Processing Basics
How Credit Card Processing Works: A Step-by-Step Guide for Merchants
See how credit card processing works from tap to deposit: who approves the sale, how settlement reaches your bank and where interchange fees come from.
Beyond the Swipe
Smarter Payments. Stronger Businesses. Payment news and plain-English guides for business owners, from MannyPay.
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GlossaryWhat Is Chargeback Representment? How to Fight Disputes
What is chargeback representment? Learn the dispute lifecycle, deadlines, what to put in a rebuttal packet and when a chargeback isn't worth fighting.
MannyPay Editorial Team
GlossaryWhat Is a Card-Not-Present Transaction? Risks and Rates
Learn what a card not present transaction is, why phone, online and keyed payments cost more, who pays for fraud, and how to lower both.
MannyPay Editorial Team
GlossaryWhat Are Chargeback Reason Codes? How to Read Them
Learn how chargeback reason codes work, how Visa and Mastercard group them, and which evidence wins fraud, authorization, processing and consumer disputes.
MannyPay Editorial Team
IndustriesWeb Design Change Orders: Billing Scope Creep Without Losing Clients
Build a web design change order process that bills scope creep fairly, collects payment before extra work starts, and holds up if a client disputes it.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Local Guides · Seattle, WAWashington's New Sales Tax on Services: A Seattle Billing Guide
Washington sales tax on services now covers IT, web development and digital ads. Learn how Seattle firms should tax invoices, payment links and card billing.
MannyPay Editorial Team
GlossaryVoid vs Refund: What's the Difference and Which Costs Less
Void vs refund explained: learn why voiding before the batch closes can save processing fees, when a refund is required, and how to train staff.
MannyPay Editorial TeamPayments News
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NewsVisa Decline Code Changes Oct. 23–25: Fix Your Retry Logic Now
Visa response code 57 retry rules tighten Oct. 25. Learn which declines to stop retrying, what new code 83 means and how to avoid reattempt fees.
MannyPay Editorial Team
NewsThunes and Coinbase Team up: Faster Cross-Border Payouts Ahead?
The Thunes Coinbase partnership links stablecoins to local bank and wallet payouts. Learn what's live, what's planned and what to ask your payout provider.
MannyPay Editorial Team
NewsFed Debit Fee Cap: Regulation II Proposal and Court Ruling Explained
Learn where the Regulation II debit interchange cap stands after the Fed's proposal and the Corner Post ruling, and what each outcome means per $100.
MannyPay Editorial Team
NewsVisa's VAMP Explained: New Fraud and Dispute Thresholds
Learn how the Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP) ratio works, which thresholds apply in 2026, and how to calculate and lower your own ratio.
MannyPay Editorial TeamIndustry Payment Guides
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IndustriesUsage-Based Billing for SaaS: Metering, Invoices and Card Limits
Usage-based billing can trigger surprise bills, card declines and disputes. Learn how to meter usage, set thresholds and disclose overages so they get paid.
MannyPay Editorial Team
IndustriesUnpaid Vet Bills: Lien Laws, Collections, and Abandoned Pets
Learn how veterinary lien law, abandoned animal statutes and collections work so your clinic can handle unpaid vet bills legally and prevent new balances.
MannyPay Editorial Team
IndustriesTour Operator Deposits and Final Payment Due Dates That Work
Build a tour operator deposit policy with deposit amounts, final payment deadlines and cancellation tiers that match supplier costs and survive disputes.
MannyPay Editorial Team
IndustriesTicket Fraud: Stopping Stolen Cards and Bot Buys on Your Event
Ticket fraud prevention for event organizers: spot stolen-card and bot orders, tighten checkout, delay risky deliveries and defend chargebacks.
MannyPay Editorial TeamMerchant Education & Growth
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Business GrowthUsing POS Customer Data to Market Smarter on a Small Budget
Learn how POS customer data marketing works on a small budget: five reports to pull, four simple segments and the campaign each one needs.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Business GrowthSMS Marketing Rules: Text Customers Without TCPA Trouble
Learn the SMS marketing rules for consent, opt-outs, quiet hours and 10DLC registration so your business can text customers without TCPA trouble.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Business GrowthShopify Payments vs. a Third-Party Gateway: The Real Cost Math
Compare Shopify Payments vs a third party gateway with simple break-even math, and learn the monthly volume where an outside merchant account saves money.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Business GrowthSelling on Amazon vs. Your Own Website: The Real Fee Math
Selling on Amazon vs. your own website? Compare referral, fulfillment, ad, and processing costs per order, plus cash flow and customer data trade-offs.
MannyPay Editorial TeamPayment Processing Fundamentals
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Processing BasicsPayment Gateway vs. Payment Processor: Who Does What
Payment gateway vs payment processor explained: what each one does, how they work together, and when bundling or separating them can save you money.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Processing BasicsHow to Receive International Payments Without Losing 5% to Fees
Learn how to receive international payments while cutting wire, intermediary, FX and cross-border card fees, with cost comparisons by invoice size.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Processing BasicsHow to Choose a Payment Processor: 10 Questions to Ask First
Learn how to choose a payment processor with 10 questions on pricing, contracts, funding speed, integrations, and support to ask before you sign anything.
MannyPay Editorial Team
Processing BasicsFailed Subscription Payments: Smart Retries and Dunning That Work
Failed payment recovery for subscriptions: a retry schedule, dunning sequence and decline-code logic that win back renewals and limit network fee risk.
MannyPay Editorial TeamHigh-Risk Merchant Processing
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High-RiskShopify Payments Suspended? Why It Happens and Your Next Steps
Shopify Payments account suspended? Learn why stores get shut down, how to answer a review, what happens to held payouts, and how to keep selling.
MannyPay Editorial Team
High-RiskExcessive Chargeback Programs: What Happens If You're Enrolled
Enrolled in an excessive chargeback program? Learn what Visa and Mastercard enrollment triggers, from fines to remediation plans, and how to exit in time.
MannyPay Editorial Team
High-RiskVape Shop Merchant Accounts: Federal Rules, Age Checks, and Approval
Learn how federal remote-sale duties, age verification, and state shipping laws affect a vape merchant account, plus what to expect on rates and reserves.
MannyPay Editorial Team
High-RiskMerchant Account Application Denied? Common Reasons and Fixes
Merchant account application denied? Learn the most common underwriting denial reasons and the concrete fixes that give your reapplication a real chance.
MannyPay Editorial TeamComparisons & Buying Guides
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ComparisonsSurcharging vs. Cash Discount vs. Dual Pricing: Which Is Legal?
Surcharging vs cash discount vs dual pricing: compare card brand rules, debit limits, signage and state law so you can pick a compliant fee-offset model.
MannyPay Editorial Team
ComparisonsRTP vs. FedNow vs. ACH: Which Instant Payment Rail Fits?
RTP vs. ACH vs. FedNow: compare speed, limits, cost, finality and bank support so you know when instant bank payments are worth it for your business.
MannyPay Editorial Team
ComparisonsHow to Choose a Payment Gateway Provider for Your Business
Compare payment gateway providers on cart compatibility, fees, fraud tools, recurring billing and data portability so you pick a gateway you won't outgrow.
MannyPay Editorial Team
ComparisonsBNPL vs. Layaway: Which Payment Plan Sells More for Your Store?
BNPL vs. layaway compared for retailers: who carries credit risk, what each costs, when you get paid, and how each affects inventory and returns.
MannyPay Editorial Team