You should not trust your merchant service provider blindly. Merchants rarely ask questions that matter to merchant service providers which they misuse and earn profits from your lack of understanding of the credit card industry. Here are some questions you should ask your merchant service provider to understand what you are paying for before you hire their services. 

1. Who answers my customer service calls?

They should reply with a number that leads to them, an officer or a customer service agent. If the number is for a machine or an automated message you should not hire them. You never know when you may need to call them for doubts or problems. You could be in the middle of a transaction with a consumer when you may need help, you want your problems solved fast and by humans, you cannot email or chat with bots in front of your clients. Unless you feel like you are important to your merchant service provider do not hire them. 

2.  What kind of machine will I get and how much will it cost me?

Many merchant service providers charge you for everything, they just want to make money. The most chance they have of getting money from you is with machines and equipment. Many merchant providers charge double or triple the amount of the equipment because merchants are unaware of the real price or they rent the equipment monthly by charging monthly fees which piles up over time. You should get equipment from your provider free of cost or for the actual price of the machine no extra charges. You need to ask questions about point of sale before signing up. Do not hire their services if you see them charging too much for the equipment. 

3. Are there mark-up charges over interchange?

Interchange is the direct cost of credit card processing services sets by credit card companies’ and earlier merchant service providers used to charge a mark-up over the interchange. Mark-up should be 0% nothing more. If they are charging a mark-up it is solely for their profits. The more transactions you will process the more profits they will make. Before you hire a merchant service provider make sure they are not going to charge you a markup so you do not end up paying unnecessary fees. 

4. Will be charged Ancillary fees?

Merchant service providers truly misuse your lack of knowledge and understanding of the industry to make money for them. Ancillary fees are solely charged to improve the merchant service provider's bottom line. WE have noticed all kinds of additional fees being charged just because they can such as PCI compliance fees, statement fees, monthly maintenance, batch fees and customer service fees. These fees are not required and your merchant service provider can choose not to charge them. These fees are varieties of reasons they can charge you with more money and not actual expenses or services. When you hire a merchant service provider and they tell you these fees will be in the statement every month, run, you can find a more honest merchant services provider who will not dupe you with these fees.