What is a PCI non-compliance fee?
A monthly penalty charged when the processor's records show you have not completed a PCI compliance questionnaire or scan. It stacks on top of any PCI compliance fee already on the statement, so some merchants pay for compliance and for non-compliance in the same month.
From a merchant statement
Also billed as PCI non-validation fee.
Who charges it and why
The processor adds it, usually citing card-network security standards. The networks do not charge merchants this penalty directly; the amount and the trigger are the processor's own. On some accounts the questionnaire is hard to find or expires silently, which keeps the penalty billing.
What fair looks like
Fair looks like a processor that walks you through the questionnaire once a year, reminds you before anything lapses, and treats compliance as part of the service rather than a revenue line. The penalty existing at all is a sign the account is designed to lapse.
Can you get rid of it
Yes, usually quickly: complete the compliance questionnaire your processor points you to and the penalty should stop the following cycle. Then ask for the months it billed while you were unaware to be credited, and note the answer.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a PCI non-compliance fee?
A monthly penalty charged when the processor's records show you have not completed a PCI compliance questionnaire or scan. It stacks on top of any PCI compliance fee already on the statement, so some merchants pay for compliance and for non-compliance in the same month.
Who charges the PCI non-compliance fee and why?
The processor adds it, usually citing card-network security standards. The networks do not charge merchants this penalty directly; the amount and the trigger are the processor's own. On some accounts the questionnaire is hard to find or expires silently, which keeps the penalty billing.
Can you get rid of a PCI non-compliance fee?
Yes, usually quickly: complete the compliance questionnaire your processor points you to and the penalty should stop the following cycle. Then ask for the months it billed while you were unaware to be credited, and note the answer.
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