noticed an uptick in businesses with surcharge programs? As consumers spending on credit cards increase, processing fees for merchants are also on the rise, leading them to look for ways to cut costs. Our CEO Eric Cohen sat...

Merchants fed up with high processing costs are trying numerous strategies to avoid and offset fees. American Banker highlights five of these tactics, interviewing our own Eric Cohen on the rising popularity of surcharging. His advice: “It’s better for merchants...

Eric Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Merchant Advocate, discusses the promises made by supporters of the Credit Card Competition Act, most central that it will lead to lower retailer prices, and potential issues going unmentioned, including how it may actually...

Eric Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Merchant Advocate, identifies several potential flaws posed by the Credit Card Competition Act, including the challenging of choosing the best network; the major risk for increased fraud from smaller, cheaper networks; and unknown effects...

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Merchant Advocate’s CEO Eric Cohen weighs in on the importance of businesses staying hypervigilant when it comes to digital fraud protection. Read More

Eric Cohen, Chief Executive of Merchant Advocate, talks to Ian Krietzbeg of TheStreet, about how to navigate the complicated world of credit card processing fees and recent controversial Visa and Mastercard fee hikes. Read More