It’s one of the most frustrating things in business: your customer has money, their card works, and they’re ready to buy—but the payment gets declined. In this episode of The Payments Guy, Frank peels back the curtain on why good payments fail, and how you can stop losing money on sales that should’ve gone through. These declines aren’t always about fraud or insufficient funds. Frank breaks down what’s really in those split-second decisions and how you can fight back with better tools, smarter routing, and the right partners in your corner.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:43 – The real reasons legitimate payments are getting blocked and what banks view as “suspicious”
• 04:17 – The surprising downside of 3D Secure at checkout
• 05:29 – What’s a BIN, and why does its reputation affect your bottom line?
• 10:41 – How to use smart routing and networks tokens to improve your approval rate overnight and protect recurring revenue
• 14:10 – Why Stripe, Square, and PayPal aren’t built for high-risk businesses, and what you should use instead if your business is considered to be high-risk

Don’t let invisible tech hurdles stop your next sale. With the right moves and consultant, you can dodge declines, recover lost revenue, and build better processing flows. Want expert help diagnosing and fixing your transaction issues? Head to paydiverse.com and send the team a message. It’s time to get your payments back on track.

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Ever feel like your merchant account application disappeared into a black hole? On today’s episode of The Payment Guy, Frank pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on behind the scenes during underwriting. What are banks actually looking for, and how can you position your business to get approved faster with less friction?

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:07 - Why underwriters assess risk in the first place.
• 02:08 - An overview of the must-haves for legitimacy and what mistakes get applications rejected.
• 6:09 - What to prepare for your merchant account application, including the financial proof underwriters expect.
• 10:40 - Pro tips to speed up approval.

Need a hand getting your merchant account approved? Head over to paydiverse.com or drop us a line at support@paydiverse.com. We’ve done this for years and we know how to make it easy. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Payment Guy for more insights on making smarter payment decisions that fuel your business growth.

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena

Do you ever feel like you need a dictionary to read your merchant account statement? Are hidden fees, confusing charges, or shady contract terms making you second-guess your payment processor? In this episode, Frank breaks down the most essential payment processing terms every business owner should understand. From interchange fees to PCI compliance, Frank gives you the insider knowledge to make smarter decisions, avoid unnecessary fees, and protect your business from common pitfalls. It’s time to stop leaving money on the table and finally understand what you're paying for.

In this episode, these questions and topics will be covered:

• 01:30 – What a merchant account and payment gateway actually are, and why understanding the difference matters for smooth payment processing.
• 04:00 – How fees like interchange, discount rates, and reserves work, and how to avoid getting overcharged.
• 07:17– What chargebacks really mean, how to calculate your chargeback ratio, and why banks take it so seriously.
• 11:45– How PCI compliance and fraud monitoring protect your business—and the preventable fees they help you avoid.
• 13:57 – The truth about flat rate, interchange-plus, and tiered pricing—and how to choose the right model for your business.

Understanding your payment processing terms isn't just good business, it's essential. If you need help decoding your fees, ensuring PCI compliance, or negotiating better terms, Frank and his team are here to help. If you learnt something from this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review—this will help more business owners stop overpaying and start thriving.

Connect with PayDiverse:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paydiverse
Website: http://www.paydiverse.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksena