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About the Author
Kevin
Kevin is a payment processing consultant at Brookside Payments. He reads merchant statements for a living, which is exactly as glamorous as it sounds. He writes about what processors do, what they hide, and what happens when a merchant finally asks the right question. Based in Florida, most of his work happens over the phone and across the kitchen tables of business owners who just want a straight answer.
Published Articles
Payment Technology · April 2, 2026
The Gate That Every Card Payment Passes Through
Payment Technology A payment gateway is the technology that connects your business to the card networks. Every card transaction you…
Merchant Tips · April 1, 2026
Getting a Merchant Account – I Thought You Just Filled Out a Form
Merchant account setup explained — what to expect from the application, underwriting, and approval process before you apply. Payment Processing…
Risk & Fraud Prevention · April 1, 2026
The MATCH List: How a Collections Attorney Couldn’t Get a Merchant Account
Risk & Fraud Prevention MATCH list payment processing is one of the few mechanisms in the merchant services industry that…
Risk & Fraud Prevention · March 31, 2026
The Chargeback Decision Was Already Made. The Merchant Just Did Not Know It Yet.
Risk & Fraud Prevention The Difference A PayPal chargeback dispute is handled very differently than a traditional card network chargeback.…
Legal & Compliance · March 31, 2026
Your HOA Has Been Absorbing Credit Card Fees for Years. There’s a Legal Way to Stop.
The Short Answer Yes — most HOAs can charge an HOA convenience fee on card payments, and most are leaving…
Merchant Tips · March 30, 2026
What Is a Merchant Account — And Do You Actually Need One?
The Question Do I need a merchant account? Most small business owners have been processing cards for years without ever…
Risk & Fraud Prevention · March 30, 2026
Square Froze My Account. Now What?
Risk & Fraud Prevention A Square account freeze can happen overnight — and when it does, your business stops accepting…
Payment Technology · March 29, 2026
The Payment Method That Skips the Card Networks Entirely
Payment Technology The Payment Method That Skips the Card Networks Entirely A property management company I work with collects rent…
Industry Insights · March 29, 2026
Stripe Is Brilliant Technology. For Someone Else’s Business.
A web developer I know called me last year. His client — a subscription software company doing about $35,000 a…
Payment Technology · March 28, 2026
The Part of Every Transaction Nobody Talks About
Payment Technology The Part of Every Transaction Nobody Talks About Every time a customer hands over a card — in…