Are You Being Told You’re Owed Processing Refunds? Read This First

You’re in the middle of your day when you get a call:

"We’re calling about overcharges on your Visa and Mastercard transactions…"

It sounds helpful. It sounds legitimate. And it’s happening more often than you might think.

From time to time, business owners receive phone calls claiming they were overcharged in processing fees and are owed a reimbursement. These callers often reference Visa or Mastercard transactions and position themselves as helping recover money the business is supposedly owed.

The catch is that the conversation quickly turns into a request for a recent merchant statement or account details in order to “process” the reimbursement. Once that statement is shared, the focus often shifts. The caller may then present a comparison showing lower rates or projected savings and encourage you to sign paperwork to move forward.

Sometimes the pricing looks legitimate upfront. That’s what makes this tactic effective. The challenge is that many of these offers rely on short-term assumptions, introductory pricing, or fee structures that change over time. As pricing programs adjust and additional fees appear, costs can gradually increase. Because processing statements are complex, those changes often go unnoticed until expenses are higher than expected. 

This is why transparency and long-term consistency matter more than short-term reductions. 

If you receive a call like this, take a moment before taking any action:

• Do not send statements or account details to an unsolicited caller

• Do not sign anything during or immediately after the call

• Look up the company independently through Google, social media, or the BBB

• When in doubt, get a second set of eyes before moving forward

If there is ever an issue with a merchant account or a legitimate change that needs attention, it should come directly from your provider. You should never be asked to send statements or sensitive account details in response to an unsolicited call.

If you receive a call or offer that doesn’t feel quite right, send it our way. We’re happy to review it with you so you can make a confident, informed decision before taking any next steps.

Before responding to a processing offer, take a moment to check Google, social media, and the BBB. And when in doubt, it’s always worth getting a second set of eyes.